Many Flags/One Campus Model Receives Endorsement of Maine State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) Bookmark and Share

April 13, 2012

  • Workforce Development leaders urge Governor LePage to include the Many Flags/One Campus project in his plans for education reform and economic development.

At its April meeting, the Maine State Workforce Investment Board voted unanimously to endorse the Many Flags/One Campus concept and to urge Governor LePage to move the project forward as a part of his education reform and economic development strategies for Maine. The members of the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) are appointed by the Governor to lead the effort to create a world-class workforce development system in Maine.

Fred Webber, the Chair of the State Workforce Investment Board said, ?The Many Flags/One Campus model of collaboration among business, secondary and post secondary education and industry led technical training is exactly want we need in Maine.?

The specific resolution passed by the State Workforce Investment Board states:

The SWIB supports the Many Flags/One Campus model for industry directed workforce training and seamlessly integrated secondary and post secondary education ? and we urge the Governor to include the innovative Many Flags model as a part of his education reform and economic development strategies for Maine.

Robert Winglass, Commissioner of the Department of Labor said, ?The Many Flags model is the kind of innovative, public?private approach that is needed in Maine so we can be truly competitive in the 21st Century global economy.?

Steve Pound, Associate Director for Workforce Development, Cianbro Institute, Cianbro Companies, and also a member of the State Workforce Investment Board added, ?Maine will benefit from an integrated model for education and workforce development. Many Flags has the potential to be a model that can be replicated statewide as we bring public education and private business training approaches together.?

The State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) is made up of over 30 business leaders, career and technical education experts, workforce training specialists, University of Maine System and Maine Community College leaders, as well as other economic and community development public officials.

Alan Hinsey, Executive Director of the Many Flags/One Campus Foundation noted, ?We want to thank the Workforce Board for its endorsement of Many Flags/One Campus. Strong support like this from leaders in education, workforce development and the private sector is critical if the Many Flags approach is to become a reality and a model for the state.?

Many Flags/One Campus is a new approach for a seamlessly integrated secondary and post-secondary education system in Maine. This is a unique concept that promotes educational excellence and administrative efficiency by integrating, both physically and virtually, the programs, students, faculty, staff, classrooms, labs, and technological infrastructure of:

  • a network of Regional High Schools;
  • a State-of-the-art Career &Tech Education Center;
  • a Higher Education Center (course and degrees offered by Maine Community College and University of Maine System);
  • and Industry Training and R&D Centers of Excellence.

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The Many Flags/One Campus Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed in 2010 to help advance the innovative Many Flags/One Campus model. The Foundation is comprised of local Midcoast Maine residents who wish to increase awareness of the Many Flags model and to raise private funds and secure grants that will help the Many Flags/One Campus concept become a reality.

To learn more about the Many Flags/One Campus project ? or to provide support to the Many Flags Foundation ? go to www.manyflags.org Contact Alan Hinsey at (207) 691-3227 ? or alan@manyflags.org