Star City’s campuses
form educational partnership
By Kathy McCarty
ACAP’S CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER at UMPI will be one of several child-care sites to benefit from the new partnership between UMPI and NMCC that allows students interested in early childhood education an opportunity to earn a four-year degree. A new Maine law requires students graduating after July 2009 who pursue a career in early childhood education to have a bachelor’s degree. Pictured are: Penny Horne, a teacher aide at ACAP’s Child and Family Center at UMPI, holding Zoe Kinney, joined by Presley Rideout and Phoebe Soloman.
PRESQUE ISLE — Beginning this semester, a collaborative effort between two local campuses will enable early childhood education students to meet new state requirements.
“This marks a significant change and a significant collaboration between Northern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Presque Isle to advance early childhood programs statewide,” said UMPI President Don Zillman.
Zillman said this is something both campuses have been working on for some time.
“This is an example of how the two (campuses) work together. This allows NMCC students an opportunity to work toward a bachelor’s degree, creating an opportunity to earn more money,” said NMCC President Tim Crowley.
The agreement between NMCC and UMPI will allow students to transfer credits between campuses, as they work toward a four-year degree.
“They can bring NMCC credits to UMPI and obtain a bachelor’s degree in two years,” noted Crowley.
The partnership between the two institutions will benefit NMCC students preparing for jobs as Head-Start teachers and early childhood educators and help them to meet new state requirements for teaching in their field.
Recent state requirements have increased the qualifications for preschool teachers. Educators who teach children from birth to age 5 — and who earn their Maine teaching endorsement after July 1, 2009 — must have a bachelor’s degree in order to teach. Prior to this semester, NMCC offered an associate’s degree program in early childhood education, but there were no colleges or universities in northern Maine that offered a four-year early childhood education degree.
“Students will need that credential to continue to work in that field,” Crowley said.
Crowley said the growing demand for child care at facilities like ACAP’s will only increase student involvement in these centers.
“This ends a year of hard work — work with NM to increase the number of four-year degrees — reaching across town to increase partnership,” said Michael Sonntag, UMPI vice president of academic affairs.
Sonntag said this is something that can be done quite easily.
“We hope this sets the groundwork for more collaboration and increases four-year degree opportunities,” Sonntag said. “Our students may reach out to NM for early childhood education classes. It’s not a one-way street.”
“This is the birth of something really good,” Sonntag continued.
Heidi Broad-Smith, an early childhood education instructor at NMCC, said this will “increase the pool of people certified to work with that age group.”
“It also allows UMPI students a chance to come to NM to take early childhood classes,” said Broad-Smith.
Sonntag said Maine’s continuing to put children first by requiring a higher level of education for those entrusted with child care in the state.
“One thing that’s impressed me in Maine is the expected degree of education that’s required to work with children. I’m proud to be a part of that,” said Sonntag.
The collaboration was a natural progression, according to Zillman, since UMPI has served as a ‘teacher’s college’ for over a century.
“UMPI was established as a teacher’s college back in 1903 and we’re very pleased to be announcing a partnership with NMCC that connects so strongly with our earliest work as an institute,” said Zillman.
“We know that with additional education come greater opportunities. This agreement will provide greater opportunities for NMCC students and provide University students with access to NMCC faculty. It is a win-win partnership and we are pleased to be working with UMPI to make this happen,” said Crowley.
EDUCATORS UNITE — A partnership has been formed between the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College that allows students studying early childhood education to obtain a four-year degree, thus allowing them to meet new state requirements. Pictured announcing the agreement prior to this fall’s semester are, from left: UMPI Vice President of Academic Affairs Michael Sonntag; UMPI President Don Zillman; NMCC President Tim Crowley; and early childhood education instructor at NMCC, Heidi Broad-Smith.