FEATURE | A college degree is closer than you think

The University of Maine Augusta’s Saco Center offers a wide variety of classes and several scholarship programs that could cover the cost of your tuition

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By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

If you’ve ever thought that you can’t afford college, think again. If you think you’re too old to go to college, think again.

And if you don’t believe us, just ask Brenda Plummer of Limington who today works at the University of Maine Augusta’s (UMA) Saco Center.

Plummer is one of the first people you meet when you walk through the door at UMA’s Saco Center on Main Street, and she is more than enthusiastic about the wide variety of programs that are available for anyone considering a new learning opportunity.

**BRENDA PLUMMER** decided to go to college when she was close to retirement age. With the help of flexible scholarship programs offered by UMA’s Saco Center, she was able to earn her bachelor’s degree and is no considering pursuing a master’s degree. | *Seaver photo*

In fact, Plummer. 68, graduated from UMA with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts a little more than four years ago.

“I was very reluctant,” she smiles. “I was retired and sort of set in my ways. Going to college was the last thing on my mind.”

But Plummer’s oldest daughter convinced her mother that she should “just check out” what the UMA Saco Center had to offer.

“My daughter was taking classes to become a teacher, and she kept pestering me – telling me that I had to do something with my brain,” Plummer laughed.

Although very reluctant, Plummer says she finally gave in to her daughter’s urging and met with an advisor at UMA’s Saco Center. She decided to start slow and signed up for just two summer classes, English and Accounting.

Within just a few days, she was hooked and then enrolled in a four-year bachelor’s degree program and minored in psychology. Today, Plummer is considering pursuing her master’s degree.

“It was a seamless process, and you get so much support,” Plummer explained. “Everyone kept telling me, don’t be afraid to reach out. Everyone is so committed and so vested in your success.”

Free classes and scholarships

**THE UMA SACO CENTER** is conveniently located in downtown Saco and offers many of its classes and programs online.

UMA’s Saco Center offers a variety of scholarships for first time college students who would like to explore higher education at no cost.

Osher New Beginnings Scholarships are available for first-time students or those who have earned less than 30 credit hours at another institution.

The Osher Scholarship covers the cost of tuition, all fees and even the cost of books and other classroom materials.

UMA’s Saco Center is designed to meet the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students. Many classes are self-paced and offered online – but there is always a close personal connection between students and their instructors.

“I really struggled with math,” Plummer recalled. “I didn’t understand it. I can do math in my head, but I just didn’t get the class. I was ready to quit.”

Plummer says the math instructor took the time to understand her particular needs and offered her extra help and guidance in order to complete the class.

“The professors do not want you to fail,” Plummer explains. “They want you to succeed. I ended up with a B+ in that class when I thought I was going to fail.”

The UMA Saco Center also offers financial aid planning and assistance — as well as career counseling and academic advisory programs.

“All you have to do is just pick up the phone,” Plummer explains. “They are so good about walking you through all the different programs. There is no judgment, and there is no cookie-cutter approach.”

A world of opportunities

Getting your college degree is closer than you might think, and UMA’s Saco Center is designed to be a relaxed, comfortable and affordable way to earn your degree.

According to James Bradley, executive director of the UMA Saco Center, there are several advantages to obtaining a college degree. A recent report by the National Association of College and Employers reveals that 2023 graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn and average salary of $64,291.

But Plummer says that getting her degree is about much more than just the ability to earn a higher income.

“It’s a real confidence booster,” she said. “Having your degree just opens more doors and gives you more choices in life. It really increases your self-confidence.”

The UMA Saco Center makes higher learning local and convenient for its students, and is offering a wide range of upcoming fall classes, including Interpersonal Communications, Introduction to Literature, U.S. History and Introduction to Human Services.

“Having your degree just opens
more doors and gives you
more choices in life.”
— Brenda Plummer

The UMA Center offers both associate and bachelor’s degree programs in a wide range of fields from public administration to secondary education as well as undergraduate certificate programs in programs in early childhood education, cyber forensics, social media and paralegal studies.

There is a world of opportunity just waiting for you,” Plummer says with a wide smile. “All you have to do to get started is just pick up the phone.”

For more information, you can call the UMA Saco Center at 207-282-4111 or by email at umasaco@maine.edu. You can also find more information at uma.edu/saco

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