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LEWISTON — Univerity of Southern Maine President Glenn Cummings recentlly announced that the university’s Lewiston-Auburn College will move from 51 Westinster St. to downtown Lewiston.
“We believe strongly that relocating our campus to downtown Lewiston will provide meaningful new opportunities and possibilities that will better meet the needs of the Lewiston-Auburn region and its people,” said Cummings at a presentation to LAC employees.
Among the benefits of a move downtown that Cummings cited are:
* Making LAC programs and offerings more accessible to employers, healthcare facilities and organizations, as well as employees, New Mainers and other residents.
* The ability to work more closely with USM’s existing and future business and nonprofit partners in downtown, developing programs that best meet their needs.
* Being closer to local schools like Lewiston High School would facilitate expanded opportunities for high school students, like Early College.
* Making LAC’s Occupational Therapy Clinic more accessible to residents who need their services, benefitting both patients and our students alike.
Joining Cummings at the presentation were USM Provost Jeannine Uzzi and USM Chief Operating Officer Nancy Griffin.
During the presentation, Uzzi stated that a move downtown will dovetail with a new academic vision for LAC that she and others at the college have been developing.
“We are in the process of finalizing an exciting academic vision for LAC that will respond to regional needs in healthcare delivery,” said Uzzi. “We will also continue working with the University of Maine at Augusta to expand academic offerings, and ensure that our new location includes crucial space for both our Senior College and our Franco-American Collection.”
UMA President Rebecca Wyke said in a news release, “UMA is committed to the Lewiston Auburn area and continuing its co-location with USM to provide learning opportunities to the community. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with USM to expand program offerings and reach more people in this critical part of the state.”
Griffin reviewed with employees a relocation timeline, which she estimated would be a three-year process that entails University of Maine System Board of Trustees approval, the sale of its building, and securing and outfitting new space in downtown Lewiston. Griffin added that there are already” intriguing possibilities and very attractive options to explore” in downtown Lewiston.
“Our commitment to LAC and the Androscoggin region is strong and unwavering,” Cummings said. “When all is said and done, we will have a more vibrant LAC, more engaged with the community and better suited to meeting the needs of its people and employers.”
