Glenn “Chip” Curry has been named Center Director at UMA Rockland Center.Ěý Curry has been a long-time UMA Rockland Student Services Coordinator with an extensive background in guiding students through a successful completion of their higher education goals.

Curry has over 25 years’ experience supporting students and recentĚýcollege alumni in their pursuit of their educational and career goals.Ěý He moved to Maine after earning his Master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership from Miami University in Ohio.Ěý His background in higher education is quite extensive and includes working at Unity College and Americorps VISTA Project.Ěý Chip has served as the Student Services Coordinator at the UMA Rockland Center since 2013 where he has supported students of all ages from pre-college admissions through graduation.Ěý Curry is excited to continue to support students in the mid-coast region as they pursue their post-secondary education.

Additionally, Kathryn (Katie) Ebert will join the UMA Rockland Center as a Student Services Coordinator on April 11. She is currently a counselor in UMA’s Early College Office.Ěý Katie holds a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Policy from Portland State University and comes to UMA Rockland with over ten years’ experience advising college students.

The UMA Rockland Center is one of eight UMA Centers around Maine offering courses, academic programs, and support for individuals seeking to earn a university degree close to home. Courses are taught by faculty on-site, online, or via videoconferencing, allowing students to pursue their studies while meeting family and work obligations.

Beginning springĚý2021, the Â鶹APP’s (UMA)ĚýEducation ProgramĚýbegan offering two new Bachelor of Science degree opportunities for individuals seeking a career as teachers: a B.S. in Elementary Education with concentrations in Early Elementary (K-3) and Elementary (K-8), and a B.S. in Secondary Education with concentrations in Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Life Sciences, and Physical Science.ĚýĚýApplicationsĚýare currently being accepted.

“We keep in contact with many UMA graduates who are employed in schools across Maine,” stated Cindy Dean, UMA Associate Professor of Education and Coordinator of Teacher Education. “While the past several months have been unprecedented for the education profession, it has also provided opportunities for innovation and reinforced the resolve of those who entered the profession to provide the best education possible forĚýthe next generation,” Dean continued. “With two new bachelor degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education, UMA is ready for the next step in preparing the next generation of teachers.”

Whether a current undergraduate or someone considering a career change, the Education faculty assist those interested in teaching careers to find the best pathway to meet their goals.Ěý The teacher education programs offer robust courses, field experiences, service learning, and collaboration with peers and faculty that help provide the necessary competencies of Maine’s Common Core Teaching Standards. Upon successful completion of all program and state requirements, graduates with a B.S. in Elementary or Secondary Education will be recommended by UMA for professional certification.

UMA is unique in offering distance learning for aspiring teachers. Students can earn their degree in a range of places, times, and circumstances by taking classes on-site, online (synchronously and/or asynchronously), and/or at UMA Centers located across the state.

Additionally, minors in Early Childhood Teacher (B-5) and Special Education (co-offered with the University of Maine at Machias) are available, as well as Post-baccalaureate certificates of study in Early Childhood, Early Elementary, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

The Â鶹APP announces the availability of a completely online financial literacy course for Maine high school students during summer session.Ěý David Leach, a retired Maine State government financial regulatory employee and a UMA Lecturer since 2002, will be the lead instructor.

“The creation of Personal Financial Planning (BUA151), as an online course exclusively for Maine’s high school students provides an opportunity for students to develop strong financial underpinnings as they consider their next steps after high school,” said Rachael Magill, Director of Â鶹APP Early College Program.

“Â鶹APP Early College Program has for years provided the opportunity for high school students in Maine to earn college credits, at a reduced tuition rate, before they set foot on a college campus and thereby reducing the overall cost of a college education”, continued Magill.Ěý “This new course is an extension of Â鶹APP efforts to ensure our students are financially knowledgeable as they pursue their future educational and professional goals.”

“This is a ten-week, life changing course which provides the essential information on must-know financial topics for young adults,” said Leach.Ěý “The topics of banking, establishing and maintaining credit, responsible borrowing, personal budgeting, investing and insurance will all be addressed in this online course.”

