ORONO, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- Earlier this week new University of Maine President Paul Ferguson announced a new strategic plan to help the University to continue its success.
"This plan was a consensus based plan so the University of Maine family owns this plan. So when we're thinking about changing and moving forward on so many fronts we all gotta be there together," UMaine President Paul Ferguson said.
The plan is called The Blue Sky Project. It has five major elements or as Ferguson calls them, pathways.
The first pathway is called Maine's Renewal. This pathway is to try and better support the economic development in the state. Ferguson said part of this plan is to try and keep as many
UMaine graduates in the state as possible.
"I think the more we connect with our businesses and industries in Maine from these kinds of programs that we are developing we'll be able to develop those kinds of connections. As well as a real strong commitment to develop more cooperative opportunities, more internship opportunities with our students," Ferguson said.
The second pathway is money management.
"We have to do a better job of funning the University, operating the University and seek incredibly new sources of revenue. We have to be very entrepreneurial in achieving the success of the University," Ferguson said.
Morale and marketing is the third pathway. Ferguson said this step is designed to do a better job at promoting the University of Maine and make it a school students want to attend.
The fourth pathway is mentoring and modeling. Ferguson said this is to promote more opportunities for students by offering more programs and internships to better prepare them for life after school.
The final pathway is called master plan and maintenance.
"We're committed to enhancing our stewardship of place, continuing to promote world class laboratories and classrooms that are commensurate with our world class faculty and staff," Ferguson said.
NEWS CENTER