Public comprehensive universities play a critical role in preparing their graduates to face the challenges of an increasingly globalized marketplace.

In order to apply that principle here in Maine, the University of Southern Maine is establishing the Pioneer Program, our state’s first honors program for students who wish to study science, technology, engineering and math.

The launch of this exciting initiative is a powerful example of how a new USM, focused on fiscal sustainability, is managing to grow strategically. USM’s Pioneer Program will prepare our best and brightest science, technology, engineering and mathematics students to drive the innovation economy here in Maine.

This initiative is made possible by startup funding from the University of Maine System’s Strategic Investment Fund, designed to support academic programs that are aligned with the needs of Maine’s changing economy.

In order to ensure the long-term success of this effort, we are also seeking private scholarship and grant-funded support to help us build a healthy and sustainable STEM pipeline of students.

Our short-term goal is to recruit six to eight students for the fall of 2011 and then to enroll 10 or more Maine students every year thereafter.

Each Pioneer scholar will be awarded a full scholarship; given a notebook computer; invited to an intensive summer program; asked to live in specially designated campus housing; receive individualized advising; and work directly with faculty on research projects.

By graduation, Pioneer scholars will have completed 1,000 hours of high-impact, experiential learning opportunities through internships and service experiences outside of the classroom. Our goal is to deepen students’ knowledge in STEM subjects and prepare them for fulfilling careers.

The Pioneer Program also offers us greater opportunities to collaborate with public schools throughout the state and work with the community colleges to map out pathways that will help deserving associate degree students transfer into the program.

Pioneer graduates will be prepared to further their education in master’s and doctoral programs, teach in the public schools, or work directly in Maine’s innovation economy after graduation.

This honors program represents the first stage of USM’s larger vision of enlisting our state’s K-12 teachers in collaborations with USM faculty on research projects and new teaching strategies designed to deepen young people’s interest in majoring in the STEM disciplines when they go to college.

Fostering students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics requires early and engaging exposure to these subjects in our public schools.

Colleges and universities depend on youthful enthusiasm for STEM studies to fuel interest in majoring in one of those disciplines in higher education.

Reports from the Maine Department of Labor and USM’s Muskie School of Public Service indicate that STEM-based occupations will play an increasingly important role in Maine’s future, and yet our state lags nationally in the preparation of STEM-educated workers. USM’s Pioneer Program represents the beginning of a signature effort to address that shortage.

USM is well positioned to address this need thanks to strong science and engineering programs that are supported by Maine’s technology-intensive businesses and other corporate partners. We look forward to working closely with them as we develop this initiative.

We recently took the first step in formalizing this relationship with the appointment of Michael Wing as the director of the Pioneer Program.

He is a member and past chair of our School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology Executive Advisory Council and brings to the position rich experiences in manufacturing, operations and business management.

Later this fall, we will be announcing the creation of a Pioneer Program Advisory Board. The USM Pioneer Program is a tangible expression of what we mean when we refer to USM as a 21st-century university.

We are connecting the university’s intellectual resources with the talent in our communities, thereby helping to create our state’s economic future by equipping Maine students with the knowledge and experiences they need to succeed in the fields of tomorrow.

Selma Botman is president of the University of Southern Maine. She can be contacted at: president@usm.maine.edu