Maine Perspective Front Page
UMaine, MBNA Announce New Hutchinson Center in Belfast
The University of Maine will establish a new education center in Belfast to provide opportunities to pursue a college education, professional development, lifelong learning, community education, and cultural programming for the citizens of the midcoast region.
MBNA, through its MBNA Education Foundation, is providing the building and land for the new center, to be located on Route 3 in Belfast, contiguous with MBNA's Northeastern Regional headquarters. UMaine will provide the faculty and will manage the facility under a lease agreement with MBNA.
The new facility will be called The University of Maine Hutchinson Center of Belfast, named in honor of former UMaine President Fred Hutchinson.
Construction of the new 19,500-square-foot building is expected to be completed next summer. Preliminary plans call for the facility to include eight classrooms, a 124-seat auditorium, and a state-of-the-art telecommunications system.
UMaine expects to begin offering degree and non-degree courses in Belfast in September 2000. Many of the courses offered at the Hutchinson Center will award credit toward baccalaureate and graduate degrees. In addition, UMaine will offer non-credit professional development or personal enrichment courses.
Initial course offerings are expected to include pre-MBA and MBA courses, liberal arts, social and behavioral sciences, education and other courses related to general education and specific degree requirements, as well as courses offered through distance technologies. A Hutchinson Center Advisory Board will work with the University to identify and respond to the region's community needs and interests.
UMaine will coordinate a wide variety of outreach programs, such as special exhibits of the University's museums; conferences; musical and theatrical performances; Cooperative Extension programs and events; and guest lectures.