University of Maine System Chancellor Dan Malloy scheduled visits to UMFK and UMPI in his first hours on the job to meet with community members, discuss campus priorities, and to highlight how Maine’s rural campuses are providing One University state leadership
Fort Kent, Maine — University of Maine System Chancellor Dan Malloy traveled to Aroostook County on his first day on the job to tour the University of Maine at Fort Kent and meet with community members. The new chancellor will spend his second day as the leader of Maine’s public university system at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
During his visit Chancellor Malloy will inform campus and community leaders that he will be asking the Board of Trustees to approve a campus and community-engaged presidential search for UMFK when the Board meets in Fort Kent in September. Provost Tex Boggs was appointed interim president and provost earlier in the year after President John Short announced his retirement.
“The Board and I understand how important the small campuses are to addressing Maine’s workforce challenges and delivering higher education opportunity to rural Maine communities,” said Chancellor Malloy. “We also value the innovation and collaboration the University of Maine at Fort Kent has provided under our One University initiative. In September I will ask the Board to approve a search for a new president for UMFK to ensure this progress continues.
“Interim President and Provost Tex Boggs is a highly qualified educational leader. We are fortunate that he has agreed to provide institutional leadership here at Fort Kent over the next year. I will be working closely with him, UMFK’s faculty and staff, and our community stakeholders to build on the very good work that is already underway in the St. John Valley.
$8.5 Million in Aroostook County Campus Investments
Chancellor Malloy will be touring UMFK and UMPI during his visit with a particular focus on facility needs and planned investments at the campuses.
Maine voters approved a University Workforce Bond in November that includes $7.5 million in campus investments for UMFK and UMPI. Included in the funded projects are plans for an Enrollment and Advancement Center at the Fort Kent campus to attract more students and build a stronger foundation for public higher education in Aroostook County.
At the University of Maine at Presque Isle bond-funded investments include critical renovations to Wieden Hall that provides academic space for UMPI’s Physical Therapist Assistant and Exercise Science programs and improvements to nursing and healthcare space.
With strong community and industry support UMPI is also investing nearly a million dollars to construct a new greenhouse facility to support agricultural education, research, and programs.
Regional Service and State Leadership
In stakeholder and campus meetings at UMFK and UMPI Chancellor Malloy will be learning more about the regional service and rural Maine access to higher education provided at the campuses. He will also be discussing the critical state leadership the Aroostook County campuses provide in addressing workforce needs.
“In less than two years working adults from every Maine county have enrolled in UMPI’s YourPace program to finish their college degree and starting this fall students from 103 Maine high schools will have a chance to explore Maine careers and earn free college credits with UMFK’s Rural U Workforce,” said Malloy. “UMFK and UMPI are also leading the way with innovations in fully-online education, bringing RN-to-BSN and business degree programs specifically designed to accommodate working adults to every Maine community and beyond.
“Our rural campuses are innovation and access leaders, and I am eager to talk about how we can create even more value for learners across the state from our campuses in Aroostook County.”
Apply Yourself with Maine’s Public Universities: Students have until August 20th to apply for the RN-to-BSN at UMFK and August 24th for UMPI’s YourPace business degree completion programs. These programs are fully-online, are specifically designed to accommodate working adults, and start September 3rd.
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Distributed 7/1/19
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