Student Support Services

Students in the UMES PA Program have academic support and student services that are equivalent to those services provided to other comparable students enrolled at the institution.

Students deemed at-risk defined in the Remediation Policy and who are identified during advising sessions will receive early intervention and referred by their advisor in a timely fashion for additional support services addressing personal issues which may impact their progress in the PA program. Support services include, but not limited to, the following:

Counseling/Mental Health Services

UMES Counseling Services offers flexible mental health counseling services to UMES students.  They provide in person and telehealth services.  Due to state mental health licensing laws, students must reside in the state of Maryland to receive virtual mental health services.  Telehealth services are available via phone or a secure video platform to currently enrolled UMES students.

Students are responsible to listen to their mind, their heart, their soul, and pay attention to their mental health. As a college student, there may be times when personal stressors interfere with their academic performance and/or negatively impact their daily life. If a student or someone the student knows is experiencing mental health challenges at UMES, he/she should visit the UMES Counseling Services located on the 2nd floor of the Student Development Center, Suite 2260 or call 410-651-6449 to make an appointment. The services are free and confidential.  Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8:00am until 5:00pm.  If the student needs to speak to a counselor after hours for crisis support, the student should call Healthy Hawks Urgent Support, a 24/7/365 mental health support line at (410)651-HELP (4357).

Students, Parents/Guardians, Peers/Friends, and Faculty/Staff may make a referral for any student using the UMES Counseling Services Mental Health Electronic Referral Form on the Counseling Services website, Counseling Services | Counseling Services (umes.edu), or via the following link, Referral Form | Counseling Services (umes.edu). Students can also use the SAMHSA referral and provider link to find mental health services near them: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

Student Health Services

The Charles R. Drew Health Center is located on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the Lida Brown building, directly behind Trigg Hall. The Health Center functions as a resource to help students achieve and maintain wellness, as well as a treatment center for health problems within the student population. The Student Health Center provides health care to the student population that is convenient, affordable and accessible within a pleasant, professional atmosphere.

The Charles R. Drew Student Health Center offers treatment for:

  • Injuries
  • Illnesses
  • Allergy Injections
  • Immunizations
  • Contraception
  • Pregnancy Testing
  • Counseling/ Referrals
  • HIV Testing
  • Preventative Medicine and Education

Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8:00am until 4:30pm.  The center operates on an appointment only basis.  To make an appointment email: appointmenthealthcenter@umes.edu.  All currently registered students who live on or off campus are eligible for services.  Additional charges may be required for some services. Specific services will incur a cost to the student. Payment is accepted from the HawkCard only. In a life-threatening situation on campus contact the Campus Police at 410-651-3300 and notify an area Director.  If medical emergencies occur while off-campus, contact 911 for an ambulance.  Refer to the Student Health Services website, Student Health Services | Student Health Services (umes.edu) for more information about UMES Student Health Services.

Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance

The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIE) supports efforts to uphold the University’s commitment to creating and maintaining a working and learning environment that is inclusive and free of discriminatory conduct as required by the University’s policies and procedures. OIE promotes and upholds the University’s commitment to Equity by:

  • Guiding employees in referring affected individuals to OIE; 
  • Facilitating resolution of concerns through advising and providing guidance and support to parties and their supervisors;
  • Conducting formal investigations in situations in which alternative resolutions efforts are unsuccessful or inappropriate;
  • Partnering with administrators and supervisors to protect against retaliation; and
  • Providing general and targeted educational training programs to prevent discrimination and harassment.

For more information, visit the OIE website, https://wwwcp.umes.edu/oie/.

Requests for Accommodations

An applicant who has not been offered admission to the PA Program may disclose a disability and request accommodation during the admission process. DISCLOSURE BEFORE BEING OFFERED ADMISSION IS NOT REQUIRED. However, an applicant may want to determine the School’s response to a specific accommodation request early in the admissions process. An applicant who chooses voluntarily to disclose a disability should write the Admissions Committee and the Office of Student Affairs to disclose the disability and discuss accommodation requests. Disclosure of the disability and request for accommodation will be kept confidential and shared with those persons responsible for evaluating the disability and whether a reasonable accommodation may be made for the disability. After admission, students (including those who have not yet confirmed their slot in the class, those who have confirmed their acceptance and matriculating students) should disclose disabilities and request accommodation by writing, calling or visiting the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE). Refer to the OIE website, Steps for Student Accommodations | Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (umes.edu), for more details. The University will follow the legal requirements of the law for accommodations.

Goals and Deadlines for Accommodations

Any student who has not yet matriculated must make requests for accommodation of disabilities within one week after accepting admission to the program. Any matriculating student, who becomes aware of a disability requiring accommodation or a need for accommodation of a previously known disability, must request the accommodation as soon as the need for accommodation has been identified. Information about a student’s disability and request for accommodation will be held in confidence and disclosed to those persons responsible for evaluating the disability and determining whether requested accommodations can be made. A student can expect a response from the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 21 days of submitting all required documentation as required. The time may be extended if the School requests additional information, which cannot reasonably be gathered within the period.

Military Affiliated and Veteran Students

UMES is committed to providing quality services and programs for veterans. UMES is fully accredited for accepting Veteran students and assists them in their needs for certification. Credit is given for any work done in the military service related to their major field of study. For the full list of veteran benefits, admissions process, and education benefits requests, refer to the UMES Military and Veteran Students’ website, Military and Veteran Students | UMES.

Student Success Coach

Students are referred to Success Coaching if academic need arises.  The Assistant Program Director or the student’s Advisor will coordinate with the Success Coaching consulting team to introduce the student to the coach and provide any additional information needed for the coach to best help the student.  It will be the student’s responsibility to schedule an appointment with the success coach and keep the schedule recommended by the coach. Students with the greatest academic need e.g., on an academic improvement plan are required to attend success coaching. Tutoring sessions are provided by the Program to fill knowledge gaps in difficult courses such as Clinical Medicine.  These are optional, but required for students with greatest academic need e.g., on an academic improvement plan.

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