Does USM have a toll free number?
Yes! The toll free number is 1-800-800-4USM (1-800-800-4876) which
can be used to reach the University operator from 8:00am-4:30pm. An
automated menu is always available to reach an individual or a
department number.
How do I find out who my advisor is?
Your academic advisor is located within the department of your
major. If you are a degree candidate, contact your department. If
you are undeclared or conditionally admitted, you will be assigned
an advisor from Advising Services.
How do I register for classes?
As a new student you will be registering for classes during
orienation. In the future, pre-registration
for degree candidates is held in April for the Fall semester, and in
November for the Spring semester. You will be able to access
course listings and schedules via MaineStreet.
University Catalogs
will contain pertinent information on academic programs. Students can register
online (via MaineStreet) or in person. Each student must meet with his or her
advisor to discuss their course selection and gain advisor approval
in order to pre-register. For more information call
780-5230.
What if I don’t like a class I signed up for?
Don’t forget about the add/drop period! Beginning the first week of
the new semester, students can add or drop classes from their
schedules. Please note deadlines, found in the course listing, that
outline financial penalties. Add/Drop forms are available in the
Registrar’s Office (780-5230) and Advising Services (780-4040)
or on-line.
Are classes available other than in fall and spring?
USM offers a summer and winter session along with the regular fall
and spring semesters. You can contact the Summer/Winter Session
office at 780-5617.
How do I get to my classes when I have them on both campuses?
USM offers a free shuttle bus between campuses. The bus stops at
Bailey Hall in Gorham and at the Woodbury Campus Center in Portland,
plus a few stops at the Maine Mall. Click her for a
complete bus schedule or call the USM Police Department
at 780-5211.
Where am I going to live?
If you wish to live on campus in the Gorham residence halls contact Residential
Life, 100 Upton Hall, Gorham (780-5240). If you are looking for
off-campus housing, there are listings at both Residential Life in
Gorham and the Office of University and Student Life in Portland
(780-4090).
Where can I go if I have time between classes?
If you are looking for a quiet place to study or catch a catnap,
study lounges can be found in Bailey Hall and in the Woodbury Campus
Center. The Brooks Student Center in Gorham and the Portland
Commuter Lounge are great places for meeting friends and to relax
between classes. And of course, if you are hitting the books,
libraries are located on all campuses.
Where do I pay for tuition?
Student Billing offices are located at 110 Corthell Hall on the
Gorham campus and 118 Payson Smith Hall on the Portland campus.
Call 780-5200 for more information.
Where is the Financial Aid Office?
The Student Financial Aid Office is located at 202 Corthell Hall on
the Gorham campus and 122 Payson Smith on the Portland campus. They
can answer questions regarding applications for aid, types of aid
and how to receive aid (780-5250).
How can I view my academic and financial information?
Web DSIS (www.usm.maine.edu,
“quick links”) allows you to access information regarding your
semester grades, current GPA, billing and financial aid. To access
your account you must have your 9 digit student ID number (usually
your SS#) and your current pin number (six-digit date of birth).
Where do I get academic support for one of my classes?
The Learning Center at 253 Luther Bonney on the Portland campus
offers learning assistance and tutoring services (780-4228).
Students can also contact the department sponsoring the course to
obtain assistance.
Will my credits transfer?
The Transfer Affairs office located in the Admissions House on the
Gorham campus is responsible for credit evaluations (780-5340).
Where can I get a USM student ID?
Card Services is located in 4 Payson Smith on the Portland campus,
in the basement of Upton Hall (next to the USM Police office) on the
Gorham campus, and room 114 in the Student Business Office on the
LAC campus. You can put Husky Buck$ on your card and use them for
printing, photocopying, to purchase meals and snacks on, or to buy
items at the Campus Bookstores (780-4054).
How do I activate my USM email account?
USM has established email as an official and primary means of
communication, and has assigned email accounts to all students.
Activating your email account will enable you to receive university
information, and to access the online Blackboard course site.
Students can activate their USM email account at:
https://mail.maine.edu or at the USM Help Desk in Luther Bonney
Hall. For more information on how to activate your email
account,
click here.
Is there an ATM on campus?
For convenient banking, automated teller machines are located
outside the Woodbury Campus Center and the Brooks Student Center.
Banks and ATMs are also within walking distance from both the
Portland and Gorham campuses.
How do I get a parking decal?
Bring a copy of your student bill or schedule, your USM student ID
card, and your car registration to the Parking Garage office located
in the Portland parking garage (780-4718). You can download
the
registration form.
Where do I buy my textbooks?
For classes in Portland, Bath, Saco and Sanford go to the campus
bookstore in the Woodbury Campus Center. For classes in Gorham go
to the bookstore in the Brooks Student Center. (780-4070)
Where do I go if I’m sick, and can I get health insurance?
You can contact or stop by Student Health Services, located in Upton
Hall on the Gorham campus (780-5411) and in the Student Health
building on the Portland campus (780-4211). Students registered for
6 or more credit hours are entitled to various services; optional
health insurance is also available. For students attending less
than half time additional plans are available.
Does USM have a Counseling Center?
Yes. The University Counseling Center, located at 105 Payson Smith
Hall in Portland, offers workshops, emergency assistance and
personal counseling. Call 780-4050 for appointments.
I would like to talk to a fellow student. Where do I go?
Students helping students: Peer Advising will point you in the
right direction. For information, or if you’d like to get
involved in Peer Advising, call 780-5652.