This weekly three-credit course begins on May 10 and run through July 12 with students taking part in online classes with Leach and a host of other experts in the financial services and regulatory fields. Weekly online quizzes and a final exam will allow students to apply the knowledge they gain in the course to in real-life scenarios.

“This is the course that adults universally believe should be offered to high school students in the United States, and at the Â鶹APP, we have created such a course,” remarked Leach.Ěý “Auto buying and financing, the responsible use of credit cards, the ABC’s of home buying, along with gaining a working understanding of insurance, investing and living within a budget are all essential skill-sets for a productive financial future,” stated Leach.

The class is limited to 75 students. Students interested in registering for the course can contactĚýÂ鶹APP Office of Early CollegeĚý˛ąłŮĚýumaearlycollege@maine.eduĚýto learn more and how to apply.

Â鶹APP (UMA) Architecture Program is hosting a virtual panel discussion via Zoom with passive house architects from the northeast and northwest United States. The panel will take place on April 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. EDT/8:00 a.m. PDT and coincides with the 51^stĚýEarth Day.

The presenting panelists are Stephen Aiguier of Green Hammer, Oregon, Chris Briley of Briburn, Maine, Tad Everhart of CertiPHIers, Oregon, and Matt O’Malia of OPAL, Maine. Amy Hinkley, an architecture faculty member at UMA, will moderate the discussion.

The event is open to the public, however registration is required.Ěý To register go toĚýĚýor for more information, please contact Emily Pettengill atĚýemily.r.pettengill@maine.eduĚýor 207-621-3582.

“Given the current state of our global environment, it is essential that the architecture profession address issues of sustainability in the design and construction of both new and existing buildings. Passive House buildings are designed and constructed to be highly energy-efficient,” says Architecture Program Coordinator Eric Stark. “These buildings can reduce temperature fluctuations, improve indoor air quality, and make a space more enjoyable to live and work in. Passive House strategies can also reduce energy use by up to 90% and reduce environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions. It is incumbent that architecture schools teach their students to think and act in ways that benefit our planet in the long term. Understanding the principles and strategies employed in Passive House design should be a significant part of that education.”

About the panelists:

Tad Everhart is a PHI-accredited building Certifier and co-founder of CertiPHIers Cooperative. Tad and his brother Garth Everhart developed and built over 40 homes in Portland, Oregon before EnerPHitting Tad’s family’s home starting in 2009 to be 100% renewable electric powered by 2016.Ěý CertiPHIers Cooperative members certify offices, high-rise and low-rise multifamily, mixed-use, and institutional buildings throughout North America.

Stephen Aiguier is a pioneer of Oregon’s green building movement. Stephen founded Green Hammer in 2002 and has grown the company into a full-service design-build firm known for its commitment to excellence in environmental design and performance. He is a dedicated educator, business leader, and father who has committed much of his life to proving that healthy, carbon-free buildings are the best choice — for a healthy planet, healthy people and a healthy bottom line.

The executive partner and founder of OPAL, Matthew O’Malia is an award-winning architect with a nationwide reputation for innovation and expertise in the design of high-performance buildings. A leader in Passive House design in North America and named to Architect magazine’s Architect 50 list in 2018, he is a frequent speaker at sustainable design conferences in the U.S. and abroad.

Chris Briley is a principal architect at Briburn where he practices “architecture for life” specializing in sustainable design. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant.Ěý He is also co-host of the Green Architects’ Lounge podcast, an enthusiastic participant of the Building Science Discussion Group in Portland, and a founding board member of PassivhausMAINE.

About the moderator:

Amy Hinkley is a faculty member in the UMA Architecture,Ěýteaching courses on Building Science, Construction Tectonics, and Design Research. A practicing architect, Amy’s professional workĚýevidences a commitment to sustainable construction methodologiesĚýand building systems, as well as larger issues of landscape, site andĚýcommunity. Issues of environmental and ecological sensitivity areĚýdeeply grounded in both her design and teaching ethic.

