The University of Maine at Augusta recently welcomed local business owners and community partners to the Capital Center for Nursing and Cybersecurity Workforce Development. Hosting the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event gave us a great opportunity to open our doors and offer our neighbors a glimpse of how we are preparing students for the workforce.
The tours of the nursing simulation labs were a highlight for many guests. These spaces use high-tech human patient simulators to bring clinical training to life. The manikins can replicate everything from basic vital signs to the complexities of labor and delivery, allowing students to simultaneously build their skills and their confidence in a controlled environment. Seeing these tools in person helped our visitors understand the level of hands-on experience our students gain before they ever step into a hospital.
Down the hall, guests toured the cybersecurity labs where students train to protect the digital systems we rely on every day. These physical spaces provide a hub for accessing the Maine Cyber Range, a powerful training environment available both on-campus and online from anywhere. By using this platform to simulate real-world cyber threats, learners practice their response in a safe, virtual setting, helping UMA meet Maine’s urgent need for skilled digital defenders.
UMA President Jenifer Cushman spoke, recognizing the university’s 60th anniversary year. “What’s exciting right now is that we’re not just celebrating our history. We’re also thinking about the future.” This includes the Aviation Maintenance Technician School, which is about to graduate the first class from Maine’s only FAA-approved program. UMA is also launching new programs in Medical Laboratory Science and Public Administration this fall.
Opening our campus to the community reminds us that UMA graduates are everywhere in Maine. They are teaching in our schools, caring for patients, serving in public safety, and helping businesses grow. In many ways, they are the people who help keep our communities running every day.
“Maine is at an important moment,” Cushman noted. “Our state needs talent, innovation, and strong partnerships to move forward, and UMA is leaning into that work in some really exciting ways.” By working closely with local employers and organizations, UMA ensures that the learning happening in our classrooms connects directly to the needs of the Maine economy.