UNE STEPS UP FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO MAKE COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE A REALITY

UNE STEPS UP FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO MAKE COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE

A REALITY

BIDDEFORD, Maine On November 2, Maine residents voted yes in support of

Question #2, which allows the issuance of a $5 million bond to increase

access to dental care in Maine. This is in response to the well-documented

critical shortage of dental professionals in Maine and northern New England,

and the lack of a dental school in the region.

The University of New England (UNE) plans to establish a College of Dental

Medicine that will address both access to care as well as the need for more

oral health professionals in the state. In November 2008, UNE¹S board of

trustees approved the academic program for the Doctor of Dental Medicine

degree, and charged the university with securing the necessary funds to

launch the college.

UNE President Danielle N. Ripich states, ^³On November 2, Maine voters

affirmed the need for dental access in our state and expressed hope for a

solution. By moving forward with our plans to open Maine^¹s first dental

school, UNE will continue its leadership role to educate students for the

health sciences in the 21st century, while simultaneously addressing the

state¹s most pressing health care workforce needs.^²

The $5 million bond allocates $3.5 million to establish a dental school¹s

community-based teaching clinic and $1.5 million to expand or create dental

clinics around the state. The competitive award process for these funds

will soon be under way, and UNE is in position to apply for the $3.5 million

to establish a dental school.

Even if awarded, UNE must raise additional funds to make the UNE College of

Dental Medicine a reality, and it has an active campaign under way. Earlier

this year, UNE received a lead gift of $2.3 million from Northeast Delta

Dental in support of the UNE College of Dental Medicine. With the addition

of other generous gifts and pledges, UNE has secured $6.5 million toward

launching the college, but to open its doors in fall 2012, up to $20 million

is needed.

^³As we prepare our application for state bond funds and for accreditation,

it is essential that we continue our successful fundraising to demonstrate

the capacity to open and sustain the new college,^² says, Kneka P. Smith, UNE

associate dean for planning.

Named one of the best regional universities in America by US News & World

Report, UNE is a leader in health sciences education and biomedical

research, offering student-centered, interdisciplinary programs in the

College of Osteopathic Medicine, Westbrook College of Health Professions,

College of Arts and Sciences, College of Pharmacy, and College of Graduate

Studies.