Unity Environmental University locks down tuition, moves up minimum wage

Courtesy / Unity Environmental University Unity Environmental University is based in New Gloucester at Pineland Farms.

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Unity Environmental University, a private New Gloucester school that offers undergraduate and graduate curricula in environmental subjects, says it is raising pay without raising tuition.

Effective July 1, Maine-based hourly employees will receive a minimum wage increase to $23 per hour, while the minimum annual salary for full-time, benefit-eligible Maine-based employees will become $50,000. The average increase for Unity employees will work out to a raise of 7%.

“Our employees’ dedication and hard work have fueled our exceptional growth to over 7,500 students enrolled from across all 50 states and U.S. territories, making us one of the nation’s fastest-growing universities,” said Melik Peter Khoury, president of Unity, in a news release.

“We are deeply committed to the state of Maine and aspire to be a significant economic driver for the region," he continued. "This bold initiative will not only improve the livelihoods of our current Maine-based staff, we believe it will also attract top-tier talent from across the nation, enhancing our communities and fortifying our mission.”

Tuition costs

The university will also double down by keeping tuition flat for the next six years and adding new learning support for students.

According to the news release, the self-disclosed diverse student population at Unity has grown from a 50-year average of 8% to nearly 25%, and the average student age has also grown from 21 to 29.

“Real educational equity requires real change from within,” said Khoury. “For too long, too many people have been shut out of the higher education experience. They simply could not put their lives on hold to move across the country, be required to live in residence halls, and enjoy all the trappings of a traditional college experience. ‘But what if a university could offer a quality education that fits into your life, not the other way around?

“We’ve recognized this need and made systematic changes to our model to keep costs low and put students first,” he continued. “Now, our learners choose how and where they will learn with us. This flexibility has opened the door to those who have been historically disenfranchised from an environmental-science-based degree, providing them with the opportunity to pursue their goals and unlock their potential.”

Unity Environmental University, formerly known as Unity College, was founded in 1965 in the Waldo County town of Unity.