Chronicle of Higher Education interviews Roberts about online learning

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

June 7, 2023 Student Life, UMaine in the News

Richard Roberts, executive director of academic program support and online learning at the University of Maine, spoke with The Chronicle of Higher Education about the increased online learning opportunities. According to Roberts, UMaine expanded its offerings for online learning derived from increased demand for fully online degrees and a combination of in-person, hybrid, and fully remote courses. “We have a robust infrastructure to support fully remote students and in-person students seeking a variety of hybrid and remote options,” Roberts said. “Most importantly, our online degrees and courses are not separate from the on-campus offerings, and so our fully remote students take the same classes, learn from the same prestigious research-intensive faculty, and earn the same degrees as our on-campus students.” The publication also shared data about online learning at UMaine. In spring 2023, 28% of the credit hours were delivered online (synchronous, asynchronous, or hybrid). In 2019, that percentage was about 14%.