University of Maryland Eastern Shore

This historically black institution provides professional training in disciplines that serve the region's economy.

By Christine Stutz | Special to SunSpot

August 29, 2002

With a rich history as an historically black, land-grant institution, University of Maryland Eastern Shore is poised for a new era of success. Its 13th president, Dr. Thelma B. Thompson who assumed the office in July 2002, has ambitious plans for UMES.

She plans to launch a national fund-raising campaign to allow her to expand the university's 600-plus-acre physical plant in Princess Anne. She also hopes to bring more people to campus -- including senior citizens and youth -- by expanding class offerings on evenings and weekends.

Another of Thompson's goals is to establish UMES as a training ground for health care workers, who are in great demand nationwide. According to Thompson, no other historically black college has focused on health care training.

UMES offers bachelor of arts and science degrees in 26 disciplines in the arts and sciences, professional studies and agricultural sciences. It also offers 13 teaching degree programs and eight pre-professional programs. The university's programs in construction management technology, aviation sciences and hotel and restaurant management are unique to the region. Recent academic additions include airway science, law enforcement and rehabilitation services.

UMES, originally part of Morgan College (now Morgan State University), is the only four-year college on Maryland's Eastern Shore to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science. It has long been recognized for providing professional training in hospitality management and in commercial poultry and swine operations, both of which serve important roles in the region's economy.

The university's Honors Program prepares academically talented students for graduate and professional study. Two programs prepare students to attend one of seven professional schools at the University of Maryland Baltimore. A third, offered in cooperation with the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, prepares students for veterinary careers. There is also a general honors program for students who want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree after graduation from UMES. Graduate students at UMES can pursue a master's or doctorate in marine-estuarine and environmental sciences and toxicology. Master's degrees are offered in several areas, including education, criminal justice and physical therapy.

Facilities at UMES include the 1,200-seat Ella Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts, a 50,000-watt FM radio station, a hydroponics greenhouse and an athletic center with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, dance studio and an arena that seats 6,000. And the university touts its proximity to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Wilmington and Norfolk as a major advantage.

The next few years should prove exciting at UMES as it strives to maximize its potential as a center of higher learning in a largely rural setting. The community stands to benefit from its leaders' willingness to remain responsive to the changing needs of its students.