UMS TRANSFORMS improves retention and expands programs at MCEC
Updated
Updated · University of Maine · May 1
UMS TRANSFORMS improves retention and expands programs at MCEC
2 articles · Updated · University of Maine · May 1
At Maine College of Engineering and Computing, retention hit its highest level in more than a decade, while electrical and computer engineering enrolment rose 40% and its PhD cohort grew from five to 32.
New offerings include a computer science and business degree, an online AI certificate, ocean engineering programmes and AI course chatbots, alongside USM-UMaine accelerated pathways and community college transfer routes.
The initiative also reached more than 1,600 K-12 students across 15 counties, backed new labs and student spaces, and precedes UMaine's planned GEM building opening in fall 2026.
With rising enrollment and new programs, can UMS TRANSFORMS truly secure Maine's tech workforce despite looming budget cuts and demographic challenges?
Are hands-on learning and AI-driven curricula enough to guarantee job-ready graduates in Maine’s fast-evolving industries, or are deeper changes needed?