University of New England President James Herbert and University of Southern Maine President Glenn Cummings sign an agreement between the two school on Thursday. SUBMITTED PHOTO/Courtesy of USM
PORTLAND – The University of New England and the University of Southern Maine have entered a partnership that will allow USM students to segue into the UNE College of Pharmacy.
The University of New England is a private university based in Biddeford with campuses in Portland as well as Tangier, Morocco. The UNE College of Pharmacy is located at the Portland campus. The University of Southern Maine is a public school that is part of the University of Maine system with campuses in Portland and Gorham.
Presidents of both colleges signed an agreement on Thursday at the UNE College of Pharmacy for a program that creates a facilitated pathway for biology students at USM who wish to go to the UNE College of Pharmacy so that when they complete a bachelor’s degree, they have the necessary academic background to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at UNE’s College of Pharmacy. USM also has a long-standing two year pre-pharmacy program for students who wanted to transfer to a college with a pharmacy program.
The new agreement will allow qualified USM graduates to transition “seamlessly and smoothly” into the UNE College of Pharmacy, said UNE President James Herbert.
Herbert said pharmacy students receive training that prepares them for a wealth of career opportunities in their chosen field.
“They will gain expert knowledge in pharmacy, while also receiving inter-professional training alongside future physicians, dentists, physical therapists, nurses, social workers, and other health professionals. They will emerge ready to serve as members of health care teams.,” Herbert said.
Herbert and USM President Glenn Cummings said there was a need for well-qualified healthcare professionals.
“Maine is an aging and rural state, and we need all the help we can get in terms of expanding the healthcare workforce in Maine,” said Herbert.
Cummings said the agreement addresses the two top priorities that many students have when pursuing higher education, which are quality and affordability.
He said there can be “silly rules” that get in the way of people’s educational pursuits.
“What we’re doing today, we’re tearing down those barriers, those restrictions. We’re saying let’s make a smooth transition from one school to the next,” he said.
USM professor of biology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Science, Technology, and Health Christine Maher said there are many students who don’t want to leave Maine for financial reasons or because they don’t want to leave their families. This agreement helps removes that barrier for USM students who want to purse doctor of pharmacy degree, she said.
Last month, UNE and the University of Maine School of Law signed an agreement that will allow qualifying students to earn an undergraduate degree in marine affairs and a law degree in a total of six years instead of the standard seven.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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