Here at UMaine we know that the first year of college can be difficult for many students. Whether you struggle with time management, navigating the university campus, making friends, or getting involved, we are here to help!  Our staff provides an additional layer of support for first-year students by helping to “fill the gaps” here at the university, thus making it easier for our students to find the resources and assistance that they need in order to be successful.

As part of the First Year Experience at UMaine, we require all first-year students to live on campus for their full first year.  Living on campus greatly increases students’ opportunities to get to know their peers, increases students’ access to faculty and staff, and it increases students’ access to clubs, organizations and campus events.  Living on campus is also positively linked to students’ persistence toward attaining a degree; students who live on campus are much more likely to stay in college and are more likely to graduate from the same college!  Exceptions to this policy are granted only if: the student is 21 years of age or older, is living with a parent or legal guardian within 35 miles of campus, or if there is are exceptional circumstances.

If you are a first-year student in need of help feel free to stop into the First Year Center during our office hours, which are listed below.  You can also contact Kelly Beers or Elizabeth Mayberry on FirstClass, or call us at 581-1420.

If you are a parent, faculty or staff member and you have a concern about a first-year student, please contact Assistant Director Kelly Beers at 581-1420 or via email at kelly.beers@umit.maine.edu.

Our mission:  To provide support and resources to first-year students so that they build academic, cultural, positive and social connections here at UMaine and successfully transition from high school to college, and from their first to their second year of college.

The Department of Residence Life has four Learning Outcomes, which are also infused into the First Year Experience.  It is our goal that all residential students will engage in activities that further their development in these four areas.  As a department we are intentional in the design of our policies, programs and activities in order to further the growth of our students in these four areas.  (More detailed information about our Learning Outcomes can be found here.)

• Community Development
• Active Learning
• Interpersonal Development
• Civic Engagement

As a part of the Department of Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs, the First Year Experience uniquely addresses these four learning outcomes by developing activities and programs that specifically target the needs and developmental level of our first-year students.  Our areas of focus are outlined below.

 The First Year Experience Program Chart

Research shows that the first six weeks of the fall semester are the most critical for first-year students; it is during this time that most first-year students will make the decision as to whether they will continue with their education at their current institution or not.  For this reason, the FYE creates very intentional programming for the first two months of each academic year, focused around all of the topics listed above.

The First Year  Center

Our office is located in 016 Androscoggin Hall.

Our office hours are:

Monday 9am-6pm

Tuesday 11am-6pm

Wednesday 9am-6pm

Thursday 11am-6pm

Friday 9am-6pm

The First Year  Center (FYC) is located on the ground floor of Androscoggin Hall, in the heart of the FYE area of campus.  This center is designed to be a go-to place for first-year students, both a place where they connect with other students and a place where they can get the help that they need.

By offering programming in the halls, providing mentoring and personal advising, outreaching directly to students, and collaborating with many other offices and departments the FYE staff are committed to assisting students in the following ways:

• Providing direction to the FYE in collaboration with Residence Life and with support from other offices within the Division of Students Affairs
• Providing a touch-point for first-year students who are in need, but are not sure where to go to get the help that they need
• Consistent programming throughout the academic year, focused on developing the whole student; physical and mental wellness, academic support, social success, etc.
• Outreach to and meeting with students one-on-one who are referred to us or who are identified as needing support by their family, faculty, etc.
• Participation and collaboration with Case Management Team on student behavioral issues among the first-year student population
• Provide key and timely information and reminders to first-year students, including housing sign-ups, class registration, add/drop periods, etc.
• Coordinating the Maine Hello and collaborating with other departments to implement Welcome Weekend

We also are currently developing support systems and programming to help first-year students as they transition into their second year, as well as through the second year of college.  This support for our second-year students is based on the knowledge that the second year of college is one during which students feel pressure to make some very important decisions, including selecting a major and career path, deciding how to get involved on campus and finding their niche on campus if they have not yet done so. Our office helps students with these transitions and provides resources so students can make informed decisions in their quest for success.  Specifically we will work to:

• Identify second-year students who may be at-risk of poor performance or may be more likely to leave college
• Provide key and timely information and reminders to second-year students, including housing sign-ups, class registration, add/drop periods, etc.
• Guide and encourage students to develop and track their co-curricular activities
• Collaborate with the Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism to increase the number of second-year students participating in service and service-learning opportunities in the surrounding community
• Work with international programs and departments to promote international experiences
• Develop and implement financial planning and management training targeting second-year students

For more information please contact:

The First Year Center and/or Kelly Beers at 207-581-1420

Residence Life at 207-581-4801

The Division of Student Affairs at 207-581-1409