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Abromson Center Opening USM's Division of Community and Professional Education (CPE) is perhaps the most visible public arm of the University community. In fact, last year CPE recorded nearly 66,000 noncredit enrollments through its various outreach departments. With the Division's Center for Continuing Education, the Department of Conferences, and the Institute for Family-Owned Businesses poised to relocate into the Joel and Linda Abromson Community Education Center, CPE Executive Director Bob Hansen is eager to begin capitalizing on what he believes is a golden opportunity to achieve national recognition for regional excellence. “I think one of the defining features of regional excellence is public service to the region itself,” he says. “The Abromson Center is a means to help us fulfill our goal of 'Transforming USM' by bringing quality programs to the southern Maine community.” While academic outreach means offering for-credit programs at convenient times and locations throughout southern Maine, says Hansen, public service means providing greater educational opportunities for the people of Greater Portland through noncredit programming designed to strengthen the region. “That's where my division comes in,” says Hansen. “'Transforming USM' calls for the Division of Continuing and Professional Education to strengthen the ties between credit and noncredit programs. The move to the building is more than physical, designed to integrate academic and community outreach within the University culture.” Hansen says because Continuing Education will be housed on the Portland campus, it has the potential to be seen both within and beyond USM as a greater part of the University culture and identity. For the Department of Conferences, the Abromson Center opening will provide a wealth of opportunity for USM, he says. “Because Hannaford Lecture Hall will be the best of its kind in Portland, we expect the facility to be in high demand for lectures and conferences, both by the USM community and the community at large,” says Hansen. While Hannaford Lecture Hall provides ideal space for single lectures and presentations, the nearby classrooms, computer room and conference room provide considerable space to host breakout sessions. Each of the rooms is equipped with high-end audio-visual technology valued at more than $400,000, as well as wired and wireless technology capabilities. “We are very excited to have a new facility that will have state-of-the-art technology, but equally important, it will be attached to a parking garage. It is going to be convenient for people to come by after work,” he says. “They can park right in the garage, and then stroll into their class.” “The creation of the Abromson Center illustrates the depth of USM's commitment to serving the community,” adds Hansen. “This is the first new building on the Portland campus in years, and it's devoted to serving the public.”
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