The University of Maine will be a major beneficiary of the Harold Alfond Foundation’s historic $240 million gift to the University of Maine System.
UMaine President Ferrini-Mundy noted that the historic gift would “benefit our students for decades.” She added, “With $20 million from the Alfond Foundation, we will develop new programs to support student retention and success across the University of Maine System, including a UMaine-led Research Learning Experiences Project that will embed a range of experiential learning opportunities into the first and second years of the undergraduate experience.”
The gift will enable expansion of “UMaine’s First-Year Learner Success initiative and success in the new Summer Start program, with a focus on student learning outcomes and high-impact teaching. Pathways to Careers will infuse a more deliberate, visible and effective set of activities that ensure effective career readiness and placement for students to meet Maine’s workforce needs.”
The investment over 12 years will also pay for improvements to the engineering education infrastructure on the Orono campus and provide $90 million for Black Bear athletics. The Alfond gift marks the largest single contribution for athletics at a public university in New England and is among the largest gifts ever, nationwide.