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The ɫ����Ƶis establishing a new College of Business to house its current business program offerings plus several new programs in development that are consistent with in-demand careers and industry standards.

The College of Business will leverage relationships between ɫ����Ƶ’s established business programs with other programs and colleges across the University, including ɫ����Ƶ’s (ɫ����Ƶ Online), College of Arts and Sciences, and health professions colleges, to cement the University’s status as a leader in the fields of business and entrepreneurship. ɫ����Ƶ currently offers undergraduate majors in business administration, sport and recreation management, sustainability and business, and marine entrepreneurship.

The University plans to emphasize these internal partnerships in addition to external partnerships to create a range of new credentials and various new programs in both traditional and emerging areas of business. The new college will also strengthen relationships between ɫ����Ƶ’s business programs and the P.D. Merrill Makerspace and Office of Innovation, which have been the catalyst for a number of student- and alumni-founded businesses and other entrepreneurial endeavors.

“For years, ɫ����Ƶ’s business programs have engaged students in experiential learning opportunities and prepared them for rewarding, enriching careers and leadership positions with some of Maine’s and the nation’s most important employers, from private entities, nonprofit organizations, professional sports organizations, manufacturers, and more,” remarked ɫ����Ƶ President James Herbert. “Formation of a College of Business will allow ɫ����Ƶ to build upon these successes and leverage new and existing partnerships to cement the University’s status as a leader in the fields of business and entrepreneurship.”

John Austin, Ph.D., who since 2020 has served as the P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of the Business Department, will serve as interim dean of the new college while the University conducts a national search for an inaugural dean later this summer. Two new business faculty members, including a ɫ����Ƶ alum, will join the University in the fall.

At the same time ɫ����Ƶ launches the College of Business, the University’s Department of Education will become the School of Education, providing greater visibility of ɫ����Ƶ’s education programs and a platform for them to flourish. The move will also allow for expanded opportunities to build connections between ɫ����Ƶ’s undergraduate education programs within the College of Arts and Sciences and the University’s graduate education programs within the .

“This exciting development is happening at a pivotal time in ɫ����Ƶ’s history as we continue to make headway on the transformation of our Portland Campus and reimagination of our space in Biddeford,” stated Gwendolyn Mahon, ɫ����Ƶ’s provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “This is truly an exhilarating time for ɫ����Ƶ as we strive to educate the next generation of education professionals and business leaders for Maine.