It is the first day of the new spring semester and the forecast is for a foot of snow on the Downeast coast. Full time student Tracy Camber is manning the desk as part of her work-study program, answering inquiries and canceling appointments at the University College at Rockland. The phone calls, personal attention, computer hand-holding, healthy snacks, free water bottles and pocket calendars — all are benefits the student body has come to expect and appreciate at their local home-town university.
A satellite center for the University of Maine System, formerly located in the old Thomaston Academy building, “URock” opened its doors in the summer of 2007. The facility is now housed on the fourth floor of the Breakwater Marketplace, located on Route 1 north of downtown. This semester has seen enrollment jump to 520 students, plus another 300 enrolled in the program known as Coastal Senior College. The student body comes from an area reaching to Damariscotta, Washington and Lincolnville, as well as the islands of Islesboro, Vinalhaven, North Haven and Monhegan. Classes are available on-site, on-line and through Interactive Television (ITV) locations throughout the state.
Director Deborah Meehan proudly dubs the new school the “Service Center of Knox County,” adding that it is now the largest off-campus center in the state. Explains Meehan, “The staff and board of directors knew that we did not want to relocate further south; that our critical mass would come from the Rockland area and surrounding communities. I had a vision of being in proximity to the ferry service so that students could get off of the boat and walk here. It has proven itself in that we have seen a great surge in pedestrian students.”
Location was only one factor influencing the vision for the new facility. Identifying the needs of the Midcoast region for off-campus education has been Meehan’s and student services coordinator Beverly Bayer’s focus. While the enrollment draws from both ends of the spectrum — newly graduated and soon-to-graduate high school students in the Aspirations program, to senior citizens clamoring to fill classes in art history, world religion and current events in the Senior College program — the majority of URock’s students are adults going back to school for re-training and re-certification. Most are working adults with family obligations, approximately 80 percent are women.
Like many islanders, Linnell Mather of Vinalhaven depends on several jobs, depending on the season, weather conditions and current economic conditions of the community itself. She manages and employs many seasonal workers in her landscape design business, is administrative assistant and bookkeeper for the Vinalhaven Land Trust, and juggles some of each when the seasons overlap. Through URock and ITV courses offered on Vinalhaven she is completing courses toward an accounting degree with the hope of creating “another career option.”
While she is already utilizing her coursework in both of her current jobs, an unexpected benefit has been “…the opportunity to think and use my brain. It has been nice to incorporate learning back into my life.” Mather currently attends ITV courses with one or two other students at the island high school, but was pleased with the degree of interaction with her advisors and faculty. “I receive frequent emails about course offerings or things going on that I can attend at other campuses. I feel as if I am a part of a larger community.”
For both Bayer and Meehan it is the personal transformation that education can have in a person’s life that inspires them. Bayer has been a guidance counselor with the school for 16 years. She says of the student body, “The people I have been working with are very motivated, they know how to juggle the various demands of school, career, and family. It feels so great when classes are going, the stimulation is very obvious. People are excited to be busy, despite the cold, despite winter. There is a wonderful expression: `Small minded people talk about people. Wider minded people talk about ideas and concepts.’ That is what I see here and the reason I get up every day. ”
Adds Meehan, “I don’t like it when someone mocks `liberal arts’ and justifies `industry targeted’ education. Yes, today’s workforce is clamoring for computer literacy, communication skills, problem solving, customer service…. When you educate the whole person, teach writing and communication to people who have never been exposed to philosophy and psychology, you see a beautiful light come into their eyes, their confidence is ratcheted way up. I think of one mother with four children who attends school here, her high school aged son is now coming with her. He is brilliant and it is such a pleasure to see them. We want to ground our students in a good experience. Part of our success in this area of Maine has been the great teaching resources available to us. Moving to Rockland has helped that.”
Along with the general courses of study offered by the University of Maine in liberal studies, applied science, business and accounting, mental health and social services, library science, nursing and dental hygiene, University College at Rockland actively seeks to develop new programs to dovetail with the economic needs and changing job market. The campus has expanded its courses to meet the re-certification needs of local school teachers and administrators along with certification programs in child and youth care. Certification courses for medical technician, lab technician and mental health rehabilitation have been added.
Graduate and master’s degrees have been introduced in computer and electrical engineering, education leadership and literacy programs. New programs are being developed and grant monies being sought for programs in media and filmmaking.
Perhaps the greatest service the university offers its students is enthusiasm, support systems, motivation and sense of accomplishment.
For information about upcoming courses and programs, financial aid and/or scholarships go to (www.learn.maine.edu) or call 207-596-6906.