The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) is expanding and making higher education more accessible to Mainers statewide.  After a revisioning process led by UMA President Rebecca Wyke over the 2017-18 academic year, implementation has begun to reintegrate eight University College Centers and re-establish a long-standing and historic relationship, fulfilling UMA’s statewide mission.  Students will benefit through increased support and engagement opportunities.   

The eight centers will now be known as UMA Centers, and are located in Brunswick, Ellsworth, East Millinocket, Houlton, Rockland, Rumford, Saco, and South Paris. The vast majority of the students at the UMA Centers are currently UMA students, taking part in distance education or onsite classes. This renewed relationship will expand course availability and academic supports for UMA students across the state.  

“Our UMA community is poised to begin the transition to realize fully its statewide mission,” said President Wyke. “This provides us with a tremendous opportunity to support students and faculty, increase the number of courses offered onsite at the regional centers, and expand academic support for distance and online students throughout Maine.”

The eight UMA Centers will continue to provide the same high level of service to students in their communities and to support the faculty teaching distance and onsite education at centers, as well as 32 UMA course receive sites located at high schools, adult education centers, and other locations statewide.  New signage over the summer will announce the renewal of the UMA and UMA Center relationship.

UMA Centers will still provide students with access and support to distance education courses offered by all of the University of Maine System campuses.

The third largest university in the University of Maine System, UMA serves nearly 6,000 students at campuses in Augusta and Bangor and its eight UMA Centers, along with 32 Interactive Television (ITV) course receive sites in virtually every corner of the state. 

The majority of UMA graduates (about 600 annually) earn a baccalaureate degree in a professional field of study that meets a specific state or regional economic need. Graduates overwhelmingly stay in Maine, and many become leaders in their profession and their community.

UMA remains dedicated to its mission: The transformation of the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs.  For more information visit: https://www.uma.edu/statewide/.