Academic Assessment
The Office of Academic Assessment coordinates certification and national tests (e.g., Miller Analogies Test, GRE Subject Tests, LSAT, and others). Students are encouraged to visit our Website for test registration and schedules.
The Office of Academic Assessment also conducts institutional assessment studies, administers student surveys, assists departments in evaluating courses and programs, develops tests and assessment instruments, and provides technical support to the faculty for their tenure and promotion. Office location: 45 Exeter Street.
Career & Employment Hub
The USM Career & Employment Hub helps students and alumni connect to their future by offering a variety of services such as career exploration, finding the right internship, polishing a resume, preparing for job interviews, and more. The Career Hub is focused on delivering career education and cultivating professional development skills. They do this by providing the knowledge and experiences necessary for a successful career, including:
- Connecting study interests and concentrations to careers
- Administering and interpreting career assessments
- Crafting a dynamic cover letter and resume
- Job and internship search strategies
- Developing networking and interview skills
- Cultivating professional skills
- Coaching during career transitions
Services are available in person, online, and through video conferencing. Learn more about the Hub’s services or book an appointment today!
Center for Technology Enhanced Learning (CTEL)
The Center for Technology Enhanced Learning supports high-quality online teaching and provides guidance and effective practices for using technology to support learning. CTEL’s Learning Design team has deep roots in the science of learning, and is available to consult with faculty on all aspects of developing and delivering instruction. CTEL works closely with other USM units including the Glickman Library, ITMS, Learning Commons, and the Center for Collaboration and Development. CTEL delivers year-round programming using various workshop formats. Contact CTEL by phone: (207) 780-4540, email: ctelhelp@maine.edu, or online: usmdl.org.
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
Students wishing to earn credit based on exam, credential review, or other demonstrations of learning developed outside of the graduate-level classroom should contact the CPL office directly at priorlearningusm@maine.edu or 207-780-4663.
All graduate CPL credit must be approved by program faculty.
Military Credits
Official military transcripts are reviewed by USM’s Veterans Services Coordinator. Please see the Military-Afiliated Student Hub for more information.
NOTE: USM’s Credit for Prioring Learning office reserves the right to revise, amend, or change items set forth in our policies, procedures, and equivalencies at any time.
Disability Services Center
The Disability Services Center (DSC) provides a wide range of services to students with attentional, learning, physical, psychological, sensory or other health-related disabilities. Students with disabilities who want to learn about our services and request accommodations are encouraged to contact the DSC to schedule an initial appointment. Visit the DSC website to learn more about requesting academic or housing accommodations.
Disability Services Center (DSC)
242 Luther Bonney Hall, Portland
780-4706, 780-5646 (TTY)
email: dsc-usm@maine.edu
fax: 780-4403
Information Technology
The Information Technology department provides a wide range of technology support services for students, faculty, and staff at the University of Southern Maine including access to secure wireless internet, Google Producitvity Suite, Microsoft Office, and much more.
General use computer labs are available for all students, faculty, and staff across all University of Southern Maine Campuses. These lab spaces include Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh computers as well as a wide range of commonly used academic software applications available to all students, faculty, and staff. Some locations are optimized for students who would like to connect their personal laptops to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Each lab location also includes a black and white or color printer for a nominal fee using a University of Southern Maine Campus Card. Computer classrooms are also available at all University of Southern Main Campuses for class activity periods.
The USM:IT Help Desk, currently located on the 3rd floor of the Glickman Library on the Portland campus, assists all faculty, staff, and students with common computer issues. Some examples of support provided include university login issues, e-mail issues, and Internet connectivity issues.
There are a number of ways to connect with USM IT support including:
By phone at 207-780-4029
By email at help@maine.edu
Online chat can be found at usm.maine.edu/information-technology/it-help-desk
For more information about any of the services offered by UMS:IT, please visit us at our website at http://itsupport.maine.edu.
Instructional Technology and Media Services
The Instructional Technology and Media Services (ITMS) Department provides support for classroom and instructional technology for the academic programs of the University. This support includes group or individual training sessions on use of technology in Portland, Gorham, or Lewiston-Auburn.
Other services include the delivery and maintenance of classroom equipment on all three campuses, equipment loaning, equipment installation, organizing and running events in Hannaford Hall and around campus. Please visit the ITMS USM Website for more information. ITMS staff are available by calling (207) 780-4280 or by visiting one of our offices.
Portland: 141 Luther Bonney Hall or Gorham: 1 Bailey Hall
Learning Resources and Academic Assistance: The Learning Commons
The spaces, services, and resources of The Learning Commons are designed to foster collaborative and active learning. Located in the Univesity of Southern Maine Libraries, The Learning Commons is also home to USM’s peer academic support services. In addition to subject-based tutoring, we offer academic coaching, technology assistance, and research guidance, as well as reservable group study spaces and community computers. While physically located in Bailey Hall Library in Gorham, the Glickman Library in Portland, and the Library at Lewiston-Auburn Campus, many of our services (including tutoring!) are also available online.
Writing Assistance at USM
Writing works best when it’s a collaborative process. All of our Writing Assistants are current USM students who have been trained to help at any stage of the writing process, from generating ideas at the very beginning to providing a reader’s perspective on the final draft. Writing Assistants are also able to work with English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to practice vocabulary and pronunciation.