This substantial grant from the Sunshine Lady Foundation extends the legacy of the late Doris Buffett, who passed away in August 2020 in her home in Rockport.Ěý UMA began providing educational opportunities at the MSP in 2006, in collaboration with Doris who was the moving force behind the initiation of the degree program.Ěý Since then, 130 degrees have been awarded, fully funded by the Sunshine Lady Foundation until Pell funding became available in 2016.

Participants in the virtual event included, UMA President Rebecca Wyke, Maine DOC Commissioner Randall Liberty, MSP Warden Matthew Magnusson, Mitty Beal, Executive Director of the Sunshine Lady Foundation, and Katy Grant, DOC Adult Educational and Vocational Services Manager. Also taking part in the event were Sunshine Lady Scholars Charlie Jones, who received a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from UMA in 2016 and Daniel Porter, who is anticipated to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from UMA in 2021.

“We are honored to receive this support from the Sunshine Lady Foundation,” stated Deborah Meehan, Executive Director of UMA Centers. “This funding is an acknowledgement of the long-standing partnership with the Maine Department of Corrections and our mutual goals of improving the lives of Maine’s DOC residents.”

Mitty Beal added, “Doris was personally committed to the UMA college program at the MaineĚýState Prison and she would be thrilled to have this improved educational space created in her honor.”

“What’s happening here, the education, the partnership, the investment in an individual’s future should never be in short supply,” said Commissioner Liberty. “Through the commitment of Mitty Beal and the Sunshine Lady Foundation, along with the dedication of the UMA faculty and staff, it will never have to be.”

“Â鶹APP Prison Education Program furthers our university’s mission of making a college education accessible to all,” said President Wyke. “These educational experiences are invaluable to the prison residents, reducing their recidivism rates and improving their employment opportunities upon release.”

The renovations undertaken at the MSP resulted in dedicated physical space for educational programming with improved technology. SMRT Architects and Engineers designed the project and Penobscot Construction completed the renovations, within budget and on time.Ěý Classes in the renovated space began last week.

Most recently, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, through itsĚýFuture of Higher Learning in PrisonĚýgrant programĚýawarded UMA a $941,000 grant in support of its Prison Education Partnership.

Ribbon cutting at the Doris Buffett Higher Education Center located in the Maine State Prison, Warren. Cutting the ribbon are from left to right Maine DOC Commissioner Randall Liberty; UMA graduate and Sunshine Lady Scholar Shaun Libby; Deborah Meehan, Executive Director of UMA Centers; and Jessica Johnson, Senior Architect, SMRT Architects and Engineers. Photo Courtesy of Maine Department of Corrections.

This fall, the Â鶹APP (UMA) begins offering a new graduate level program in the interdisciplinary field of emergency management. The online program will admit its first cohort in fall 2021 andĚýĚýare now being accepted.

°Őłó±đĚýTrauma-Informed Emergency ManagementĚý(TEM) program is Maine’s first graduate program in the interdisciplinary field of emergency management, and the country’s only emergency management graduate program that is trauma-informed. The 16-credit TEM program curriculum is rooted in the Emergency Management Cycle, recognizing the essential roles of preparedness, resilience, mitigation, adaptation, response, and recovery in all emergency management related fields. The program integrates a trauma-informed perspective, recognizing the substantial impact of trauma to individuals and communities, as well as to the emergency responders themselves.

“The past year dealing with the pandemic has brought into focus the need for well-trained professionals in all areas of emergency management,” stated Kati Corlew, UMA Associate Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of the new program. “Providing a trauma-informed perspective is a very critical part of the graduate certificate program, and is an important part of an emergency management response, regardless of the type of emergency or the number of individuals involved,” Corlew continued.

