Recent News

MBA Program Enrollment Soars
February 16, 2021

Enrollment in MBA Program Soars

Enrollment in UMaine’s master’s degree program in business administration (MBA) has quadrupled over the past three years, according to university records. During the fall 2020 semester enrollment was 344, 300 percent greater than in 2017, when 86 students were enrolled. This unprecedented growth is largely the result of academic and administrative changes within the University…

Bioproducts Research Institute Receives Equipment Upgrade
February 16, 2021

Forest Bioproducts Research Institute Receives Equipment Upgrade

UMaine’s Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) facilities in Old Town and in Jenness Hall will upgrade their equipment with $4.8 million awarded from the Defense Logistics Agency. The improved equipment will enable FBRI to continue to increase production, produce new bioproducts, and support ongoing research. The new equipment will enable researchers to study the creation…

February 14, 2021

These plans for athletics and recreation are spectacular!

Thanks to the Harold Alfond Foundation’s latest investment in UMaine academics and athletics, Black Bear Athletics today unveiled a master plan designed to improve the quality, accessibility, and gender equality of the university’s intercollegiate and recreational facilities. Projects include a new soccer facility that will feature synthetic turf, stadium seating, broadcast-quality lighting, and more. (See…

February 14, 2021

Check out what’s new from the Alumni Association in the latest magazine

The Winter MAINE Alumni Magazine is now available online. Read about Erik Gundersen’s ’05 efforts to regulate Maine’s cannabis industry, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Gina Ferazzi ’84, and Brendan Walsh’s ’00 shift from hockey star to Boston detective. Meet Rep. Genevieve McDonald ’18 and other Black Bears in the Maine Legislature, and explore other features and…

February 14, 2021

‘Beam-topping’ marks the latest phase of the new Ferland Engineering and Education Design Center

A virtual Topping Off Ceremony celebrated the placement of the last beam atop the steel frame of the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center. The ceremony, a tradition in building construction, was livestreamed on Friday, Feb. 12.  Earlier this month, members of the campus community were invited to sign the painted beam. Individuals could also…

February 11, 2021

The world’s largest 3-D printer will be making wind turbine blades in Orono

UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center was awarded $2.8 million to develop and manufacture wind turbine blade molds using their 3D printing capabilities. The grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will help accelerate the development of wind turbine blades and reduce the cost of their fabrication.  Senators…

February 11, 2021

No Black Bear Road Trip this year. But we’ve got options

Just a year ago, Black Bears in Arizona and Florida were gathering for their annual get-togethers. A dinner in Phoenix. A luncheon in Tucson. UMaine Day at the Red Sox Spring Training site in Fort Myers. A buffet and polo match in The Villages. None of that this year because of the pandemic. Black Bear…

Hemant P. Pense Headshot
February 11, 2021

Meet Hemant Pendse, UMaine’s 2021 Distinguished Maine Professor

Hemant Pendse, an internationally recognized leader in forest bioproducts research, has been named the University of Maine’s 2021 Distinguished Maine Professor.  The annual Distinguished Maine Professor Award honors a UMaine professor who exemplifies the highest qualities of teaching, research, and public service. It is sponsored by the University of Maine Alumni Association and its classes…

January 25, 2021

Black Studies in 21st Century Higher Education

To kick off Black History Month, the University of Maine Black Student Union and the Alumni Association discussed the relevance and impact of Black Studies in 21st Century Higher Education featuring Dr. Sonia Sanchez and Dr. John Bracey. The session and Q+A discussion were moderated by current UMaine Chemistry PhD Student: Lauren Babb.