University of Maryland Eastern Shore facts for kids
University of Maryland Eastern Shore seal
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| Motto | Facta, Non Verba |
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Motto in English
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Deeds, Not Words |
| Type | Public historically black land-grant research university |
| Established | 1886 |
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Parent institution
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University System of Maryland |
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Academic affiliations
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TMSF Space-grant |
| Endowment | $26.2 million (2017) |
| President | Heidi M. Anderson |
| Provost | Rondall Allen |
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Academic staff
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365 |
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Administrative staff
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627 |
| Undergraduates | 2,333 (fall 2019) |
| Postgraduates | 553 (fall 2019) |
| Location |
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U.S.
38°12′43″N 75°41′06″W / 38.212°N 75.685°W |
| Campus | Rural, 1,138 acres (461 ha) |
| Colors | Maroon and gray |
| Nickname | Hawks |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – MEAC, ECAC |
| Mascot | Harry the Hawk & HH3 |
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University of Maryland Eastern Shore
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Student Services Center /at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1 Backbone Rd., Princess Anne, Maryland |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Booth, W. Wilson; Dashiell, J. Roland & Sons, et al. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001021 |
| Added to NRHP | September 16, 2005 |
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is a public university in Princess Anne, Maryland. It is known as a historically black college, meaning it was first created to educate African-American students. UMES is also a land-grant university, which means it receives special support from the government to teach subjects like agriculture and engineering. It is part of the University System of Maryland.
Contents
A Look at UMES History
UMES has had many names over the years. It first opened on September 13, 1886. It was called the Delaware Conference Academy back then. Benjamin and Portia Bird welcomed nine students to a small farmhouse. The school was meant to prepare students for a college in Baltimore.
How UMES Became a Public University
In 1890, the school changed its name to Morgan College. This was to honor the first chairman of its board. By the end of the first year, 37 students were enrolled. At that time, African-American students could not attend the main University of Maryland. This was due to segregation laws.
A new law in 1890, the Second Morrill Act, said states had to create colleges for African-American students. This was needed to keep getting money for land-grant schools. So, Maryland partnered with Morgan College. This helped create land-grant education for African-Americans on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Around 1900, the school was known as Princess Anne Academy. It was also called the Eastern Shore Branch of Maryland Agriculture College. During the Great Depression, Maryland courts said the state had to let African-American students into its law school. This led the state to make Princess Anne Academy a public school.
In 1948, the school was renamed Maryland State College. It became part of the University of Maryland system. Finally, on July 1, 1970, it became the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Today, UMES is one of 12 public colleges in the University System of Maryland. It has a large campus and also a research farm. It also has a coastal ecology center near Assateague Island.
What Can You Study at UMES?
UMES offers many different programs. Students can choose from 37 undergraduate subjects. They can also study for 15 master's degrees and eight doctoral degrees. Many of these programs are recognized by other schools. In 2020, UMES received a large donation of $20 million from MacKenzie Scott. This was the biggest gift in the university's history.
Academics at UMES
UMES is divided into five main schools. Each school focuses on different subjects:
- School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences
- School of Education, Social Sciences, and the Arts
- School of Business and Technology
- School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
- School of Graduate Studies
Who Attends UMES?
In 2017–18, most undergraduate students were African-American.
- 77% African-American
- 8% White
- 5% Two or more races
UMES Athletics: The Hawks
The UMES sports teams are called the Hawks. They play in NCAA Division I. UMES was one of the first members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 1970. They left for a short time but rejoined in 1981. The Hawks compete in 15 sports. This includes seven men's sports and eight women's sports.
Football History
UMES used to have a very strong football team. They had five undefeated seasons between 1947 and 1960. However, running a Division I football team became too expensive. The team was stopped after the 1979 season. In 1948, Maryland State College played one of the first football games between a historically black college and a mostly white college. In 2013, the university decided not to bring back football.
Bowling Success
The UMES women's bowling team has won several national championships. They won the NCAA Bowling Championship in 2008 and 2012. In 2008, they beat Fairleigh Dickinson University. In 2012, they won against Arkansas State University. They were the first historically black college to win a women's NCAA national championship. They also won the USBC Team Championships and the MEAC Championship in 2011.
Basketball and Track
The UMES men's basketball team was known for scoring a lot of points in 1973–1974. They led the nation with 97.6 points per game. They made it to the quarterfinals of the 1974 NIT tournament. The team has never played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
UMES athletes have also done well in track and field. In 2011, the men's outdoor track team was ranked third in their region. Several athletes have earned All-America status. One athlete, Lénora Guion-Firmin, even competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics for France. In 2014, the men's team won the MEAC Cross Country Championships.
Volleyball Achievements
The UMES women's volleyball team won its first MEAC championship in 2011. They beat Florida A&M University. This earned them their first trip to the NCAA Tournament. They won the MEAC championship again in 2012. The team has a long winning streak at home games.
Famous People from UMES
Many talented people have attended UMES:
- David Banner (Lavell Crump) – A famous rapper.
- Emerson Boozer – A former NFL football player.
- Clarence Clemons – A professional saxophonist who played with Bruce Springsteen.
- Art Shell – A Pro Football Hall of Fame player and former NFL coach.
- Charlie Stukes – A former NFL football player.
Notable Faculty at UMES
- Heidi M. Anderson
- Mike Hall
- Mignon Holland Anderson
Images for kids
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Student Services Center at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
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UMES students working with NOAA at Assateague Island
