The University of Maine at Augusta cut the ribbon on the new downtown location of its Saco Center at 209 Main St.
The new location was designed to reflect how today’s students access learning — with smaller classrooms, high-speed connectivity and strong local support services, according to a news release.
“UMA has been part of the Biddeford-Saco area for decades, and this move into the heart of downtown Saco shows our ongoing commitment to this community,” said Dan Philbrick, regional director of UMA’s Coastal Centers and director of the Saco Center. “While we no longer need as many large classrooms, the need for in-person support, connections and community partnerships remains just as strong.”
Jenifer Cushman, UMA’s president, said the center supports UMA’s statewide role in making higher education accessible through flexible options and local centers.
In addition to serving students in the greater Saco and Biddeford areas and all of York County, the center supports statewide initiatives such as UMA’s Prison Education Partnership, which provides college courses and advising at the Maine Correctional Center, the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center and the Maine Correctional Center Women’s Facility in Windham.
The Saco Center opened its new location in January and includes a computer lab, three onsite classrooms, office space and a break area. One of the three classrooms will also serve as a public meeting room.
The center serves about 350 students per semester. It offers programs in mental health services, business administration, computer information systems, the justice field and more.
The UMA Saco Center is one of seven centers around Maine where people can take UMA courses, pursue degrees from UMA and receive support.
The center was previously at 4 Scammon St.