SOUTH PORTLAND – Southern Maine Community College will become the only college to offer a degree in heavy equipment operations in southern Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The South Portland campus will begin offering the course this fall.

The program is one of several courses being offered at the state’s community colleges designed to meet the employment needs of Maine businesses.

Seven heavy equipment simulators donated by construction companies are in place at the SMCC campus. The program already has a waiting list of students.