Academic Assessment
The Office of Academic Assessment administers campus-wide student surveys for institutional improvement, conducts program-level assessment surveys, and coordinates the course evaluation process with academic departments. Any student who has questions about the standard course evaluation process can visit the following webpage.
Course Evaluation information: https://mycampus.maine.edu/group/usm/student-information
The Office of Academic Assessment does not administer any tests. For testing services regarding the Math Placement Exam (ALEKS Math Test), Language Placement Tests, and national or certification tests (CPCE, GRE, LSAT), see the following webpage redirecting students to the specific online registration instructions.
Testing Services: https://usm.maine.edu/office-academic-assessment/testing-services/
Career & Employment Hub
The USM Career & Employment Hub helps students and alumni navigate their career paths by offering a range of services, including career exploration, internship guidance, résumé and cover letter support, job interview preparation, and more.
Our focus is on providing career education and fostering professional development through:
-
Exploring career options and connecting majors to careers
-
Peer Career Advising
-
Paid Internships
-
Administering and interpreting career assessments
-
Crafting compelling résumés and cover letters
-
Developing job and internship search strategies
-
Strengthening networking and interview skills
-
Cultivating professional skills for workplace success
-
Advising during career transitions
Services are available in person, online, and via video conferencing.
Learn more or book an appointment today!
Location: McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success, Suite 210, Portland Campus
Website:https://usm.maine.edu/career-employment-hub/
Phone: 207-228-8505
Email: usmcareers@maine.edu
Center for Academic Innovation
The Center for Academic Innovation provides learning design consulting and faculty development opportunities to help faculty to create engaging programs, courses and lesson plans grounded in evidence-based best practices for every modality. Our team aims to build strong collaborative relationships across the university to help faculty reach their pedagogical goals and support their commitment to excellence. Contact Academic Innovation by phone: (207) 780-4540, email: academic.innovation@maine.edu, or online at http://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-Affiliated Student Hub for more information.
NOTE: USM’s Credit for Prior 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) staff welcomes students with disabilities to contact us to request accommodations and learn about accommodations in college. The DSC provides a range of services to students with attentional, learning, physical, psychological, sensory, or other health-related disabilities. To request academic or housing accommodations complete the Accommodation Request Form on the DSC website. For more information, contact us at 207-780-4706 or dsc-usm@maine.edu or visit us at 242 Luther Bonney Hall in Portland.
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 Productivity 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 macOS 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 faculty, staff, and students with common technology 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 itsupport.maine.edu.
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 scheduled and real-time support of classrooms, conference rooms and lecture halls for the academic programs of the University. This support includes group or individual training sessions on use of technology on the Portland, Gorham, or Lewiston-Auburn campuses.
Other services include the delivery and maintenance of classroom equipment, equipment loaning, light maintenance and installation of equipment, organizing and running events in Hannaford Hall as well as various locations around the campuses. Please visit the ITMS USM Website for more information.
Contact:
Phone: (207) 780-4280
Email: usm-mediaservices-group@maine.edu
In-Person:
- Portland: 141 Luther Bonney Hall
- Gorham: 1 Bailey Hall
- LAC: 118C Learning Commons
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 University of Southern Maine Libraries, The Learning Commons is also home to USM’s peer academic support services. In addition to writing assistance, 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 (Gorham campus), and Glickman Library (Portland campus), many of our services 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 in Gorham, Portland, 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. Students can also schedule an appointment with a Technology Coach for 1:1 guidance.
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 available to help students 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 provide a deep dive into how learning works and offer practical strategies for maximizing academic success. The Study Skills & Learning Strategies webpage includes guidance on active reading, note-taking, attention and motivation, time management, and more.
Students can also strengthen their academic skills and explore new strategies by scheduling an appointment with an Adult Learner Coach.
For more information, visit the Study Skills and Learning Strategies webpage: usm.maine.edu/learning-commons/study-skills-learning-strategies.
Group Study Rooms
USM students can reserve private group study rooms within USM Libraries and Learning Commons spaces for collaborative work and studying.
To view or reserve a study room, please visit the USM Library website at https://usm.maine.edu/library/ and select “Reserve a Study Room.”
Contact Us
For questions regarding Learning Commons services and resources, please call (207) 780-4228 or email usmlc@maine.edu. You may also view a comprehensive overview of resources and services at https://usm.maine.edu/learning-commons/.
Military-Affiliated Student Hub
The Military Affiliated Student Hub (M.A.S.H.) provides comprehensive support for military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and dependents. Our team of School Certifying Officials and trained work-study students assist in navigating educational benefits and maximizing available resources.
Students engaging with M.A.S.H. can expect:
-
Educational Benefit Certification - Assistance with certifying GI Bill® benefits, tuition assistance, and other military-affiliated funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
-
Benefit Advising - Guidance on applying for and maximizing available educational benefits, including military-focused scholarships.
-
Transition Support - Resources to help ease the shift from military to civilian academic life.
-
Military Transcript Review - Evaluation of military training and experience for potential college credit.
-
Veterans’ Resource Centers - Dedicated spaces on all three campuses where military-affiliated students can study, connect, and access support services.
-
Green Zone Training - Military cultural awareness training for faculty and staff to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
For more information, visit usm.maine.edu/veterans.
39 Exeter St., Portland Campus
(207) 780-4471
usm.veterans@maine.edu
usm.maine.edu/military-affiliated-student-hub/
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available 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
- Information Literacy instruction in person and online
- 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 250 library databases
- Over 99,100 electronic journals via our databases with most articles available in full text
- URSUS Catalog access to 390,000 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.
|
