Technical Colleges/USM Sign Transfer Agreement To Aid Maine Manufacturers
Representatives of Maine manufacturers, USM and the Maine Technical College System met on USM's Gorham campus last week to sign an agreement designed to help produce a more highly trained workforce.
The Department of Technology in USM's School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (ASET), Central Maine Technical College, Eastern Maine Technical College, Northern Maine Technical College and Southern Maine Technical College have created what's known as a 2+2 program in manufacturing technology. As a result, qualified graduates of the manufacturing technology or machine tool technology programs at those Technical Colleges can be automatically accepted as juniors in USM's bachelor's degree in manufacturing technology.
Maine manufacturers need more employees with a bachelor's degree in manufacturing technology but the supply of four-year graduates is decreasing. The presidents of those technical colleges, USM officials and the head of the Maine Manufacturing Extension Program signed the agreement last Tuesday, June 4, paving the way for the transfer program to start this fall. The agreement should add another 20 students to the 40 to 50 USM students who graduate from the four-year program.
The ceremony was held in the Mitchell Center's "Learning Factory," a facility that will give students hands-on experience with the latest technologies used in world-class manufacturing. The facility features a simulated manufacturing line, complete with computer work stations to guide robotic arms that actually do the "hands-on" assembly line work.
USM plans to expand this facility with funds from passage of Question #2 on the June ballot. Question #2 includes $9 million for a joint USM/University of Maine education and technical assistance program targeted to the needs of Maine manufacturers. If passed, the universities can provide more technical assistance to Maine businesses and serve more students. Current facilities cannot handle the demand.
MAINE MANUFACTURING EDUCATION 2+2 AGREEMENT
FACT SHEET
WHAT IS THE AGREEMENT?
The University of Southern Maine has articulation agreements with all seven institutions in the Maine Technical College System (Central Maine Technical College, Eastern Maine Technical College, Kennebec Valley Technical College, Northern Maine Technical College, Southern Maine Technical College, York County Technical College, Washington County Technical College) that facilitate transfers into more than 25 USM academic programs. This past fall, USM had 503 transfer students from the Maine Technical College System.
The agreement signed today is a 2+2 program in manufacturing technology. As a result, qualified graduates of the manufacturing technology or machine tool technology programs at Central Maine Technical College, Eastern Maine Technical College, Northern Maine Technical College and Southern Maine Technical College can be automatically accepted as juniors in USM's bachelor's degree in manufacturing technology.
WHY WAS THE AGREEMENT DEVELOPED?
Maine manufacturers need more employees with a bachelor's degree in manufacturing technology but the supply of four-year graduates is decreasing. The University of Southern Maine's School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (ASET) teamed up with the four colleges in the Maine Technical College System to meet that demand.
HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE SERVED?
About 40-50 students each year graduate from USM's bachelor's degree in manufacturing technology, the only program of its kind in Maine. The 2 + 2 agreement will produce another 20 graduates per year.
WHO PARTICIPATED IN TODAY'S CEREMONY?
USM's Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph Wood; John Wright, dean of USM's School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, who developed the agreement with his colleagues in the Maine Technical College System. They included President Jim Ortiz of SMTC; President Scott Knapp of CMTC; Joyce Hedlund of EMTC; Terrence Overlock of NMTC, who represented President Tim Crowley. Rodney Rodrigue, Executive Director of the Maine Manufacturing Extension Program, also participated. USM and the Technical Colleges provide direct assistance to Maine manufacturers through the extension program.
MORE INFORMATION:
For help arranging interviews, please contact Bob Caswell of USM Media Relations at 780-4200 or Alice Kirkpatrick, director of public affairs, at the Maine Technical College System, 767-0116, ext. 3.
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