Investment expands artificial intelligence and virtual reality instruction for students across Maine
AUGUSTA — The University of Maine at Augusta has received a $400,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to expand the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in courses serving students across Maine.
The two-year initiative will support the integration of immersive and adaptive technologies into at least 20 undergraduate courses in fields including nursing, aviation, business, education, computer information systems and music technology. University leaders say the effort is designed to ensure graduates enter Maine’s workforce with hands-on experience using technologies increasingly shaping their industries.
“This grant allows us to put teaching and learning first,” said Joseph Szakas, UMA’s vice president of academic affairs and provost. “Artificial intelligence and virtual reality are not being adopted for novelty. They are tools that can improve how students practice skills, solve problems and prepare for careers, whether they are learning on campus or at a distance.”
Grant funding will support faculty training and course redesign, expansion of secure enterprise AI tools, and the purchase of virtual reality equipment for classroom and mobile use across UMA’s campuses and centers statewide. The university will also evaluate the impact of the technology on student retention, persistence and academic performance and share results with other institutions in Maine and New England.
UMA has previously incorporated virtual reality technology in workforce-aligned programs such as aviation, where simulation-based training has helped reduce time to key flight milestones and support student persistence. The new grant will allow the university to expand those approaches into additional disciplines.
The grant was provided by the Davis Educational Foundation, established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis following Mr. Davis’s retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets.
The University of Maine at Augusta is a public university and a member of the University of Maine System. With campuses in Augusta and Bangor and centers across Maine, UMA offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed to expand access to higher education and support the state’s workforce and communities.