UPDATE From: President Richard L. Pattenaude
Number 5, January 2006
> Trustees Approve USM Mechanical Engineering Degree
> LAC Master Plan
> Recent Science Lab Renovations
> USM’s Use of State R&D Funds
> 3,317 and Counting
> USM Women’s Basketball
> In Recognition
> In Memoriam
On Monday afternoon, January 23, the Board of Trustees approved a baccalaureate degree program in mechanical engineering at USM, which will begin in fall 2006. The ASET program was established to help offset the shortage of mechanical engineers in Maine and the region by providing not only a major new source of engineers, but also opportunities for existing and new businesses to further their enterprises in Maine. The degree program will benefit prospective students in southern Maine who are interested in earning a mechanical engineering degree, but are place-bound for family, financial, or employment reasons. Read more at: http://www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_0506/MEdegree.htm.
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With the help of Harriman Associates, we are in the process of developing a Master Plan for our Lewiston-Auburn campus that will help us make decisions regarding LAC’s development. As part of this process, LAC Dean Zark VanZandt has been leading a series of meetings to discuss current space requirements and to identify future areas for LAC’s growth, both physical and programmatic.
Presently, we are envisioning the addition of two wings off the current facility. When completed, the additions would include new classrooms, offices, meeting spaces, nursing and science labs, and a home for the Educational Change Center. The Center is a project of the community-based College for ME-Androscoggin initiative that aims to double the number of college graduates in Androscoggin County over the next 10 years. To learn more, visit: http://www.usm.maine.edu/lac/masterplan/.
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Thanks to funding from a November 2003 state bond, a federal earmark, a National Science Foundation grant, and private donations, the College of Arts and Sciences has completed renovation of two science laboratories on the Portland campus. The Department of Biology’s microbiology laboratory is now a safer, more effective and more accessible learning environment with newly upgraded fixtures, improved access for students with disabilities, and the purchase of new equipment, including a new eye wash station. Similarly, the Department of Chemistry’s organic chemistry laboratory now features updated exhaust hoods and air handling systems, improved access for students with disabilities, and special equipment that allows undergraduate students to work with sensitive compounds.
These renovations are a perfect example of how the combination of state, federal and private support not only can help us provide access to safer, healthier and more accessible laboratories for learning and research, but also ensure our students are well prepared to enter a competitive, technological work environment. We will continue to look for other funding partnerships for future renovations.
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In recent years, USM has been making great strides to foster our R&D capacity, not only building our research potential, but also our ability to attract research grants. In FY05, USM leveraged $2.3 million received from the Maine Economic Improvement Fund (MEIF) to bring in an additional $1.9 million in external grants and contracts, and created and/or supported 118 jobs through MEIF funds and external grants and contracts. This growth has a direct impact on our ability as an institution to enhance our region’s economic vitality. For a closer look at the depth and breadth of the research we conducted in FY05 with the help of MEIF funds, see: http://www.maine.edu/ppa/pdf/meif05annualreport.pdf.
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Congratulations to BRISM Senior Research Scientist and Aquatic Systems Group Director Lew Incze, Aquatic Systems Group Research Associate Nick Wolff, and their colleagues, for receiving international recognition for contributions to their USM-based project The Gulf of Maine Census of Marine Life. The group recently completed their first count of known marine species in the Gulf, identifying 3,317 species—over 50 percent more species than previous estimates. The team’s findings could prove a vital tool for better management of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. For more information, please visit: http://www.usm.maine.edu/gulfofmaine-census/.
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The USM women’s basketball team continues to receive national attention, earning top placements in two national polls. As of December, the Huskies were ranked number one in both the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association's USA Today/ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll and the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll. There’s still plenty of time to catch more of this exciting season as the women’s basketball team hosts several home games through February. For a complete game schedule, visit: http://www.usm.maine.edu/athl/Women's_Basketball/wbbsch.html.
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In recognition of our work in transforming teacher education, USM’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) was selected by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to participate in a national working meeting on K-12 and teacher-candidate assessment. Last month, CEHD Dean and Professor Betty Lou Whitford and Associate Professors Ken Jones and Trudy Wilson were among faculty and administrators from 30 select institutions participating in the program designed to explore national issues and generate ideas for collaboration. Read more: http://www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_0506/carnegie.htm.
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We all deeply regret the loss of our beloved colleague and friend Mert Nickerson, director of USM IT networking and sales, who passed away on January 12. For nearly 40 years—20 years at USM, and earlier with UNET’s predecessor CAPS—Mert’s hard work, leadership and talent has helped us transform our technology to better serve our students, faculty and staff. His passing is a great loss to our community, personally and professionally, and he will be missed greatly. On behalf of USM, I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Mert’s wife Ruth and the entire Nickerson family. Donations in remembrance of Mert can be made to the American Lung Association of Maine, 122 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330.
Our community also is saddened by the loss of sophomore nursing student Christina McKinney, who died Friday, January 20. In addition to being a student, Christina also worked at the Information Desk in the Woodbury Campus Center in Portland. Our thoughts are with Christina’s family during this time of sorrow. Memorial gifts in Christina’s name can be made to the Christina McKinney Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1513, Windham, Maine 04062.
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