Welcome to the 2026–2027 Academic Year: Morgan Momentum Continues

Dear Morgan Community,

The 2026–2027 academic year is here! It is my privilege to welcome our new students, faculty, and staff to the National Treasure and extend warm greetings to all who are returning to campus. Today, our classrooms and laboratories are once again alive with discovery, exploration and the pursuit of excellence as we officially begin another consequential year in the life of Morgan State University.

To our returning students, welcome back. I hope you return renewed, focused and ready to build upon everything you accomplished last year. And to our newest Bears — particularly our incoming first-year students — welcome to Morgan! You have joined us at an extraordinary moment in our history. You are the first Morgan graduating class to launch the next decade: the Class of 2030. There is something particularly meaningful about that distinction. The experiences you begin accumulating today will help shape who you become by the decade’s end, and what Morgan will become along with you.

This fall, after receiving nearly 40,000 applications, we expect to welcome more than 12,000 students to our campus, positioning Morgan to achieve a record sixth consecutive year of historic enrollment. That sustained growth is a powerful indication that more students and families are recognizing what generations of Morganites have known: Morgan is a place where potential is cultivated, opportunity is created and futures are transformed.

Transformation in Motion

Everywhere you look, you can see Morgan’s transformation taking shape.

Cranes are in the sky, and shovels are in the ground as construction advances on our new Science and Research Center, an investment in the next generation of scientific discovery, innovation and research at Morgan. Work is also progressing on the O’Connell Hall Tower residential development, while renovations to Harper-Tubman House are expected to be completed this November. And this month, we are expanding our student housing inventory with the addition of One Calvert Plaza, providing more residential options and additional beds for Morgan students.

We are also continuing to strengthen the safety and security of our campus. Among our latest enhancements is the construction of Morgan’s outer perimeter barrier, scheduled for completion in September. Campus safety is a shared responsibility, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing an environment where our students can learn, live and thrive.

But Morgan’s transformation extends well beyond what you can see.

Our academic enterprise continues to evolve to prepare students for the world they will inherit — and increasingly, the world they will help create. Our more than 150 academic degree programs remain the cornerstone of that preparation, complemented by new and emerging areas of study responsive to the changing demands of society and the workforce. Most recently, Morgan added a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and introduced the new interdisciplinary course Holistically Assessing Risks, expanding opportunities for students to engage with important issues shaping our future.

Students traversing the campus this semester will also see newly resurfaced tennis courts and a fresh new design for the Hill Field House court where our basketball and volleyball teams compete.

The quality and trajectory of this institution continue to earn external recognition as well. This year, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed Morgan’s accreditation for another seven years, confirming the strength and integrity of our academic and institutional offerings. And Forbes recently ranked Morgan No. 4 among the nation’s public HBCUs, placing the University among the top five nationally.

These achievements do not happen by accident. They are the result of an entire community moving forward with purpose.

What It Means to Be a Morganite

As we celebrate Morgan’s momentum, I want every student to remember something equally important: you are not simply attending Morgan State University. You are becoming part of Morgan State University.

Being a Morgan Bear carries both privilege and responsibility.

Remember why you chose Morgan. You are now part of a legacy extending back to 1867 — a legacy built by generations of scholars, leaders, innovators, educators, entrepreneurs, public servants and changemakers who walked this campus before you. They understood that a Morgan education was never intended solely for individual advancement. It prepares us to use what we learn, what we discover and who we become to improve the lives of others.

I challenge you to carry that responsibility with you throughout this academic year.

Go to class. Engage your professors. Ask difficult questions. Seek out mentors. Explore research. Join an organization. Attend a lecture or cultural event. Support your fellow Bears. Take advantage of opportunities that stretch you beyond what is comfortable or familiar. And when challenges inevitably arise, ask for help. There are faculty, staff and resources throughout this University dedicated to your success.

As we begin this new academic year, let us bring the same energy, ambition and determination to our individual pursuits that Morgan is bringing to its institutional ascension. Let us continue building a University worthy of its history, responsive to this moment and prepared for the future ahead.

The momentum is real. The opportunities before us are extraordinary. And the next chapter of Morgan’s story begins now — with all of us.

Welcome to the 2026–2027 academic year.

Go Bears!

 
David K. Wilson
President
Morgan State University