2026 Legislative Priorities

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

2026

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

STUDENT HOUSING For decades, student housing has suffered from deferred maintenance, resulting in aging facilities that no longer meet the needs of today’s students.

UMES urgently requires state investment to build modern residence halls that provide the safe, supportive environment our students need to succeed.

While many universities nationwide continue to experience post-COVID enrollment declines, UMES has recorded five consecutive years of growth, including Fall 2025.

Since 2022, our residence halls have operated at full capacity, with every available bed occupied. With no surplus rooms, students have had little to no flexibility to relocate when issues arise.

This housing shortage has created significant challenges: Over the past two years, approximately 150 students have been placed on waitlists due to insufficient capacity—effectively capping enrollment during a time of strong demand.

Student leaders—our campus ambassadors—rate their residential experience at just 1.6 out of 5, highlighting the urgent need for improvement.

Parents of current and prospective students have voiced strong concern and support for new housing, even circulating petitions on social media calling for meaningful upgrades to campus living conditions.

As UMES continues to grow, so does the need for expanded resources, modern facilities, and updated infrastructure—including high-quality student housing that reflects the promise and potential of our university community.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore currently maintains 13 campus residence halls.

The average age of UMES campus residential infrastructure is 40+ years.

VETERINARY EDUCATION FACILITY

For 2026, UMES is requesting $251 million in state support to build a 60,000-squarefoot facility that will expand training and research capacity in veterinary studies and health professions. The project is already included in the Maryland Capital Investment Projects, with funding expected to begin in FY2028.

The proposed facility will house UMES’ new School of Veterinary Medicine programs.

ABOUT THE UMES SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Opening Date. The target launch for the first cohort of students in the UMES School of Veterinary Medicine is pending approval from the accrediting body, which will conduct its site visit in June 2026.

First Public HBCU Veterinary School. There are only 34 veterinary colleges in the United States—and only one is currently located at an HBCU. Tuskegee University in Alabama, a private institution, is the sole HBCU with a veterinary program. The UMES School of Veterinary Medicine will become the first public HBCU in the nation to establish a veterinary school.

Maryland’s First and Only Veterinary School. While several Maryland institutions offer pre-veterinary pathways, the UMES School of Veterinary Medicine will be the state’s first and only stand-alone veterinary school. No veterinary programs currently exist in Maryland, Delaware, or Washington, D.C. Three-Year Program. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) program at UMES is designed as an accelerated three-year, year-round curriculum, allowing students to enter the profession sooner.

Addressing a Critical Diversity Gap. The veterinary profession remains one of the least diverse health fields: White Americans represent more than 87% of veterinarians, while Black Americans make up 3% to 4%. The UMES School of Veterinary Medicine aims to expand access, representation, and opportunity within this critical profession.

ABOUT UMES The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) was founded in 1886 and is a historically black, Carnegie-classified doctoral research, land-grant institution offering more than 90 academic programs and concentrations leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate.

UMES provides affordable access to higher education while driving innovation in fields like agriculture, science, engineering, and aviation. The University is also home to a variety of health profession programs, including the physical therapy, rehabilitation services, rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitative psychology, kinesiology, physician assistant, and pharmacy programs.

Other UMES highlights include: Five consecutive years of increased student enrollment Only accredited university with a Sequential Arts program in the United States Nation’s only four-year Professional Pilot program Only HBCU with PGA-certified Professional Golf Management program in the nation

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OUR VISION UMES will be the preeminent public Historically Black University that is recognized for leadership in student-centered education, exceptional research, innovation, and inclusiveness.

OUR MISSION

As a public 1890 land-grant Historically Black University that embraces diversity, UMES is committed to serving firstgeneration and underserved students and providing educational, research, and community engagement opportunities to transform the lives of its students who will impact the state, region, and the world.

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