The Times Record, January 13, 2003
New era in Bath
By Christopher Cousins
BATH — The new Mid Coast Center for Higher Education, which opened its doors today for the first time in Bath, reminds James O. Ortiz of a long-ago day when he found himself at an educational crossroads.
Near the end of his high school career in New York City, Ortiz, now president of Southern Maine Technical College, never considered that higher education could be part of his future. On the advice of a teacher, he enrolled in Queensborough Community College for two years of study.
Some 40 years later, Ortiz now holds master's and doctorate degrees and has worked at the highest administrative levels of three community colleges. For the past 11 months as the South Portland institution's president, Ortiz has found himself at the forefront of an effort in Maine to create a true community college system — one that's accessible to everyone.
"We're almost there; it's really not going to be that difficult to make the full transition (to a community college)," said Ortiz, a tall, thin man of Puerto Rican descent whose warm smile and demeanor seem reluctant to fade. "By September 2003, Southern Maine Technical College will be a full-fledged comprehensive community college."
What Ortiz meant was that SMTC will entrench itself as a destination for students from a variety of situations — everyone from first-time college students right out of high school to older adults who tried attending college, but for whatever reason, failed when they were younger. Key components of the conversion are agreements between the technical college, the state's adult education programs and the University College System.
Ortiz said his institution will set up an advisory committee in the Bath area in the next few weeks to help develop plans for the future of the institution in Bath.
Construction workers were still working out some of the minor details at the site this morning, but for the most part the former Bath Urgent Care Center on Park Street is totally converted. The first class, physical geology, began today at 10 a.m.
The new facility that opened this morning — a joint venture between Southern Maine Technical College, the University College System and the city of Bath — is a major step toward the state's goal of creating a community college system. The University College System held four classes today; the SMTC classes will begin within a week. The start of ITV courses — courses that are taught through interactive television — have been delayed for another week, said David Baty, director for the University College at Bath/Brunswick.
"It's an exciting day for us and the students," said Baty. "It will take time for things to settle out, but this is a much nicer facility for us."
A single parent with enough determination to advance his or her education could begin studies in an adult education course. At some point, that person could go to or be referred to the next level and enroll in SMTC courses. Under an agreement that is currently in the works, the student could earn a two-year associate's degree from the technical/community college and have every credit transferred to the university program — something that hasn't been as easy in the past — toward a four-year bachelor's degree. The possibilities would be virtually endless from there.
For Ortiz, that process makes possible the American dream, the notion that anyone in this country can succeed.
"It gives opportunities for everyone to reach their full potential," said Ortiz. "Education is the vehicle for social mobility."
Ron Norton, the job supervisor for Ledgewood, Inc., the general contractor on the project in Bath, has responsibilities far removed from those of Ortiz. But the construction worker agrees with the academician.
"Any time we spend a few bucks to educate our people it's such a big step for us in this state," said Norton. "There are so many people out there who have the ability to go to college; we need to get them out there."
That, in a nutshell, is the goal, said Ortiz.
Reprinted with permission, The Times Record, Brunswick, Maine.