The School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology’s (ASET) Capital Campaign to expand the John Mitchell Center on USM’s Gorham campus has now reached 96 percent of a $8 million goal, set two years ago.
The campaign began in 2002 when John Wright, dean of ASET found the program lacking on several fronts: overcrowding, out-of-date classrooms and laboratories, and a lack of space for the addition of new engineering and technology programs. Space in the 47-year-old building was so limited that the school converted closets into faculty offices.
In 2002, Maine’s legislature contributed a $4 million state bond to support the expansion. “Industrial communities in Maine want to produce more engineers and develop a technical talent pool for companies,” Wright said. “We need more people to choose from so companies don’t have to hire from out of state.” The school is currently connected to 250 companies in Maine.
Of these companies, quite a few made contributions. Throughout the campaign Wright and a team of volunteers have been visiting companies they think might contribute. They bring a video or brochure and arrange a tour of the company’s plant. They also invite a representative from the company to tour USM’s facilities.
“They will talk about their company and our school and see if there are any linkages,” said Wright. He said a lot of the companies he visits employ USM alumni or current student interns and that is sometimes a factor in the company deciding to contribute money.
Wright thinks companies like what they have seen come out of USM, which is why they have been so generous in their contributions. “We must be doing a good job,” said Wright of the students who have come out of the programs. The new facilities allow ASET to double its current enrollment.
ASET will not reveal the names of the contributing companies until a ceremony at the building’s grand opening on December 1.
Money from the campaign went toward building the two-story, 20,000 square foot addition to the John Mitchell Center as well as bringing the existing facility up to proper lighting, heating, electrical and handicap standards. Construction of the building began in 2003 and is now complete. Classes have been in session in the building since the beginning of the fall semester.
Funds raised have also provided laboratory space for computer engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental safety and health, material testing and electro-mechanical technology; expanded laboratory space for digital arts and technology; equipment and instrumentation needed to support engineering and technology laboratories; administrative and faculty offices; and modern classrooms and seminar rooms.
Four academic departments make up ASET, applied medical sciences, computer science, engineering and technology, and three service support units, external programs, the manufacturing applications center and student services. The school offers approximately 300 majors in engineering and technology programs and one of the three semi-conductors in the state hires 95 percent of the graduates of the electrical engineering program every year.
Wright expects the remaining four percent of the $8 million goal to be raised by January 1. The money will go toward the purchase of more equipment.