In early 2004 an External Peer Review of the Center was conducted by a committee of highly regarded scientists, selected by University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. Kirwan.  

John W. Farrington, Chair

Vice President for Academic Programs and Dean, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Kenneth Haddad

Executive Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Andrew A. Rosenberg

Dean, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire

Gaius R. Shaver 

Senior Scientist, The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory

The Committee provided responses to each of eight questions that Chancellor Kirwan included in its charge.  These questions concerned the Center's national rating, strengths and weaknesses, organization, strategic directions, contributions to graduate education, progress in meeting goals, financial sustainability, and leadership.  The Committee's concluding summary stated:

The University System of Maryland is very fortunate to have an organization such as UMCES among its institutions.  UMCES is clearly among the leading research institutions of its kind, with a very strong national and international reputation, with first-rate faculty and facilities, and with an emerging, high quality, graduate education program.

The Committee found that the quality and productivity of the Center’s work is comparable to our peers and its contributions in public service rank as high, or higher, than almost any other higher education institution, but recommended that the identity and role of graduate education within the center be articulated more clearly.  It concluded that while the implementation of the Integration and Application Network (IAN) has the potential to strengthen the position of UMCES in many ways, it is important at this stage that IAN gain greater “buy-in” from the faculty.  The Committee opined that to remain successful in the future UMCES, would have to become more resourceful in broadening its funding base through expanded research, perhaps with the addition of research faculty members; private fund raising; and reimbursements for instruction.  These and numerous other observations and recommendations were taken under consideration in the development of the Center's Strategic Plan, From Vision to Reality, completed later in 2004.