UMA’s Plan to Significantly Expand Their Augusta, Maine, Campus

For years, the Marketplace at Augusta was home to a satellite office for a national university.  Initially, the space was occupied by a branch of Kaplan University.  Later, the building was home to Purdue Global.

In early February of 2023, Purdue abruptly closed their Augusta location.  We later got word that they moved to a new location in Waterville.

Since then, the building located on the corner of Marketplace Drive and Townsend Road has sat vacant.

Last summer, we started to see indications that the University of Maine Augusta could be taking over the space.  While there were signs (literally) of their plan, there was no official announcement about UMA’s plans for the space.

Finally, we have gotten official word about UMA’s intentions.

According to a press release on the college’s website, the UMA Capital Center will open later this year.

The 20,000-square-foot facility will be dedicated to the college’s nursing and cybersecurity programs.

Nursing is one of the college’s most popular programs.  In the last five years, enrollment in the school’s nursing programs has jumped from 50 students to over 300 students.  With the addition of the new facility, the program will be able to accommodate up to 400 students.

Additionally, the college has seen an increase in the number of students interested in cybersecurity programs.  Cybersecurity is becoming one of the most in-demand career paths as our world becomes more networked.

The press release explains that the funding for the renovations will come in two phases.  It says:

The initial phase, which will allow the UMA Capital Center to begin serving students this year, will be funded with $1.8 million received through a $4.5 million Congressionally Directed Spending award secured by Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to improve nursing simulation across UMS and patient outcomes across Maine.

Another $4.5 million would come fromCongressionally Directed Spending requested by Senators Collins and King.

Headquartered in Augusta but with satellite offices around the state, UMA is Maine’s third-largest college system.  The University of Maine Augusta offers dozens of programs.  Fields of study range from aeronautics to nursing and business.

Learn more from the University of Maine Augusta website.