HOULTON, Maine — On Monday, April 25, 2016, the Houlton Higher Education Center welcomed the new president from University of Maine at Augusta, James Conneely, to the area. President Conneely has been on a listening tour of the University College centers across Maine to assess the strengths and needs of students and Centers.
The eight Centers of University College, including Houlton, are access points for over 100 degree and certificate programs from the University of Maine System. Conneely has repeatedly underscored the role of University College as a critically important economic engine for Maine’s rural communities, training the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators, many of whom will answer the “what’s next” question concerning how Maine will flourish as its manufacturing sector recedes. University College prides itself on empowering its students in ways that transcend age, family or economic circumstances.
The visit included a tour of the Houlton Higher Education Center, which houses University College (UC) at Houlton. President Linda Schott from UMPI also attended. Others in attendance included UMA and UMPI students and faculty; staff; and several members of the community and area businesses. An open forum took place with the university presidents both fielding and answering questions.
“University College provides exceptional advising support for students who are often working while they study for their degree,” said Tracy Rockwell, director of the center at Houlton. “Thanks to University College, Maine is in the process of reframing its current workforce to flourish in the 21stt century global marketplace. UC Centers are extremely important to the communities they reside in, and keeping in touch with students, faculty, and members of the community is so vital.”
Degrees are awarded by the individual institutions of the University of Maine System, such as UMA and UMPI, with instruction delivered at Centers, online or through other distance learning modalities (models) by faculty from those institutions.
