Our Vision for the HIGHER EDUCATION SIDE of the Campus

 

Need:

• Many Flags region is definitely “underserved” by higher education.
• University College at Thomaston has a space problem. -- currently there’s a lack of space/ labs, etc needed for effective higher education.

 Facility:

 

• One building leased which will house all higher education programs, office space, faculty space, shared administrative space, counseling space and student assistance space.
• Initially Higher Ed partners may share space with high schools at least in the late afternoons and evenings (scheduling conflicts must be worked out, especially with a high demand for computer and science lab space).
• It is expected the building will contain smart, automated classrooms with ITV receive capabilities in most every room.
• At least ½ of all classrooms will have broadcast capability for video conferencing.
• The plan would include T3 lines/ATM connections/data drop in each room and wireless technology throughout.
• College labs require a much higher level of technical sophistication than do HS labs.  In a shared facility, there will need to be discussion about how to share that cost.

• Other designated spaces will include areas for electrical training, machine tool and equipment, allied health labs, nursing & CNA labs, automotive technology, welding and construction.
• The campus will be non-residential (at least as far into the future that we can see at this point).
• The facility should have the ability to expand/grow/evolve.
• The committee recommends a site of at least 100 acres.

 

Enrollment:

 

• It is estimated that the Many Flags Higher Ed Center will serve at least 750 students within 2 years and 1,500 students within 5 years.
• It is estimated that 15 – 20% of KVCC students will go on to earn 4 yr degrees.
• Initially, the majority of students will be non-traditional older adults.

• Early College/dual enrollment HS students will also be in the mix.
• There will need to be some “segregation” of HS students from college students. However, we will encourage as much “appropriate & supervised” sharing of space and facilities as possible.
• Each institution will charge its own tuition and fee rates.

 

Organizational Structure:

 

• It is the intent to make the administrative functions as seamless as possible for the students and community.
• No duplication of administrative positions.
• We will need to make decisions about who will be the employer of the Many Flags Higher Ed Ctr staff. Maybe staff will split functions: half under KVCC as employer; half under UMaine as employer, etc.
• The Many Flags Higher Ed Ctr will achieve real integration, not just co-location.
• A Memorandum of Understanding must be developed between the higher education partners.
• There would be a shared student service “advisor “program.
• There would need to be a grade reporting system. Each partner must “recognize” each other in terms of credit transferability.
• Students may get financial aid from 2 institutions simultaneously.
• UMaine and KVCC will not compete “head to head” for same time slot for same course.
• Student “market” demand will decide which courses will be offered and at which time slots.
• A specific agreement will be worked out between U Maine system and KVCC on non-compete areas (i.e., which programs, courses, degrees will be exclusively offered by those Institutions).

• At this time U Maine Hutchinson Center will primarily offer graduate degrees.
• Increased access to higher education is at the heart of the Many Flags Higher Ed Ctr philosophy.
• Our intent is to eliminate barriers and disincentives to post secondary education in the Midcoast. 
• We also hope to reduce fear/anxiety of first generation Higher Ed attendees.
• We will link applied learning to all aspects --making it easier for Voc Tech students to migrate to post secondary education.
• The full Many Flags concept is a unique collaborative model –which we hope may be replicated elsewhere in Maine.
• It models integration of high school and early college. Many may graduate HS  with both a HS degree and Assoc degree (or a very good start toward the Assoc degree).
• Many Flags campus integrates applied learning/ voc tech as a standard part of bridge to work/higher education.
• The Many Flags model fits the move to regionalization.
• The Many Flags model also creates an attainable education pathway – applied technology to associates degrees, bachelors degrees and beyond.
• Higher Ed Center faculty issues will be worked out as we go forward. Distance and travel may be a problem for some faculty –we may need to rely heavily on qualified local faculty (most would be part-time-- many would be retired -experts in a field of study – now living in the Many Flags region).
• Currently there are different pay rates for faculty between the Univ System and Community College System. This may create problems and as such will need to addressed. 
• There’s a wealth of qualified, retired professionals, teachers and professors in the Midcoast who might be used.