Frequently Asked
Questions
As a newly accepted student to UMaine, please click here for
important information
Should I attend Orientation?
YES! (but
why?) Top Ten Reasons! YOU WILL...
-
Get
information about priority class registration.
-
Meet with
your college/program representative.
-
Pick up
your residence hall room assignment.
-
Get your
MaineCard student ID.
-
Take care
of your immunizations (can't start classes without them!).
-
Sign up
for a parking permit (if you're bringing your car).
-
Get your
books ordered and waiting for you in the fall.
-
Meet
future classmates.
-
Get to
know the campus and take care of all the business so you don't have to
worry about it in the fall.... and the number ten reason for attending
orientation.....
-
Have FUN!
What time does Orientation start and do I have to attend both
days?
Orientation is
a two-day event; it begins at 1:00pm on the first day, and ends about noon
the next day. We encourage all students and family to attend both days, as
each day has a specific purpose.
Can
I only come on a day that is assigned to my college? For instance, if I'm
in the
College of Liberal Arts, can I attend the Orientation during
a date assigned to a different college?
It is to your
advantage to attend on the dates assigned to your college in order to meet
with an advisor for priority course registration. If you attend on a date
reserved for a different college you may not have the opportunity to do this
unless you attend one during a weekday. If you can't attend on your
college days, we still recommend you attend orientation, regardless what
day or college. If you have specific concerns, please contact the Office of
New Student Programs.
Where will I stay during Orientation and will my food be
provided? What should I bring?
As part of the
orientation, students will be spending the night at one of the student
residences on campus. Bedding, pillows, towels & soap will be provided for
the students. Students: please bring alarm clocks! Students:
dinner and breakfast meals will be provided for while at orientation.
Parents/guests: dinner provided, breakfast on your own.
Should my parents come with me?
Yes!
Parents and families are encouraged to attend. There are separate sessions
in the agenda for parents which will answer questions that they may have as
their students prepare to leave for college. Parents and guests must find
own
accommodations.
What if I can't come in June? Is there another Orientation?
For students
unable to attend in June, an abbreviated form of the orientation schedule
will be held on during the Maine Fall Welcome. Students will receive
information about the Fall welcome Weekend in early August. However, we
strongly recommend all students attend Summer Orientation, as it gives them
a head start and answers a lot of questions! You are welcome to come on
your own, but it is to your advantage to come during orientation, as it is a
one-stop shopping convenience!
What time does the Fall Welcome Weekend
begin?
The Fall Welcome Weekend kicks off with
the MAINE HELLO on Friday, August 31, beginning at 8 a.m. The MAINE
HELLO is the official welcome the entire campus gives to the incoming class.
It is also the official move-in time for first-year students living on
campus. Upper-class students are scheduled to move in on Sunday.
Faculty, staff, student volunteers and even the President of the
University of Maine
will be on hand to help students move their belongings into their new home! The move-in
begins at 8 a.m. and will continue until 2 p.m. that day.
What if I can't move in on Friday? Can I
still move in without a problem?
If you are a first-year student and unable to move in
on Friday during these
times, you will still be able to move in during the weekend, however, you
will miss the greeting and the extra hands to help you settle in! Also,
please make sure you get your MaineCard Student ID as soon as you
arrive, as it will give you access into your residence hall.
Should my parents come with me?
We strongly encourage parents and family/guests to
attend and participate in the events on Friday, August 31. This will be
the day that parents and family help first-year students move in to their new home, and there
are meetings (please see the agenda) planned for parents and guests that
day. However, the rest of the weekend is geared toward the students. The new students will
have the campus to themselves before the returning and upper-class students
return on Sunday.
Where do I go when I get to campus?
You
should first move in to your residence hall, then come to the Fall Welcome
check-in at the Student Recreation Center. You can also get your MaineCard
and Parking Permit if you have not already done so. You will need your
MaineCard to access your residence hall. Next, if you are living on
campus in the fall, you should go to the hall you are assigned to, and move
in.
Living off campus?
The
Fall Welcome Weekend is for you too! Commuter, non-traditional and
transfer students are invited to all of the activities, and are strongly
encouraged to attend. Besides getting your MaineCard, your parking permit, and
picking up books, there will be social opportunities to meet and make new
friends! Please come check in for the Fall Welcome at the Student
Recreation Center.
What is
FirstClass and how do I get it?
FirstClass is UMaine's
official e-mail system. If you have not done so, it is critical that you
activate your FirstClass account immediately. To activate your FirstClass
account, go to
www.umaine.edu/firstclass. Once there, enter your
student identification number (this is a 7 digit number that can be found in
your acceptance material) and your account
activation key (this information was provided in your UMaine admission
acceptance letter), and follow the instructions to activate your account.
Be sure to check your FirstClass mailbox regularly, even during the summer.
What is
WebDSIS and how do I get it?
WebDSIS (located at
www.maine.edu/dsis) is a UMaine maintained Web site that allows students to
access academic, billing and financial aid information 24 hours a day.
WebDSIS is a secure site that requires you to enter your User ID and a PIN.
Your User ID is usually your Social Security Number unless you were assigned
a different number by the University. If you have never used WebDSIS, your
PIN is your date of birth entered in the format of mmddyy including leading
zeroes (i.e. 090282) and with no punctuation of any kind.
