Maryland HBCU moves closer to opening state’s first veterinary school
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UMES has gained permission to recruit and admit students as it works toward launching its accelerated veterinary medicine program in 2027.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has cleared a major hurdle in its plan to open a veterinary school, gaining permission to begin recruiting and admitting students for a program designed to expand access to veterinary education.
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education granted the university a Letter of Reasonable Assurance, a decision that moves the developing school closer to its planned launch in summer 2027. The program is set to become Maryland’s first veterinary school physically located in the state and the first at a public historically Black college or university.
In its October 13 announcement, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore said the decision followed a review of the school’s comprehensive self-study, supporting documents and a campus evaluation conducted in June. The accrediting council concluded that the proposed program could meet accreditation standards during the provisional accreditation period if the university implements its plans as submitted.
The approval is an important step, but it does not mean the school is fully accredited. UMES says it will seek provisional accreditation after its first students enroll and will continue through the council’s formal review process.
For prospective students, the decision opens the way for recruitment and admissions planning. Applications are not yet open, and the university says it will publish dates, deadlines and submission instructions separately.
The proposed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree will use an accelerated, year-round format, allowing students to complete the program in three years rather than the more common four. Training is expected to combine classroom instruction, simulation, clinical-skills development and supervised placements at university-operated and affiliated sites.
The university intends to prepare graduates for work across companion-animal care, agriculture, public health, research and other areas of veterinary medicine. Its distributed clinical model is designed to expose students to different species and practice environments while maintaining academic oversight.
“This affirmation by the accrediting agency positions UMES to meet the nation’s growing need for veterinarians,” university president Heidi M. Anderson said in the announcement. She added that the program would give aspiring veterinarians in Maryland an opportunity to train in the state and potentially build their careers there.
School dean Stanley R. Robertson described the decision as the result of years of planning and collaboration with university leaders, faculty, staff and clinical partners.
The university’s veterinary school is also intended to address workforce needs in Maryland and the wider Mid-Atlantic region, including communities where access to veterinary services can be limited.
UMES says its inaugural class is planned to begin in June 2027. Prospective applicants should monitor the school’s official website for admissions updates and requirements.