Maine College of Engineering and Computing
$150 million for a multi-university Maine College of Engineering and Computing cooperatively led by the University of Maine, including a $75 million commitment from the Harold Alfond Foundation with a match obligation of another $75 million. A statewide, integrated solution to providing the technical workforce and innovations that are critical to moving Maine’s economy forward
MCEC is focused on the future: High performing, impactful public higher education service has to include anticipating state workforce needs and delivering solutions that provide critical industries, communities, and employers with the skilled workers needed to meet demand and move Maine forward. It is about providing the number of graduates with the requisite skills to maintain our state infrastructure and institutions, pursue opportunities in emerging markets, and grow the Maine economy.
MCEC delivers solutions: Thousands of new engineering and computing graduates are needed to replace members of Maine’s existing workforce, and to fill new jobs that will have to be created in our increasingly interconnected, digital global economy. The development of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing is a transformational, forward-looking approach to planning and solution delivery for the University of Maine System.
MCEC is a statewide approach: The UMS TRANSFORMS MCEC initiative seeks a statewide solution that will provide additional undergraduate engineering programs at the University of Maine and University of Southern Maine, UMaine graduate engineering programs offered in Portland, expanded pathways into the statewide college from all University of Maine System universities, community colleges, and K–12, and new opportunities for shared programs, interdisciplinary structures and partnerships.
Learn more about UMaine’s Maine College of Engineering and Computing or the University of Southern Maine’s Department of Engineering today!
Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center
Building the future
The opening of the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center on August 24, 2022, began a new chapter in engineering education at UMaine to better meet needs of students and employers, including the innovation to advance research and economic development.
Ferland provides engineering students with the opportunity for hands-on learning in the best space of its kind in the northeast. It includes a 10,000 sq foot multidisciplinary student project design suite supported by shops for biomedical, electronics, 3D printing, vehicles, metals, wood and composites. It serves as an anchor and site for the high-impact educational practice integrated with research that will characterize MCEC.
Facility Details
- 10,000-square-foot multidisciplinary student project design suite with 48 workbenches supported by shops for biomedical, electronics, 3D printing, vehicles, metals, wood and composites.
- 10,000-square-foot biomedical engineering research lab suite
- Six active learning classrooms
- Teaching labs for mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering technology
- 12 team meeting rooms
- Student common on first and second floors
- Welcome center and focal point for campus-wide STEM outreach
The next generation of Maine’s workforce
Maine currently has one of the oldest populations in the country. What this means is that as the current workforce begins to retire, they will leave behind a large gap in the workforce. In the next 10 years, Maine will need to replace 4,000 engineering and computing jobs. MCECIS plans to meet that demand head on by increasing the number of industry leading graduates.
The state is not only looking toward job replacement, it also is looking toward job growth. As Maine’s economy continues to grow, the expected need for graduates in the next 10 years is expected to reach up to 5,000 new engineering and computing jobs.
Supply and demand comparison
The need for graduates of Maine universities has never been higher. Currently there are more engineering and computing jobs available than there are graduates.
From 2006 to 2019, Maine saw a dramatic increase in the number of available engineering and computing positions. The strong growth has seen over 5,000 new positions created in the two fields.
| Profession | Maine Number of Starter Jobs* | Maine Degree Conferrals 2019 | Maine Ratio Jobs/Degrees |
| Civil engineer | 191 | 92 | 2.1 |
| Electrical engineer | 190 | 60 | 3.2 |
| Land surveyor | 29 | 12 | 2.4 |
| Computer support specialist | 325 | 201 | 1.6 |
| System analyst | 204 | 149 | 1.4 |