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PORTLAND, Maine

President Danielle Ripich presents at Educate Maine Annual Education Symposium

President Danielle Ripich served as a panelist at the Educate Maine 2015 Annual Education Symposium and Leadership Luncheon, which was held on December 11, 2015, in Portland to explore education indicators for Maine.

Ripich joined representatives from three other Maine colleges and universities (Kaplan University, Thomas College and the University of Maine-Presque Isle) to discuss the current movement toward a competency-based education system--not just in Maine’s K-12 schools but in the state’s higher education institutions as well.

Ripich explained that by clearly defining content area and workplace  competencies in collaboration with academic and employer partners, universities can create pathways for student achievement that allow  students to pursue mastery at their own pace and that allow potential employers to clearly understand the meaning of university degrees or credentials.

Ripich discussed UNE’s first competency-based education program, to launch in 2016—a degree completion program in Health Informatics. Funded by the Gates Foundation, the program will allow students currently working in the field to develop the proficiencies needed to further their careers with a workplace relevant bachelor’s degree.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.