What
happens if I get a scholarship?
You are required to report
all scholarships to the Financial Aid Office and the Bursar's Office. To
notify the Financial Aid Office, please send a copy of the Scholarship Award
Letter or e-mail them at
umfinaid@maine.edu. It is important that you notify them of all
scholarships as soon as possible as receipt of these scholarships can impact
your financial aid award. To notify the Bursar's Office, please send a copy
of the Scholarship Award Letter with all of the relevant information.
Remember most scholarships are not available until spring semester.
When
will I receive a bill and when will the bill be due?
You, the student, will
start receiving a bill sometime in mid July. For students who have
registered for classes for Fall 2007 semester by July 13th, your bill will
be due August 21, 2007. For students who register for classes after July
13th, the due date will appear on your initial bill. For the Fall 2007
semester, you will be sent one paper bill. After the initial semester paper
bill is sent, you will be sent periodic e-mails on FirstClass, concerning
your financial status. The e-mail message will direct you to Web DSIS where
your student bill is displayed. The e-mail will also contain instructions on
how to pay any balance due or receive a credit refund.
How do I avoid a late
fee?
First, check your UMaine paper bill to see
what funds have been applied to your bill. Use the Account Information Card,
included with your bill, to list funds that are anticipated for the fall
semester but have not yet been applied to your bill (if you lose your
Account Information Card it's available to download @
www.umaine.edu/bursar).
Charges that will be covered by anticipated aid will be deferred but you
must submit the Account Information Card by the due date on the bill. Pay
any remaining portion of the bill that will not be covered by anticipated
aid by the due date on the bill. Failure to do the above will result in
assessment of a $100 late fee and could result in the cancellation of your
registration for the semester.
What
kind of payment plan is available?
UMaine offers TuitionPay
Monthly Payment Plans through Sallie Mae TuitionPay. These interest free
payment plans allow you to create a payment plan strategy that meets your
individual needs. You can arrange to pay all or part of your billed charges
over a period of several months. Payment plans are not loans and there are
no interest or finance charges, although there is a nominal enrollment fee.
Further information is available via phone from the UMaine Bursar's Office
at (207) 581-1521, or from Sallie Mae at (800) 635-0120. Information is also
available from the Sallie Mae Web site at
www.TuitionPay.com.
What
other financing options are available?
For more detailed information regarding scholarships, loan options, payment
plans and work options, please refer to the "Financing Options for
2007-2008" brochure. This brochure and other related brochures are
available by contacting the Financial Aid Office and can also be found on
the Financial Aid Web site located at
www.umaine.edu/stuaid/forms.html.
How do I find a job if I have Federal Work Study?
Students are awarded Federal Work-Study as part of their financial aid
package. An on-line job search is available at
www.umaine.edu/studemp.
For further assistance, stop by the Office of Student Employment,
5781 Wingate Hall or call (207) 581-1349.
How do I get a job if I don't have Federal Work Study?
Non work-study student employment is available to students attending the
University of Maine. Jobs are part-time and on or off campus. An on-line job search is
available at
www.umaine.edu/studemp. For further assistance, stop by
the Office of
Student Employment, 5781 Wingate Hall, or call
(207) 581-1349.
Will my Federal Work Study award be applied to
my bill?
Work Study funds will not
be reflected on your bill and should not be listed as anticipated aid. Your
award represents potential earnings, which you receive in a bi-weekly
paycheck for hours worked under the Work-Study Program.
What do
I have to do before I receive my Federal Perkins Loan?
There are two processes you
must complete before you can receive your funds. First, you need to
complete a Federal Perkins Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) that will be
sent to you in late June. Secondly, you need to complete the on-line
Perkins Loan Disclosure Form by visiting the Financial Aid segment in
WebDSIS. Instructions on how to complete the disclosure process will be
included with your Perkins MPN.
What do
I have to do before I receive my Federal Stafford Loan?
Stafford Loans will be processed beginning
in mid July. In order for Stafford Loan funds to be disbursed to your
student account, you must complete a Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)
AND on-line Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling. You will receive an e-mail
from Office of Financial Aid (after your Stafford Loan has been processed)
that will include the links that take you to the websites where you can
complete these requirements. Both links are also available on the Financial
Aid website. Please note that you cannot complete your Stafford Loan Master
Promissory Note until your loan has been processed.
Be sure that you have
applied for your Federal Stafford Loan. Most students do this on the back
of their Award Letter. If you have not done so, you can apply on-line by
visiting the Financial Aid segment of WebDSIS (on the Award screen) or
contact the Financial Aid Office.
How do I get my textbooks?
Textbooks are expensive. To help lower costs, the University
Bookstore provides one of the highest rates of used books in the Northeast.
Fall textbooks begin to arrive in July, with a full assortment available
just before classes begin. The average UMaine student spends around
$350 per semester for textbooks (compared to $400 as the national average).
Textbook reservation forms are available at summer orientation as well as at
the University Bookstore. Complete this form by providing the necessary
information (including the credit card you want your books billed to) and
return it to the Bookstore. In early August, the Bookstore will obtain a
copy of your course schedule and put the appropriate books on hold for you.
When you arrive at the start of the semester, the Bookstore will have your
books ready for you. You also have the option of visiting the Bookstore and
gathering your own books at the start of the fall semester.
