The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) has received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The accreditation and earlier approvals by the General Assembly and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents authorize UMCES to award joint graduate degrees with the University of Maryland.
“This is a very big accomplishment for UMCES and marks the culmination of concerted and dedicated effort by the UMCES administration, faculty, staff and students,” said Donald Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
In 2013, the Maryland General Assembly granted the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) the authority to award M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in marine and environmental sciences jointly with Maryland public universities. The amended law allowed UMCES to proceed with seeking accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The three-year process culminated with accreditation on March 3, 2016.
UMCES has been a long-time partner in graduate education and classroom instruction with the University of Maryland for nearly 40 years. Every year, more than 80 University of Maryland graduate students study and work alongside UMCES scientists through the Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences (MEES) Program, a multi-institutional education program of the University System of Maryland (USM).
About half of the students enrolled in the MEES Program are based at UMCES four laboratories located throughout the state, and more than 500 of these UMCES students have received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees through the program since its inception in 1978.
“Our graduate students take great pride in being a part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and appreciate the excellence of mentoring and teaching provided by our faculty,” said Professor Ed Houde, UMCES Vice President for Education. “Receiving accreditation and being able to award joint degrees explicitly recognizes the contribution by UMCES to our students’ success and speaks to potential employers after graduation.”
Approximately 15 graduate students will receive diplomas bearing joint degrees with the University of Maryland College Park at the UMCES Commencement Ceremony in Solomons, Maryland, on May 10.
