Dear Huskies, It is my pleasure to welcome new students to and returning students back to the University of Southern Maine! Go Huskies! Without a doubt 2020 has been a unique year. In my 27 years in higher education, with 22 of them being at USM, this will be one of the most challenging for…
Author: USM
TRIO Student Support Services Welcome Letter
Welcome to the University of Southern Maine, 2020. Just as these times are different due to COVID-19, your experience here at USM this year will be slightly different. However, many people have worked diligently to be sure that you receive the quality education you deserve. So welcome. We are all in this together! The start…
Athletics Department Welcome Letter
By: Al Bean, Athletics Director The USM Athletics Department is excited to welcome all of our students back to campus for the Fall 2020 semester. We know you have already faced great adversity in the past six months and there are certainly challenges still ahead but we are here to help support you, work with you…
Preparing for the End of the Semester
By: Cristina Kerluke, Academic Support Program Specialist We hope you have settled into the online learning environment and have found ways to successfully navigate our current circumstances. This may mean taking it week by week, or even day by day. However, with just a few weeks of classes remaining, it’s important to know where you…
Checking In
By: Samar Post Jamali, Nurse Practitioner Hello to members of the USM Community: We at Health Services miss seeing your faces around campus. We hope you are safe and supported during this unprecedented time. Please know that while Health Services is currently not seeing patients in person, we are happy to schedule telehealth appointments. …
Pundemic 2020: Using Humor in Crisis
By: Samantha Seebode, Suicide Prevention, Graduate Assistant As we reach week four of community quarantine, I’m finding myself just as restless as the tigers at Carole’s Big Cat Rescue. Feeling caged in my own apartment leaves me hoping I don’t run out of laundry to fold or drawers to organize so I can put off…
Facts about COVID-19
By: Lynn G Howard, MSN, NP-C The timely health topic this month is, not surprisingly, COVID-19 (aka Coronavirus). Given its significant impact on our lives, it would seem irresponsible of me to write about anything else. However, the status changes rapidly and much will be changed between the time that I write this (March 25…
Making the Pivot to Online Learning
By: Cristina Kerluke, Academic Support Program Specialist Any change can be challenging, particularly when sudden or unexpected. The pivot to a completely online experience for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester certainly falls within this category. Please be patient with yourself, your classmates and your instructors during this time. We’re in this together. During…
Taking the reins of your research
By: Paul Dexter, Director of Academic Retention Initiatives, Megan MacGregor, Instruction and Outreach Librarian & Elizabeth Bull, Library Specialist In last week’s article, we offered guidance on how to improve your writing process for any type of writing task. We also noted how there are additional considerations when the writing involves research. Engaging in research…
Alternative modes: Reducing carbon emissions with one trip on the road
By Sydney Pettey, USM Eco-Rep You’re taking that 20-minute drive from Gorham to Portland to take a final exam. You are going through every piece of information you crammed into your head the night before and then it happens. That glowing, orange light goes on and your car stops. It can only mean one thing….
When you roommate isn’t your bestie
By: Sarah Kelly, LCPC Most college Freshmen feel both anxiety and excitement when thinking about their college roommate. Often, they have completed a matching survey and are hopeful that the person that becomes their roommate will also become their friend. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The college years are a major time of…
Write on!
By: Paul Dexter, Director of Academic Retention Initiatives & Cristina Kerluke, Academic Support Program Specialist As with any learning experience, there can be a great deal of excitement, satisfaction, and joy associated with the writing process. Through writing, we can express our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and assertions. It is an outlet for our creativity, a…
The history of the wild Maine Blueberry
By: Oona Molyneaux, USM Eco-Rep Growing up in Downeast, Maine I always looked forward to the month of August. I always have and always will know that August is my favorite month of the year, mostly because this month brings an abundance of wild blueberries, and the excitement that comes with the month(+) long harvest….
Three ways to have a more sustainable dorm experience
By: Ben Whitcher, USM Eco-Rep According to goingzerowaste.com, zero waste is the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. Sounds nice. You’re probably thinking, “But I’m just a college student, I don’t know my left from right, let alone how to eliminate all my waste”. Well, you’re right, you’re probably not…
Learning is a marathon, not a sprint
By: Naamah Jarnot, Coordinator of Tutoring Services & Paul Dexter, Director of Academic Retention Initiatives As you’ve likely gathered from our Free Press series so far this year, learning with a peer fosters self-testing for understanding, connecting concepts, and improving memory. This week we want to draw your attention specifically to our peer tutoring program….
Working on Wellness: Cannabis: Am I using too much?
By: Anna Gardner, Recovery Oriented Campus Center Coordinator, Vicki Libby, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist We aren’t here to tell you if cannabis is good or bad, or debate its merits. We have noticed an increase in marijuana use among students since its legalization in Maine. We think it is important for you to understand what research…
Environmental optimism
By: Tom Dolloff, USM Eco-Rep Climate change is a wicked problem with complex causes and unpredictable effects. If these issues aren’t addressed at a global scale, we will face the dire consequences of a planet not adapted to its climate. This is an unprecedented amount of pressure on both millennials and Gen Z who will…
Manage your mindset
By: Paul Dexter, Director of Academic Retention Initiatives & Cristina Kerluke, Learning Commons Academic Support Program Specialist Our weekly column is titled “Learning: It’s What You DO That Matters.” This catchphrase aims to level the playing field, as all students can improve their learning and academic performance by employing intentional, evidence-based, action-oriented strategies. We recognize, though,…
Be Heart Wise
By: Malinda Scannell, Nurse Practitioner February is Heart Month. It is an important time to Know Your Numbers! Blood pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, and Body Mass Index (BMI)-these measurements help to identify your risk of heart disease. Additional risk factors include family history, diet, and smoking. Heart disease remains a major cause of illness and…
The importance of attention
By: Cristina Kerluke, Learning Commons Academic Support Program Specialist This week’s article is adapted from our Paying Attention web page. The very first step to learning is paying attention. Whether in the classroom, reading a textbook, listening to an online lecture, or practicing a skill for work, dedicating complete attention is absolutely critical. All of…
Embrace planning as a process
By: Cristina Kerluke, Academic Support Program Specialist This week’s article is adapted from our Time Management web page. Scheduling enough time for your academics is essential. However, many students don’t put together a realistic plan or establish a routine that will enable them to achieve their academic goals. There are only so many hours in…
Letter from the Office of Graduate Studies
By: Office of Graduate Studies Whether you’re a new or returning graduate student, the Office of Graduate Studies wishes you a prosperous and healthy spring semester — and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Graduate Studies is the one department solely dedicated to graduate student services and support — including finances…
2020 Chinese New Year Celebration: The Year of the Rat
By: Brianne Hodgkins, Confucious Institute Program Coordinator The Chinese and American Friendship Association of Maine (CAFAM) and the University of Southern Maine Confucius Institute will ring in the Year of the Rat February 1, 2020, at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, 471 Stroudwater Street, Westbrook, ME. This always popular and exciting event is in its…
Welcome back from the ROCC!
By: Christopher Corson, Collegiate Recovery Program Coordinator, Recovery Oriented Campus Center The ROCC staff and Peers would like to welcome back our students for a fun and action-packed spring 2020. Some students immediately after reading this might say, What’s the ROCC and Where is it? With that said, let’s take off the veil for 2020…