By Dr. Linda Schott
On November 5th, the voters of Maine will have the opportunity to decide the fate of five bond issues placed on the ballot by the Legislature and the Governor. One of these bonds will have a dramatic impact on the future of the University of Maine system, and specifically the University of Maine at Presque Isle, for years to come. Question 2 will ask voters to approve a $15.5 million bond for upgrades and improvements to existing laboratory and classroom facilities at all seven campuses of Maine’s university system. Improvements focus on classes, labs, and equipment instrumental in the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math [STEM].
For UMPI, this bond would provide $1.2 million to upgrade more than 10,000 square feet of classroom and lab space in Folsom Hall. The funds will allow for the replacement of obsolete and aging microscopes, computers, fume hoods, and other furnishings in our laboratories, which are used for biology, chemistry, geology, physics, geographic information systems and several allied health science programs.
These upgrades are crucial to the long-term goals of the University in providing an up-to-date, state-of-the-art experience for our students in the STEM programs. Enrollment in STEM education programs is up throughout the state – both for high school students and college students. The increased enrollment has created a situation where our university system must make investments to renovate or upgrade our facilities in order to handle the increasing capacity of students, and their needs associated with learning subjects that require modern technology.
These upgrades also will improve the ability of the University to recruit top level students to our STEM programs. The STEM Education Coalition located in Washington, D.C., reports that jobs in the STEM fields will increase from between 16 percent in mathematics, to 62 percent in the field of biomedical engineering from 2010 through 2020. Growth in all other STEM fields range between these numbers, while all other occupations are estimated to increase by only 14 percent over the same timeframe.
The funds from this bond not only will help ensure the future success of our STEM programs and our University, but also ultimately impact the Maine economy. Preparing our students for entry into the STEM job market is essential to the State of Maine. It is also essential to keeping our kids in Maine to further their education, and eventually live and work here after graduating. I would urge you to head to the polls on November 5th and vote “Yes” on this much needed funding for our students, the University system, and the State of Maine.
Dr. Linda Schott is president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
