University of Maryland Eastern Shore Campus - Hawk Yearbook (Princess Anne, MD)

Page 10 text:

In 1947 Maryland State had such low prestige with very little or no recognition as a college that the Higher Education in Maryland Survey recommended that the college be abolished. In addition, the publicity given to the survey ' s recommendation by several prominent newspapers of that time left little hope for the continuation of Maryland State. There was much turmoil all over the campus. Whites and blacks alike were in fact strongly against the continuation of Maryland State and gave no support to the of- ficials of the school that were trying to encourage its survival. Finally on December 17, 1947, the Legislative Council met to decide if there was any need for further existence of the college. When the council decided on the con- tinuation of Maryland State, it received hardly any support. Along with this, the governor of Maryland, in his inaugural address stated that there would be no in- crease in funds for the school until an actual decision had been made as to whether the school would or would not be terminated. It was then, in an attempt to save the college, that the black citizens of the Eastern Shore Counties banded together to form the Eastern Shore Citizens Association. In one attempt to save the college, the Association sent 750 people to Annapolis to explain to the governor the need and the desire of the Eastern Shore to have the programs of the school continued and im- proved.

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In an effort to combat the rising com- petition from public schools, Kiah in- stituted a junior college program. Not bringing in the desired results, this program was terminated and a full fledged four year college was to be formed. But there again was the problem of finances and World War H also played its part in slowing down the enrollment. Shortly after the end of World War II a major program was instituted. It was designed to revolutionize college life. This development was the major turning point in the building of a very prominent four year college program.

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In the years that followed as before, the need for continuation of the school was continually discussed. Since the school was now under the administration of College Park, there was always the question of whether the college could meet the standards of the College Park Campus. In 1957 the state legislature made the first clear cut appropriation of funds for new buildings and programs on the campus. The institution would live and there was no question concerning the accreditation of the college because of the State ' s Associa- tion ' s decision to approve full accreditation of Maryland State. Maryland State con- tinued to blossom and grew with new programs, buildings and ideas. On July 1, 1970 Maryland State College officially became the University of Maryland Eastern Shore or as it is more commonly known UMES. Today ten years later UMES is ever progressing and improving. And as always, it has the support of teachers, administrators and most importantly the students, without whom there would be no institution. As we look back on years gone by, we see that we have come a mighty long way. Yet, we are not where we could be or should be. The fight is not over yet and we the student body, faculty and administration must work together now to make UMES an institution capable of meeting the challenges of tomorrow.