“The new graduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Emergency Management is an excellent opportunity for those in all areas of crisis management to expand their skills in their current employment or to provide a credential that will lead to career advancement,” stated UMA President Rebecca Wyke.Ěý “As a completely online program, it is a flexible educational option allowing individuals to maintain family and work obligations.”

The graduate certificate is appropriate for current and future emergency managers, crisis workers, town planners, not-for-profit and community-based organizations, educators, school board members and administration, data managers, counselors, and others in private and public sectors who seek to increase their organization’s or community’s preparedness for emergency.

This UMA-based program collaboratively draws expert faculty from across other University of Maine System schools to offer a robust curriculum that will increase emergency management capacity and professional expertise.

Registration for Â鶹APP fall 2021 classes begins on April 12, 2021.Ěý Now is the time to learn more about UMA online degree and graduate certificate opportunities.

Celena Zacchai – UMA 2021 Newman Scholar

AugustaĚý–Ěý, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 212 students who will make up the organization’sĚý, including the Â鶹APP’s own Celena Zacchai.Ěý This year’s cohort includes students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico.

Celena Zacchai is aĚýUMA Social Science major, who attends many classes at the UMA Rockland Center. In addition to being recognized as a Newman Civic Fellow, Zacchai was also selected as a 2020 Maine Policy Scholar, researching the topic of the Role of Maine State Policy in Increasing Access to Affordable Housing for Maine Seniors. At Â鶹APP 2020 Convocation Ceremony, she delivered the student perspective on the year’s academic theme of “Outbreak” and in 2019, she was honored as a UMA Rising Scholar.

“It was my privilege to nominate Celena as a Newman Civic Fellow,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “She has demonstrated resilience, commitment, and leadership in her time at UMA and dedicated herself to improving her community. This is a well-deserved recognition of her commitment to civic issues of importance to Maine.”

“I am honored to represent UMA as a Newman Civic Fellow and grateful to have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside so many bright and dedicated students,” stated Zacchai. “I chose to pursue a degree in the Social Sciences because I want to help make a difference. The Newman Civic Fellowship provides training and networking opportunities that will help me toward that goal,” she continued.

As an undergrad, Zacchai has developed an interest in the relationship between physical space and human health and well-being, environmental racism, and affordable housing issues. She plans to pursue a master’s in policy, planning, and management upon completing her BA in 2022.

The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors nominate student leaders from their campuses to be named Newman Civic Fellows.

“We are proud to recognize these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to engage with them,” said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. “The experience of the last year has driven home to all of us that we need open-minded, innovative, public-spirited thinkers and doers. That is what Campus Compact is about, and the stories of our Newman Civic Fellows demonstrate it’s who they are.”

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides Fellows with a variety of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth. Each year, fellows participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities to help provide them with the skills and connections they need to create large-scale positive change.

“UMA is honored to receive this designation,” stated UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing a welcoming community for our military service members and veterans.”

“We are very excited to receive this designation from Military Friendly Schools recognizing Â鶹APP commitment to support our military service members and veterans, and their families,” said Amy Line, UMA Director of Military and Veterans’ Services. “This has been a challenging year for everyone as we have responded to the pandemic. However, we have maintained the lines of communication and contacts with service members and their families through the use of virtual meetings and in-person contacts within the COVID-19 protocols.”

Institutions earning the designation are evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. Methodology, criteria, and weightings are determined by with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

Over 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey with 747 earning the designation. The 2021-2022 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at .

Earlier this year, UMA was also ranked by US News and World Report as Best Online Bachelor’s Degree for Veterans.

“We are very honored to receive this grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of our Prison Education Partnership,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke.Ěý “The Prison Education Partnership program is transformational to people’s lives. Providing educational opportunities within Maine’s correctional facilities furthers Â鶹APP mission to make a college education accessible to all,” Wyke continued. “Most importantly, these educational experiences are invaluable to our incarcerated students, reducing their recidivism rates and improving their employment opportunities upon release.”

