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B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 38 B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center Educating a Professional Workforce For the Future R egul atory compliance is a complex world that requires an understanding of laws, regulations, guidelines, and specifications pertaining to a given business. e ability to navigate compliance issues can be overwhelming for companies that may excel in their sector, but lack the legal background to fulfill the rules and regulations that govern their business. anks to a new interdisciplinary, hands-on program offered by the University of Maine School of Law (Maine Law), part of the Graduate and Professional Center (the Maine Center) consortium, non-lawyers now have the opportunity to build the skills they need through Maine Law's Certificate in Compliance Program. Having recently completed its second year, enrollment has already doubled, with employees from WEX, Unum, and Maine Medical Center among the participants. e Certificate in Compliance Program is just one example of how the University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center, through its partnership with Maine Law, is helping employ- ers to navigate issues that are outside their areas of expertise. Located in Portland but connected throughout the state, the Maine Center brings together graduate and professional pro- grams in law, business, and public policy to train the workforce of the future, by delivering cross-disciplinary, experiential, and market-driven programming. e Maine Center is designed to foster collaboration across the public and private sectors and to serve students, businesses, and organizations statewide. e Harold Alfond Foundation has been an early champion of the Maine Center. eir initial investment established Maine Center Ventures, a 501(c)3 to develop and implement the vision for the University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center. Reverse the brain drain e Maine Center is an innovative academic consortium that com- prises the University of Maine School of Law, the University of Maine Graduate School of Business, the Muskie School of Public Service and the Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy. e consortium came about in an effort to address Maine's very real demographic and economic challenges and is founded on the belief that leading-edge public education is a powerful catalyst for eco- nomic growth. A key to attracting and retaining new students and professionals is to provide high-quality, forward-looking, accessible graduate education that leads to marketable and relevant qualifications. "is is a game-changer," says Maine Center Ventures CEO Terry Sutton. "If you listen to the economic forecasters, it seems inevitable that Maine will lose talent as the population grows older and young adults move out of state. Maine has a brain drain. I view this initiative as an important strategy to reverse the brain drain." e Challenge Here's the overall scenario. Maine's workforce is shrinking, aging and experiencing a growing skills gap. Maine workers need special- ized training to keep up with the demands of the new emerging economy and its higher education institutions need to respond more quickly and creatively to employer needs. At the same time, there is increased national competition for professionals and graduate-level students. Traditional degree programs are no longer the only option for graduate education: students and employers are evaluating cost, time, and delivery, and seeking convenient and flexible formats. " We were inspired by the transformative vision of the Maine Center … a model that is truly unique, of the ver y highest quality, and that best serves the people of Maine. " — Greg Powell, Chairman Harold Alfond Foundation

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