PRINCESS ANNE — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) continues to move forward in its work to establish Maryland’s first in-state veterinary school.

A comprehensive site visit by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education was conducted June 21-26 and the team reviewed the School of Veterinary Medicine’s progress in meeting the AVMA COE’s 11 accreditation standards.

The evaluation team met with university leaders, faculty, staff, students, community representatives, clinical partners, and other stakeholders. Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Stanley R. Robertson said this comprehensive visit “represented an important milestone for UMES and for the future of veterinary medical education in Maryland.”

“We were grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the extensive planning, institutional commitment, clinical partnerships, and academic preparation that have gone into developing this program. We remain focused on building an innovative and rigorous veterinary medical program that will prepare practice-ready graduates and help address critical veterinary workforce needs across Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic region, and the nation.”

The AVMA COE is the accrediting body recognized for veterinary medical education programs in the United States and Canada. Representatives evaluated the proposed school’s organization and governance, finances, facilities and equipment, clinical resources, information resources, students, admissions, faculty, curriculum, research programs, and institutional outcomes.

Pending is the evaluating team’s report for consideration by the AVMA Council on Education. From that it will be up to the Council to determine whether the developing UMES School of Veterinary Medicine qualifies for a Letter of Reasonable Assurance.

“Reasonable Assurance” is the accreditation classification granted to a developing veterinary medical education program that does not yet enroll students but has demonstrated a reasonable prospect of achieving accreditation. If granted, it would allow UMES to begin accepting applications and admitting students to the proposed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

The School of Veterinary Medicine plans to welcome its inaugural class in Summer 2027, pending the AVMA COE’s decision and completion of all required institutional processes. The proposed entering class will include 100 students: 50 Maryland residents and 50 nonresident students.

Currently there is only a shared regional program for University of Maryland students and that’s with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech.

If UMES receives a Letter of Reasonable Assurance, prospective students will apply through the UMES SVM application process this first year. UMES will then conduct a holistic review and selection process based on academic preparation, veterinary and animal experience, personal attributes, recommendations, interviews, and the applicant’s potential to contribute to the veterinary profession and the mission of the university.

In the meantime, UMES continues faculty recruitment and hiring, academic programming, clinical partnerships, student services, facilities, and operational resources needed to support the proposed DVM program.

The School of Veterinary Medicine is being developed to help address veterinary workforce needs on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, throughout the state, across the Mid-Atlantic region, and nationally. The program will prepare veterinarians to serve in companion-animal practice, food-animal and rural practice, equine medicine, public health, biomedical research, food safety, and other areas of professional need.

Information about prerequisite courses, admissions requirements, and the proposed selection process is available on the admissions section of the UMES School of Veterinary Medicine website. It will be an accelerated three-year program to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

For additional information, email vetschool@umes.edu or visit wwwcp.umes.edu/svm.