Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 34 : Fall 2017 | Page 79

UMPI Blazes New Pathway With $2,000 Per Semester Online Business Degree by University of Maine at Presque Isle Adult learners now have a chance to finish their degree in just a few years for under $10,000 with the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s On With Life degree completion program. This first-of-its-kind program offered by a public university in New England is tailored to serve the 200,000 Maine adults who have some college but have not yet earned their degree. “No other bricks and mortar public school in New England is providing a fully-accredited degree pathway like this,” UMPI President Ray Rice said. “UMPI is very proud to be a leader in this area, offering motivated Maine adults an opportunity to finish their degree on a schedule that fits their needs, with online programming and expert support that can be accessed from anywhere, and at a per-semester tuition rate that is the most affordable among all public higher education institutions in Maine.” out-of-state rate—and be able to take advantage of as many competency learning modules per term as they’d like. UMPI’s CBE program aligns very closely with work initiated by the University of Maine System in 2012 to develop and implement a Systemwide plan to enhance baccalaureate degree attainment and completion by Maine’s adult and non-campus based citizens. “Maine faces a silver tsunami as a vast generation of our citizens approach retirement,” James H. Page, Chancellor of the University of Maine System, said. “By 2025, our state’s economy will require 158,000 more workers with a postsecondary degree or credential than exist today. This critical workforce need will only be met if we are successful in advancing more Maine adults to degree completion. With this new offering—a Competency Based Education Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a Management and Leadership concentration— participants will be able to apply past college credit, other learning, and work experience toward their degree. After determining which competencies they still need to complete, an UMPI learning coach will create individual learning plans for students. “For many qualified adult learners, UMPI’s online Competency Based Education Bachelor of Business Administration will be the fastest, most affordable path to a fully-accredited degree that has ever been available in Maine. The degree program is innovative, it is responsive, and a true example of institutional leadership in our One University work to better serve the people and communities of Maine.” One of the things that makes this program unique is that participants complete competencies instead of courses in order to earn their degree. Using a digital platform, they complete learning modules for each competency and they’ll be able to progress as they demonstrate their mastery of academic content. For this CBE Business degree in Management and Leadership, competencies include: understanding change models and strategies; understanding cost-volume profit analysis; and having the ability to read and comprehend annual reports. UMPI’s On With Life degree completion program will be offered online beginning in Fall 2017. All materials and resources needed are embedded in the digital platform so there are no additional textbook costs or fees. The program is Financial Aid eligible; students may also qualify for the University of Maine System’s Adult Degree Completion Scholarship. Participants should be 24 or older, have the equivalent of a high school diploma, and some prior college credit and work experience. For more information about UMPI’s new CBE BBA, fill Students in this program will pay a flat tuition rate of out the inquiry form here or contact Carolyn Dorsey at $2,000 per semester—less than one-half of UMPI’s 207-768-9584 or [email protected]. standard in-state tuition rate and one-third the standard FALL 2017 77