Preparing for Future Growth

IN 1872, ENGINEER BENJAMIN GOULD was the first graduate of the University of Maine. Since then, Maine engineers continue to hold important and influential positions in Maine’s economy and beyond.

The University of Maine College of Engineering has seen remarkable growth — 70% growth in undergraduates since 2001. As a result, our faculty and facilities have reached capacity. Starting in Fall, 2016, the College had no choice but to cap enrollment in our most popular programs.

The next step for the College is to build infrastructure to serve the demand from incoming students and need from industry for our graduates. With a job placement rate approaching 99%, economic and labor statistics in Maine support this growth.

We are working hard to build a new building to provide additional classrooms, laboratories, new technology and graduate school opportunities. The laboratories and classrooms will focus on team-based, hands-on engineering which industry demands of our graduates. The addition of new space will support modern interdisciplinary approaches to engineering projects. The new Engineering Education and Design Center will be located in the heart of the current engineering district on campus, enabling maximum utilization.

This building represents Phase II of the College’s facilities plan. Phase I was completed in 2016, addressed critical safety and maintenance issues for current buildings.

“This is a responsible, no risk investment for UMaine. The demand is high from both prospective students and industry. The College has a history of success and this project builds on that success.”

Dana N. Humphrey, Ph.D., P.E.
Dean, College of Engineering and Saunders Professor of Engineering Leadership and Management

Universities across the country are in a similar situation. In New England alone our peer institutions (public flagship universities) are currently investing nearly $1/2 billion in similar upgrades to their engineering capacity. UMaine and Maine are positioned to continue to be leaders in engineering. Phase II of our facilities plan will secure that position.

PROJECT UPDATE DEC. 2017/Design team named for Engineering Education and Design Center