UMA Strategic Plan - History and Context for Key Goal 6
Key Goal 6: Continue to serve the region and the state by contributing to cultural enrichment, community service and economic development.
"Continue to serve the region and the state by contributing to cultural enrichment, community service, and economic development" -- underscores UMA's ongoing role in the communities of central Maine and the lives of their citizens. The University's influence extends well beyond the classroom, with the potential for this influence to expand even further during the next five years.
UMA has long had a tradition of contributing to the cultural fabric of central Maine. Coordinated through the College of Arts and Humanities, programming to promote the arts in the region has been, and will continue to be, a major activity for UMA faculty, staff and the greater community. In Augusta a joint UMA and community committee sponsors The Mile of Art on UMA's recreation trails. The greater Augusta community is encouraged to visit the changing shows in the Charles Dana Danforth Gallery and to attend programs by visiting artists. The end of semester Jazz Week presented by UMA Music faculty and students draws a large public following. Area musicians frequently attend the master classes offered by distinguished visiting musicians. Because the art and music degrees are not offered on the Bangor Campus, cultural programming is a bit more eclectic, although no less prolific. A concert of Nipmuc Flute music by Native American Hawk Henries and a lecture by Bich Nga Burrill about Vietnamese culture last semester illustrate the breadth as well as the depth of programming at this campus. Notable among these activities will be ongoing collaboration with area arts programs, such as the Kennebec Corridor Arts and Cultural Committee, Kennebec Valley Art Association, and the Harlow Gallery, and with UMA's successful Senior College.
The Maine Holocaust and Human Rights Center currently under construction will provide the only Maine site devoted exclusively to human rights programming and study. In collaboration with Long Island University, UMA will offer its first course related to the goals of this center: "Holocaust – From Prejudice to Genocide," in fall 2006.
The University's priority on the value of civic engagement and activities that promote it will continue to be part of the overall campus culture. Two programs, in particular, represent this commitment. Women, Work and Community coordinates programs that complement other academic and professional activities on campus and statewide; its 25-year history blends perfectly with the mission and goals of UMA, and its vision is compatible in promoting the benefits of ongoing education to enhance citizens' lives. Similarly, the Maine Community Policing Institute, supported by faculty in the College of Natural and Social Sciences, is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to the philosophy of "community policing" and the development of partnerships within communities to solve problems and improve the quality of life for residents. Although the state of Maine is its primary focus, the institute staff delivers training on the national and international level and provides technical assistance to a number of emerging countries internationally.
The University sees opportunities to expand its role in the civic lives of the citizens of central Maine. Improving broadcast capabilities at both campus locations will enhance the University's ability to provide public programming designed to engage citizens and civic leaders and to showcase the accomplishments and expertise of UMA faculty and staff. Equally important is the recently formed Campus Community Connection Committee, which evolved from the 40th anniversary committee; with both University and community members, this new committee will keep outreach to, and collaboration with, the communities in central Maine at the forefront of its activities. Similarly, the UMA Honors Program supports cultural enrichment and community service by hosting public forums on current issues, sponsoring the Creative Expressions Program, and publishing The UMA Scholar; the program also extends UMA's community outreach through fund raising events that assist the Salvation Army, area food banks and the local homeless shelter, by work for Habitat for Humanity, and by participation in public television events. Also, UMA's Office of Community Engagement fosters service-learning partnerships that build on the strengths of our community and our institutions to address significant social and environmental problems.
To contribute to sustainable economic development and prosperity in the region, UMA intends to strengthen its relationship with the business community in central and mid-coast Maine. Specifically, the University will build on current efforts to promote entrepreneurship development in the region with partners already engaged in these activities. In the longer term, led by the College of Math and Professional Studies, discussions about establishing a Center for Commerce and Community could define future developments to promote professional opportunities both for current students as well as for area employers and employees.