PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Husson University’s Presque Isle campus, located at Northern Maine Community College, is now using new video conferencing technology for distance learning thanks to a donation by MMG Insurance.
Leaders from MMG and Husson were on hand Wednesday, Dec. 5, to demonstrate the distance learning technology during an accounting information systems class with students from Husson’s three campuses in Bangor, Presque Isle and Westbrook.
Last year, MMG pledged to donate $50,000 to support the new building for Husson’s College of Business in Bangor along with distance learning technology at the Presque Isle campus at NMCC. The technology includes ViewSonic visual displays, camera equipment and microphones that are used to host classes and interactive presentations in real-time.
Husson officials said the distance learning technology will help foster connections between students and instructors in Aroostook County, Bangor and the southern Maine campus in Westbrook. As part of the $50,000 pledge, MMG will be making another donation when Husson’s new college of business building breaks ground in 2020.
“This technology is part of the university’s ongoing efforts to provide education that enhances the personal and professional success of individuals who in turn will contribute to the economic growth of the state of Maine,” said Marie Hansen, dean of Husson’s college of business.
Headquartered in Presque Isle, MMG sells property and casualty insurance in five states, with much of the business taking place south of Bangor, said Stacy Shaw, the company’s chief information officer.
“Every day, we’re competing with companies Geico, Progressive, State Farm, Travellers, all those big national and in some cases international companies, and we do pretty well against them,” Shaw said. “It’s partners like this, Husson University in collaboration with [NMCC], and this kind of capability that allows us to compete on the national stage.”
Shaw said that he earned his master’s degree in business administration from Husson’s Presque Isle campus, and wants to see other northern Maine students benefit from online and distance learning. “Had it not been for an opportunity like this, I would not have been able to get my MBA living and working here in Aroostook County.”
Husson’s Presque Isle campus has about 75 students and offers bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business administration, business and professional studies and software development, as well as master’s degrees in business administration, criminal justice, mental health counseling, human relations, nursing and school counselling.