UMA began providing educational opportunities at the Maine State Prison in 2006. Funding for this program, which has awarded over 130 Associates and Bachelor’s degrees since its inception, began with the Doris Buffett Sunshine Lady Foundation. The Prison Education Partnership program has expanded to other state correctional facilities with the aid of federal Second Chance Pell funding.Ěý The two-year Mellon Foundation grant will allow the program to integrate fully higher education opportunities at all state corrections facilities.

“We have an exceptional partner in the Maine Department of Corrections,” stated Deborah Meehan, Executive Director of UMA Centers. “The leadership at the Maine State Prison and the DOC, particularly Commissioner Randall Liberty, has been supportive of our efforts since the beginning and will be instrumental for the successful implementation of this generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.”

Additionally, the grant funds will support a director to coordinate Â鶹APP PEP; obtain technology needed to continue educational programming when onsite instruction is not possible (as experienced during the pandemic), and expand the Humanities based courses and extra-curricular lectures and similar activities in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council.Ěý Other partners who will support the grant proposals initiatives include USM Justice Policy Program and Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition.

“This award, and the continued collaboration with UMA is in keeping with our collective commitment to theĚýtransformative power of education, which I have witnessed first-hand throughout my career in corrections,”Ěýsays Commissioner Randall Liberty.

“The Mellon Foundation grant will allow UMA to expand our course offerings in two important areas,” said Greg Fahy, UMA Dean of the College of Arts and Science. “The current pandemic brought into clear focus the need for additional technology to enhance our ability to teach remotely within the prisons when access for in-person instruction is not available.Ěý Additionally, through our partnership with the Maine Humanities Council and the Freedom and Captivity Initiative based at Colby College, our Humanities programming will be greatly expanded in the classroom and through extra-curricular opportunities.”

In fall 2020, 82 students were enrolled at five correctional facilities, and a similar enrollment is expected for spring 2021. UMA provides high-quality college courses, both in-person and online via Zoom, at the Maine State Prison, the Maine Correctional Center, Bolduc Correctional Facility, Mountain View Correctional Facility, and the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center.

Â鶹APP full-time and part-time faculty teach courses at these locations, with the same academic standards regardless of a student’s incarceration status.Ěý Courses includes college writing, literature, biology, math, psychology, sociology, art history, gender studies, as well as advanced coursework in human rights, history, social science, restorative justice, writing, and literature. Â鶹APP Centers across the state provide student support services in addition to guidance and re-entry support as students transition back to their communities.

UMA Student (Pre-Covid-19 photo)

ĚýU.S. News and World ReportsĚýranked theĚýÂ鶹APPĚý(UMA) in its list of the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs, including separate rankings for Best Online Bachelor’s for Veterans and Best Online Business Bachelor’s Degree.Ěý

“We are very honored to be recognized by U.S. News and World Reports,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “UMA has a 30 year history in distance education and we continually seek to innovate our online programs,” Wyke continued. “With faculty experienced in distance learning modalities and outstanding student support programs, UMA students can be confident about receiving a high quality online learning experience.” Ěý

“Achieving these rankings could not be accomplished without the extraordinary efforts of our faculty and student support professionals,” said Joseph Szakas, UMA Provost. “During the recent surge in online programming due to COVID-19, UMA was uniquely poised to provide quality instruction for students learning at a distance.”

“Online programming is critical for degree completion that will meet the state’s workforce needs,” stated Jonathan Henry, UMA Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing.Ěý “Many of our students finish their college education while continuing to work and meet family obligations. Delivering classes in various modalities provide students the flexibility to meet the competing demands on their time.”Ěý

UMA is a partner in theĚýĚýinitiative, joining its goal that by 2025, 60% of Mainers will hold education and workforce credentials that position Maine and its families for success.

The U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on statistical data gathered from questionnaires about each institution’s online specific bachelor’s degree programs. The factors considered included faculty credentials and training, student services and technologies, and student engagement.Ěý Over 350 institutions across the country participated in the U.S. News and World Report survey.