Machias Valley News Observer reports on Engineering Pathways at UMM
Machias Valley News Observer published the article, “UMM tackles ‘acute’ statewide shortage with new engineering program.” The article focused on the University of Maine at Machias’ new Maine Engineering Pathways program which allows academically prepared students to start their engineering program at UMM and, after successfully completing the first year program, transfer into an engineering major offered at the University of Maine in Orono or University of Southern Maine in Portland. “When I realized that the Engineering Pathways program existed, that’s when I really wanted to get into the University of Maine at Machias so I could do it and still be close to home,” said Emma Rogers, a UMM freshman from Mount Desert Island who had spent summers with family in Machias. Engineering Pathways was developed to make it easy for students with an interest in engineering to get their feet wet at a smaller, local campus, then transfer to UMaine or USM to complete their degree, according to the article. “The big problem we’re trying to solve is that Maine needs more engineers. We are not producing enough,” said Dana Humphrey, dean of UMaine’s College of Engineering. Though the engineer shortage is a nationwide phenomena, Humphrey said it’s particularly acute in Maine. “Twenty-seven percent of engineers working in Maine right now are 55 or older,” he said. “Someone like Emma is going to get in at exactly the right point in time, when these folks are retiring.”