BANGOR, Maine — The University of Southern Maine’s plan for an International Early College program appears to be headed for approval next week.
The University of Maine System board of trustees’ Academic and Student Affairs Committee unanimously backed the proposal during a meeting Tuesday. It will appear on the consent agenda during the full board’s meeting on Jan. 25, meaning it’s not expected to be contentious.
“USM’s International Early College program is a creative approach to bringing new students, new perspective and new resources to Maine,” committee Chairman Gregory Johnson said in a Tuesday news release.
USM President Glenn Cummings proposed the idea of a two-year international high school on campus as a step toward reversing declining enrollment trends and generating a new source of revenue.
The school would start off with 50 “academically advanced,” English-language-ready students, recruited to come to USM to complete their junior and senior years of high school. During that time, they would take 100- and 200-level college courses to complete their diploma and gather early college credits.
USM expects the program could cost $1.6 million to start but believes those costs will be offset by the $32,000 per year that each student pays in tuition. The hope is that many of those students will return to the school to complete their college education.
The first class would be allowed to enroll in the fall of 2016. Students will be housed in a dorm on the Gorham campus.
USM still needs approval from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but it can’t receive it until after the board of trustees gives its approval. The concept received approval from NEASC, an accrediting agency, in November, according to UMS.
“We have fantastic opportunities to grow our university and our state’s economy by strengthening our global ties,” Cummings said. “Our International Early College program leverages our excess capacity and ingenuity to draw diversity, talent and tuition dollars to Maine.”
The board of trustees holds its regular meeting on Sunday and Monday, Jan. 24-25, at Wells Conference Center at the University of Maine in Orono.
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