Press Herald reports on Flagship Match, jump in enrollment
The Portland Press Herald published the article, “Novel program draws out-of-state students, fuels jump in UMaine admissions,” a day after the paper and other media reported enrollment at the University of Maine in September is up by 22 percent over last year. “We’re ecstatic with these numbers,” said Joel Wincowski, interim vice president for enrollment management at UMaine. “The numbers are unbelievable, off the charts.” UMaine’s Flagship Match program has been so successful at boosting enrollment by bringing in out-of-state students that the university is considering expanding the program beyond six northeastern states, according to the article. Currently, students graduating high school with a “B” average or higher in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Connecticut can attend UMaine for the cost of in-state tuition at the flagship school in their home state, the Press Herald reported. Wincowski said the university likely will decide within the next few weeks whether to expand the program to students in California and Illinois in its second year. Jeffrey Hecker, UMaine’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said the university plans on hiring six new full-time professors, and perhaps more, to serve the additional students. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Maine Public Broadcasting Network and WLBZ (Channel 2) also reported on the jump in enrollment.