The Times Record, January 27, 2003
Gov. Baldacci praises new Mid Coast Center for Higher Education
By Bob Kalish
BATH - It was a doubly historic occasion Saturday in Bath.
History was served by the official opening of the new Mid Coast Center for Higher Education, and by an agreement announced and signed by representatives of the University of Maine System and the Technical College System to find more ways to share resources.
As featured speaker at the event, Gov. John Baldacci endorsed the agreement, calling it "extraordinary," and offered the "full resources of the governor's office" to support the agreement.
State Sen. Art Mayo, R-Bath, a prime supporter of the higher learning center's creation, introduced each speaker.
Bath City Council Chairman John James said it "was a great day for Mid-coast Maine and for the city of Bath." He cited three factors that precipitated the creation of the educational center.
"One was the need for available, accessible and affordable post-secondary education," he said. "The second was that our local population was aging, creating a need for 'lifelong' education. The third issue was that the state's largest private employer, Bath Iron Works, needed more educational facilities closer to home."
The new Mid Coast Center for Higher Education fills the need, James said. The new facility gives both the university and the technical college their own wing, totaling about 23,000 square feet. According to remarks made by Charles Lyons, vice chancellor for University College of the University of Maine System, the new center already has 500 students enrolled for 3,000 credit hours.
"And that's after two weeks of operation," he said.
City Manager John Bubier, who was praised during the ceremony for his efforts to bring the center to Bath, said the facility aligns with plans for the city's future.
"We've been trying to re-emphasize Bath as a service center," he said before the ceremony. "What we need to do is diversify the economy and go into the future not dependent on one source of revenue. Having the education center here is a great thing for the city and fits right in with our plans for the future."
Lou Ensel, a Bath resident who works for the Portland Department of Transportation, attended the opening because he thinks the center will be a great asset to the city.
"People who had to go to Portland or Augusta for higher education can stay closer to home," he said.
Jayne Palmer, a local businesswoman, said the educational center shows what can be done with cooperation.
"It's particularly refreshing to see what can happen when groups work together," she said.
That was the theme for the second historic occasion, the signing of a "memorandum of understanding" between the University of Maine System and the Maine Technical College System to work together.
The announcement was made by Joseph Westphal, chancellor of UMS and John Fitzsimmons, president of MTCS during remarks preceding those of Gov. Baldacci.
Westphal said the agreement "is a sign of the commitment the state has to higher education."
FItzsimmons said access to higher education "has never been more important."
"Sixty-eight percent of employers in the state can't find the trained employees they need," he said. "We have mismatched skills with the new economy.
Fitzsimmons said the new center in Bath and the new agreement with UMS should help.
Baldacci had the last word.
"It's important in these times," he said, "to get our educational institutions to work together. It's in all of our interests."
In addition to housing classrooms for the university and technical college systems, the center is also the new home of the local office of the Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community.