Where can I grab a quick bite to eat?
Eat-in cafeterias are located on the Portland campus in the Woodbury
Campus Center, in Gorham at the Brooks Student Center. Vending machines are located throughout the campuses
and snack bars can be found in Bailey Hall, Payson Smith Hall, Luther Bonney Hall, the
Law Building and the lower level of the Brooks Student Center.
Contact
Dining
Services at 780-4039 if you would like to learn more about
meal plan options.
Who can answer my VA questions?
Rick Wright, the Veterans Services representative, is located in
Advising Services at 119 Payson Smith Hall on the Portland campus.
He can be reached at 780-4623.
Can any place on campus help me find child care?
USM does have child care facilities on both campuses; waiting lists
may vary. Flexible scheduling is available, and drop-in child care
may be available with advance notice. Contact USM Child Care for
more information at 780-4125.
What if I’m concerned about walking on campus at night?
Emergency call boxes can be found in the parking lots and campus
courtyards. The USM Police Department will also escort students
across campus or to the parking lots. (780-5211) Dial 911or 5000 in
case of an emergency.
Where do I pick up or send mail?
If you are a resident student, mailboxes are located in the Brooks
Student Center. Stamp machines can be found in
the Woodbury Campus Center and the Brooks Student Center, and US
mailboxes can be found outside Payson Smith Hall and the Woodbury
Campus Center in Portland, and inside the Brooks Student Center in
Gorham. (780-4288 or 780-5258)
Where are USM’s computer labs?
Computer labs are located on the Gorham campus in
Bailey Hall, on the Portland campus in the Woodbury Campus Center
and Luther Bonney Hall, and at the Lewiston Auburn College. Tutors
and lab assistants are on staff to assist you and can be reached at
780-5368 in Gorham, 780-4355 in Portland and 753-6562 in Lewiston
Auburn.
Can anyone help me use the library?
Yes. The USM Library offers tours at the beginning of each semester
to introduce students to the many services they offer. (780-4270
Portland, 783-5345 Gorham)
How do I contact my professor?
The campus operator can help you find a phone number, connect you
directly with the professor, or connect you to the professor’s
department (780-4141 or 1-800-800-4USM). For inter-campus calls
phones are available for students in Portland and Gorham at the
following locations: the Sullivan Gym, the Campus Center, the first
floor of Payson Smith, the first through fourth floors of the
Portland Campus library, the lobby through fifth floor of Luther
Bonney Hall, the Brooks Student Center, Hill Gym, The Costello Field
House, the lobby of Bailey Hall, and the basement of Corthell Hall.
I have work-study funds. Where can I work?
Most departments and offices on campus have positions for work-study
students. For a listing of available positions stop by the Portland
or Gorham Student Financial Aid offices.
Where can I find a job while I’m going to school?
Career Services and Professional Life Development offers a variety
of options including help to explore career choices, find a
part-time job, or employment after graduation. Their offices are
located at 100/107 Payson Smith Hall in Portland (780-4220) and 128
School Street in Gorham (780-5330).
What is there to do for fun at USM?
The Free Press (780-4084), WMPG (780-4943 or
780-4909), and G-TV (874-3100) are USM’s newspaper, radio and
television stations. The University houses a Planetarium
(780-4249), Art Gallery (780-5409), and offers musicals (780-5555)
and theater (780-5151) performances. There are also many student
clubs and organizations as well as a Student Senate (228-8501).
How do I get involved in campus activities?
USM offers a variety of clubs, organizations and interest groups.
If you are interested in joining or starting a student organization,
contact the Board of Student Organizations (BSO) (228-8502),
Residential Life (780-5240), or the Office of University and Student
Life (780-4090).
Does USM have athletic facilities I can use?
Yes! The Sullivan Gym on the Portland campus offers a sauna,
racquetball, wallyball, and squash courts (780-4939). The Costello
Sports Complex on the Gorham campus houses an ice arena, basketball
courts, tennis courts, a track, and the Hill Gym which has a new
fitness center (780-5430). Both Campus Gymnasiums host locker
rooms, weight rooms and basketball courts.
Does USM offer Intramural or Intercollegiate sports?
Yes! USM has both intramural and intercollegiate athletic teams.
For information on how to get involved or for information on USM’s
sports teams tryouts and game times contact the Athletic Dept.
(780-5430) or Intramural and Recreation (780-5431)
Is there a Women’s Center at USM?
There is a Women’s Resource Center located in the Woodbury Campus
Center in Portland. The Women’s Recourse Center sponsors programs
and events on campus and is a great resource for information on
women’s issues. (780-4996)
If there is a storm, how do I know if classes are cancelled?
The Storm Cancellation Line can be assessed by calling
1-800-800-4876 or 780-4800, then choose option 1. USM events and
class cancellations due to inclement weather for all day classes
(8:00am-4:00pm) are announced by 6:00am, while evening classes
(4:00pm to 9:30pm) will be announced by 2:00pm.
What if I want to go home but I don’t have a car?
If you are looking for a ride to Florida for spring break, home for
the weekend, or for a carpool to cut the costs of commuting, a ride
board is located near the main entrance in the Woodbury Campus
Center. Bulletin Boards and kiosks in building throughout the
University also offer commuting opportunities. Call the Office of
University and Student Life for more information. (780-4090)
Who is our President?
Selma Botman
is USM's President. President
Botman holds open office hours for
students. You can call for an appointment to voice your university
concerns. (780-4480)
