AUBURN – Faculty, staff, students and visitors celebrated the first anniversary of the formal name change of Central Maine Technical College to Central Maine Community College.

“This has been an eventful year for our college,” said President Scott E. Knapp. “Enrollment growth and increased community involvement have convinced us that the change in name to reflect our true mission was absolutely the right thing to do and that this was the right time to do it.”

In the year since the name has changed, enrollment in both technical and liberal arts programs have increased by nearly 20 percent. Compared with July 1, 2003, there are 9 percent more students enrolled in the traditional technical and career programs today, as well as 70 percent more in the programs designed to transfer into the university or another four-year school.

The college has also added a new program in education and started courses in criminal justice during the past year. Students who go to the community college with the intent of continuing their education at USM will find the transition smoother because of a new agreement between the two institutions that was signed in January.

The college’s physical presence has expanded as well. The new Western Maine University and Community College Center opened in South Paris in May and will offer community college and university courses, along with the services of the Career Center to residents of the Oxford Hills.

Meanwhile, on the Auburn campus, renovations to the library are nearly complete and an expansion of the cafeteria is under way. Both projects are made possible, in part, by support from the community, through the CMCC Education Foundation’s First Decade Campaign, which has so far raised nearly $200,000 toward its $750,000 goal.