Technology, innovation,
outreach and partnership
cornerstones to Northern Maine Community College
growth and service to local region
by Karen GOnya
The recent addition and expansion of new degree
were added to the College at the request of local healthcare
programs in allied health and in the rapidly growing
organizations, as examples of NMCC’s proactive work in the
wind power technology field, as well as advances in new
region.
technology and outreach to communities and businesses
Expansion of College programs and services
throughout Aroostook County, have well-positioned
throughout the County has also provided area residents
Northern Maine Community College to meet the region’s
increased access to higher education. NMCC, in
current and future workforce and economic development
partnership with Houlton Regional Hospital, has doubled
needs.
the number of students enrolled in its distant nursing
On the heels of an academic year that saw a double- program in Southern Aroostook, and will this fall, in
digit enrollment increase, and unprecedented activity,
partnership with the St. John Valley Adult and Community
Maine’s northernmost community college finds itself in
Education Collaborative, offer both its nursing and early
the midst of its busiest summer session in recent memory
childhood education associate degree programs on-site in the
and well-poised for this coming fall. The high number of
Valley. An additional partnership with the Loring Job Corps
students taking courses over the
Center will open wider the doors to
summer on campus is largely
higher education for students in the
attributed to the section of
Job Corps program nationwide.
classes for displaced workers
NMCC has also taken
that the College began offering
significant steps toward enhancing
in early March, shortly after
student learning through unique
a large number of layoffs in
partnerships with, and support from,
the region. Classes for the 45
the business community. In the past
students enrolled in the special
year, the College has opened the first
program, for which NMCC
Allied Health Simulation Center
has been lauded statewide,
north of Bangor with the support
will continue through the
of the Anthem Blue Cross Blue
summer, and the students will
Shield Foundation, a new Business
matriculate into specific degree
Technology Center through the
programs at the start of the next
generosity of MMG Insurance and
semester.
is preparing to celebrate the opening
“The mission of
of a newly renovated lecture hall,
the College and the efforts
complete with the latest in video
of our faculty and staff are
conferencing technology, funded
first and foremost to meet
through the U.S. Department of
the educational, training
Health and Human Services with the
and economic development
support of Senators Olympia Snowe
needs of the region we serve,”
and Susan Collins.
said NMCC President Tim
The efforts of the College
Crowley. “Our commitment
were recently recognized by the
to the betterment of and to the
Commission on Institutions of
people of Aroostook County
Higher Education of New England
In a training session this spring utilizing the
is unwavering and with strong
Association of School and Colleges
technology in the new Allied Health Simulation
community support and feedback,Center, senior nursing students (foreground, from – the accrediting body for postwe have achieved a great deal in left) Julie Ellis and Amber Broome perform an
secondary schools throughout the
the past year toward that end.” assessment on a pediatric “p