CALAIS – Trustees of Maine’s seven community colleges have authorized implementation of five new academic programs to begin in fall 2008.

The new programs include:

. Certificate and associate of applied science in traditional and contemporary crafts at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor.

. Associate of applied science in criminal justice at York County Community College in Wells.

. Advanced certificate in autism at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield.

. Certificate in building construction at Washington County Community College in Calais.

. Certificate in heavy equipment operations at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland.

The trustees also approved two new concentrations within the associate of applied science in digital media program at York County Community College. Students enrolled in that program now will be able to pursue concentrations in graphic design and animation.

In other action, the board elected officers for the coming year. Daniel Wathen of Augusta, retired chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and now with the law firm of Pierce Atwood, will serve as chairman. Kris Doody of Caribou, chief executive officer of Cary Medical Center, will serve as vice chairman.

Two students of the Maine Community College System also were recognized for receiving the George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship for study in Ireland during the 2008-09 academic year. Lucas Ireland of Mapleton, a student at NMCC, and Tracy London of Waterville, a recent graduate of SMCC, will study for one semester each at the Cork Institute of Technology.