LEWISTON – An increase in the number of students graduating from Central Maine Community College with two-year degrees should result in an increase at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.

But that’s not happening.

Enrollment at Central Maine Community College in Auburn grew from 1,144 to 1,417 between 2003 and 2007.

At USM’s L-A College, enrollment fell from 1,347 to 1,178 from 2005 to 2007; and overall at USM, enrollment has declined from 11,382 to 10,453 over the past five years.

Too many people are getting two-year degrees and saying, “I’m done,” said Robert Blackwood, chairman of the USM Board of Visitors, citizens who advise university officials.

“It’s incumbent on us to convince them they’re not done. I’m not sure we’ve done such a good job,” he said.

Another problem is that nearly a third of first-year University of Southern Maine students – split among campuses in Portland, Gorham and Lewiston – don’t return for their second year. And about a third take six years to complete four-year degrees, according to the Board of Visitors’ recent report, “A Southern Maine Imperative.”

Those percentages place USM well below other state universities in the nation, according to the report.

“An institution of our type is not where we ought to be. We’re very concerned,” said Susan Campbell, associate vice president of academic affairs at USM.

To address the problem, the university is taking several steps, including:

• More academic advising.

• A new, general educational curriculum to help students become more engaged.

• An early-alert system for instructors to let advisers know a student may be in trouble.

• More outreach to parents.

Money also a problem

Another part of the solution is to get more money for USM, said Blackwood, who is senior vice president for Norway Savings Bank. USM is not properly funded by the state Legislature and the University of Maine System’s Board of Trustees, he said.

Cost is why more students go to community colleges instead of universities and why some don’t continue after graduating from community colleges.

At Central Maine Community College, tuition and fees for a full-time student cost about $3,210 a year. Tuition for a full-time USM student this fall will cost about $7,185.

Officials recently approved a tuition increase for the third year in a row for University of Maine System students. The tuition hike this year was about 10 percent, and 10.5 and 8.9 percent in the previous two years.

“Its sticker shock,” said Chip Morrison, a board member and president of the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce. Students need to be convinced that USM is affordable and that a four-year degree is worth the money, Morrison said. A four-year degree would reward them over a lifetime with higher salaries, he said.

Lowering tuition is not among the proposed changes, but more financial aid will be made available.

The cost of a four-year degree is always going to be an issue, said Board of Visitor member Ed Cormier, president of Harriman architects in Auburn. “What you can hope for is to provide more financial aid for people who need it.”

Roger Philippon, dean of planning and public affairs at CMCC, said the community college has taken steps to help more students continue with school after getting their two-year degrees.

“One position we instituted is a transfer adviser,” he said. “Her job is to work with students who want to transfer to help ease that transition.”

The college’s liberal arts program, a two-year degree program created in 2003, is growing, Philippon said. About 35 percent of students are in that program and are the most likely candidates to continue.

The remaining 65 percent are in programs that train students for specific, good-paying jobs such as nursing and automotive repair.