Similar to tutoring, Writing Assistance is available on campus and online via Zoom. For guidance with scheduling, please visit https://usm.maine.edu/learning-commons/schedule-an-appointment/.
Technology and Research Assistance
The Learning Commons offers instruction on many technologies used at USM, including Microsoft Office programs, Google applications, software used in online courses, and other tools related to student academic needs.
College-level research involves finding appropriate peer-reviewed sources. Our team of Research Librarians in Portland, Gorham, or Lewiston-Auburn can save students a great deal of time by directing them to the best sources for their research topic, as well as showing them how to use the Library’s research tools. Librarians are avaliable to help students anytime during library hours, in person, by phone, email, or chat. Visit https://usm.maine.edu/library/ for more information on library support and resources.
Academic Success Strategies and Resources
We have numerous online resources dedicated to becoming an “AGILE learner” (Academic Gains through Improved Learning Effectiveness), which does a deep dive into how learning works, along with specific strategies for reading actively, taking effective notes, preparing for exams, and more!
Additionally, the “Becoming a Successful Learner” virtual series in Brightspace can help USM students navigate the demands, technologies, and opportunities of being a college learner. The modules in this series include guidance on using effective learning strategies, navigating the Brightspace learning environment, collaborating with others via Zoom and Google tools, and preparing for the semester. Enrolling in the “Becoming a Successful Learner” course on USM’s Brightspace landing page is the first step to gain access to the modules.
Every Brightspace course page also has a direct link to our “Academic Support Resources” within the “Course Resources” tab.
Students can also increase their academic skills and learn new strategies by scheduling an appointment with a Peer Academic Coach.
Group Study Rooms
There are a number of group study rooms within the USM Libraries. All USM students can use any of these privately enclosed spaces to study in groups or to work collaboratively on projects.
To view or reserve one of these spaces, please visit the USM Library page and select Reserve a Study Room.
For questions regarding Learning Commons services and resources, please call (207) 780-4228 or email usmlc@maine.edu.
Military-Affiliated Student Hub
USM’s Military-Affiliated Student Hub (M.A.S.H., formerly Veteran’s Services) provides wraparound support to student veterans, service members, and their families.
This team of School Certifying Officials and work-study students is trained to support students in navigating educational benefits including the GI Bill, tuition assistance for members of the National Guard and Reserves, dependents’ benefits, and veteran-and-military-focused scholarships. Students contacting M.A.S.H. can expect:
- Educational benefit certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense
- Advising on benefit application and maximization
- Transition support from military culture to civilian life
- Military transcript review to award college credit where possible for previous experience
- Dedicated Veterans’ Resource Centers on all 3 campuses where students can study, relax, and find resources
- Green Zone military cultural awareness training for staff and faculty to promote a supportive learning environment.
Contact us:
39 Exeter St., Portland Campus
(207) 780-4471
usm.veterans@maine.edu
usm.maine.edu/veterans-services
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is avaliable at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
University Libraries: Centers of Learning, Research, and Technology
Libraries and Learning provide a full range of resources and services in person and remotely. We are open seven days per week and are conveniently located on each of the University of Southern Maine’s three campuses (Gorham, Portland, Lewiston-Auburn). Libraries & Learning offers a variety of comfortable spaces for studying, group work, and learning assistance. Find out more at the University of Southern Maine Libraries.
Learning Commons at Glickman Library (2nd Floor) and Gorham Library offers research and writing help, learning assistance, group study rooms, and computers and technology support. Similar services are offered at the Lewiston-Auburn Library. Find out more at the Learning Commons.
Student Services include, but are not limited to:
- Research Help: drop-in, phone, email chat, or schedule a one-on-one consultation with a librarian
- Anytime online access to databases and URSUS library catalog
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL) from institutions are the state, the country, and the world, including Rapid ILL access to books, articles, and other materials via ILLiad (ILLiad)
- Student computers including full wireless access, printing, and scanning
- Learning Support including peer support, tutoring, AGILE, and PLAN
- Course Reserves, Textbooks on Reserve and eReserves
- Group Study Rooms and study spaces
Collections and Resources
- Over 280 library databases
- Over 36,000 electronic journals via our databases with most articles available in full text
- URSUS Catalog access to 423,000 books supplemented by more than 1.5 million print titles held in the libraries of other campuses of the University of Maine System, the Maine State LIbrary, and the Bangor Public Library with two or three intercampus delivery.
- E-Books, audiobooks, and streaming video
- USM Digital Commons
- Special Collections consists of a Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection, the University Archives, and the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine.
- The Franco Collection at the Lewiston-Auburn Campus preserves and promotes the culture and heritage of Maine’s Franco-American population. It holds a wide range of archive and research materials, and it sponsors a variety of events that promote the history and culture of Franco-Americans.
- Maker Innovation Studio (MIST), 5th floor Science building (and a satellite space in 519 Glickman Library) offers an experiential learning classroom, makerspace, a digital immersion lab, digital media lab, and an advanced digital fabrication and prototyping lab.
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