$35 million in federal relief funds will be invested in critical university workforce infrastructure and experience opportunities advancing economic recovery and Maine’s 10-year strategic plan
Orono, Maine — Governor Janet Mills has signed the legislation to implement the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan (LD 1733). The legislation directs $35 million to the University of Maine System to accelerate talent development, research and innovation in support of Maine’s economic recovery and the long-term economic growth and global competitiveness of Maine.
“The Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan will bring innovation and new jobs to several of Maine’s leading industries,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. “Governor Mills has provided remarkable leadership throughout the pandemic and has a vision for our recovery. We are grateful to the Governor and the Legislature for recognizing how we are deploying our research expertise and infrastructure across the state to build a stronger workforce and attract talent and resources to Maine.”
In March, Chancellor Malloy asked UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy to expand her leadership role and extend the research capacity of the state’s research university by accepting an appointment as the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for the University of Maine System. Ferrini-Mundy coordinated the development of the investment plan presented to the Mills Administration for the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan with researchers, academic leaders, and program leaders across the University of Maine System.
“Experience is the best teacher. With investments from the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, we will be inviting more students than ever before into exploratory learning opportunities, paid internships, and career preparation programs connected to the Maine workforce,” said Ferrini-Mundy.
“We received innovative research and learning proposals from across the University of Maine System,” continued Ferrini-Mundy. “While much of our work will take place at our flagship campus in Orono, we are eager to bring new investments to all of our universities, to our Aroostook Farm and to partners like the Downeast Institute in Washington County.”
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About the University of Maine System
Established in 1968, the University of Maine System (UMS) unites six distinctive public universities, comprising 10 campuses and numerous centers, in the common purpose of providing quality higher education while delivering on its traditional tripartite mission of teaching, research, and public service.
In 2020 UMS became the first and only statewide enterprise of public higher education in the country to transition to a unified accreditation for the system. Much different than a merger or consolidation, unified accreditation is a new operating model for the University of Maine System that removes the primary barrier to inter-institutional collaboration.
A comprehensive public institution of higher education, UMS serves more than 30,000 students annually and is supported by the efforts of more than 2,000 full-time and part-time faculty, more than 3,000 regular full-time and part-time staff, and a complement of part-time temporary (adjunct) faculty.
Reaching more than 500,000 people annually through educational and cultural offerings, the University of Maine System also benefits from more than two-thirds of its alumni population residing within the state; more than 123,000 individuals.
The System consists of seven main campuses: The University of Maine (UMaine), including its regional campus the University of Maine at Machias (UMM); the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA); the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF); the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK), the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI); and the University of Southern Maine (USM). The System also includes a UMA campus in Bangor, USM campuses in Gorham and Lewiston-Auburn, the University of Maine School of Law, and the University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center.
Please follow these links to the UMS Logo, UMS and individual university style guides and an image and biographical information for Chancellor Malloy.
