USM Undergraduate Catalog 2007-2008

Academic Support Services

[Academic Advising | Academic Assessment
Academic Support Program | Computing Services
Instructional Technology and Media Services
Language Laboratory | University Library]

The University offers students a wide range of academic support services to facilitate and enhance their education. The breadth of these services is designed to accommodate the needs of a diverse student population.

Academic Advising

Following initial advising and registration, students, during their first semester at the University, are assigned a permanent advisor within their academic department. Students are encouraged to maintain close contact with their department advisor once this assignment has been made.

For certain students, however, the assignment of a permanent Department advisor is not appropriate. For such students the following arrangements are made.

Students who have not declared a major are provided academic advising by academic advisors in Advising Services. An academic advisor assists the student in the development of educational goals and the selection of an appropriate major. Students should be ready to declare a major before completing 60 credits of coursework at the University.

Students admitted to GO are provided academic advising through this academic success and support program. Academic advisors from Advising Services advise students during the period they complete required coursework. The academic advisor will work with students to develop an individual academic support plan. Upon completion of the requirements of the academic support plan, the student is transitioned from GO and assigned an advisor in his or her major department.

Non-matriculated students are students who are enrolled in courses at the University on a space available basis and who have not applied for admission. They are advised by the Advising Services staff.

Students who have questions regarding general academic policies and procedures, as well as about other aspects of University programs, are encouraged to contact Advising Services in Payson Smith Hall on the Portland campus (780-4040), in Upton Hall on the Gorham campus (780-5652), and in Enrollment Services at Lewiston-Auburn College in Lewiston (753-6500).

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University Library

The University Libraries provide a full range of services on all three campuses and virtually via the Libraries’ Web site (http://library.usm.maine.edu). On the Portland campus, the recently expanded Albert Brenner Glickman Family Library is located at the corner of Forest Avenue and Bedford Street. The Gorham campus library is located in Bailey Hall. The Lewiston-Auburn College library is located in the center of the Lewiston-Auburn College building. During fall and spring semesters, the Portland and Gorham campus libraries are open seven days a week for 90 hours. The Lewiston-Auburn College library is open Monday-Saturday for a total of 67 hours. The Libraries are committed to service, both in person and virtually through the Web site. Services include circulation, course reserves, informational and research assistance, information literacy, instruction in using library resources, Internet and database searching, and interlibrary loan. For full information on the Library resources and services, visit: http://library.usm.maine.edu.

The collection of the USM Library contains 1.6 million items, including approximately 490,000 volumes; 2,800 subscriptions to periodicals, journals, newspapers, and yearbooks; over 1 million microforms; more than 130,000 state and U.S. government documents; a growing collection of audiovisual materials; and access to a large number of electronic information resources, including over 200 databases. Included in the Library’s special collections is the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, the only separately established rare map library in northern New England. The cartographic collections contain fine examples of original maps, atlases, geographies, and globes spanning the years 1475 to the present. The original materials of some 60,000 maps are augmented by a 3,000 volume reference collection of related works, including carto-bibliographies, regional histories, dealer and exhibition catalogs, and monographs and journals on the history of cartography. The USM Library also includes the Special Collections Department which consists of a rare books and manuscripts collection, the University Archives, and the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine, which includes the African American, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, and the Judaica Collections. In addition, Special Collections has rare book collections in children’s literature, early 19th-century pedagogy, history and travel, and fine press material.

Supplementing these collections are the more than 1 million print titles held in the libraries of the other campuses of the University of Maine System, along with the Maine State Library, the state’s Law and Legislative Reference Library, and the Bangor Public Library. The holdings of these libraries are represented in the URSUS online catalog and are available to the USM community through URSUS’s interlibrary lending system. MaineCat brings the collections of many Maine academic, public, and special libraries into one catalog, is also accessible through URSUS. Holdings of MaineCat libraries, which include collections from public and college libraries, are available, through online requesting, to the USM community. The Libraries offer a variety of individual and group study spaces, over 150 student computers, and wireless access.

The Libraries are engaged in the educational, scholarly, and public service activities of the University community. The Library staff is dedicated to supporting student success. The Libraries have an active information literacy program to assist students with finding and using information.

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Computing Services

The Computing Services departments provide a variety of technology support services to students, faculty, and staff at the University.

Computer labs for general student use are located at the Gorham, Lewiston-Auburn, and Portland campuses with Windows and Macintosh computer systems, software applications, e-mail, World Wide Web, and on-line course delivery systems. Laser printing is available for a fee. Computer classrooms are available for faculty to schedule class activity periods.

For dorm students with their own computer, the RESNET program can provide an Internet connection. For commuting students 50 free hours of dial-up networking are available, and in the Time Warner Cable service area of Cumberland County, the University offers discounted Road Runner cable-modem service for Internet access.

Networking Services maintains local area networks and Internet access for University office and academic activities. Students, faculty, and staff may purchase personal computers, printers, and peripherals at educationally discounted prices through the sales program.

The HelpDesk has technical staff available to assist with authentication ID, email, software, and general technology questions and problems. The HelpDesk and most department functions are located in 144 Luther Bonney Hall. More information may be found at www.usm.maine.edu/computing, 780-4029, or e-mail helpdesk@usm.maine.edu.

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Instructional Technology and Media Services

The Instructional Technology and Media Services (ITMS) Department provides instructional support for the academic programs of the University. This support includes workshops offered in conjunction with the Center for Teaching on instructional applications of technology. Personal assistance is available at either Portland or Gorham ITMS office.

Other services include the delivery and maintenance of media equipment for classroom use on both the Portland and Gorham campuses. The department maintains a collection of nonprint materials, with electronic listings available on the USM Web site (www.usm.maine.edu/itms).

ITMS staff are available to help with the rental of materials for classroom use. Help is also available for the production of instructional materials for classroom use.

Offices are located at 232 Luther Bonney Hall in Portland, (207) 780-4280, and 3 Bailey Hall in Gorham, (207) 780-5356.

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Academic Assessment

The Office of Academic Assessment coordinates the administration of various testing programs, such as USM’s Placement and Proficiency Examination Programs in mathematics, computer, and English; MAT (Miller Analogies Test) program; and the National Test program (GRE Subject Test, LSAT, PRAXIS, and others). Students are encouraged to contact the office for registration and other information at 253 Luther Bonney Hall, Portland campus or at the Web site at www.usm.maine.edu/assessment.

The Office also conducts student assessment studies and student surveys, assists departments in evaluating courses and programs, develops tests and assessment instruments, and provides technical support to the faculty.

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Academic Support Program

Proficiency courses provide students with instruction to help them achieve proficiency in writing (ENG 009A) and in mathematics (MAT 009, 050, or 051B). In addition to providing proficiency courses, the Learning Foundations Department also provides the following support services.

The Learning Center ÊThe Center offers tutorial services in mathematics, writing in all disciplines, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Office of Support for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) ÊOSSD provides services to qualified students with disabilities who currently are enrolled in USM credit and noncredit courses and programs. For more information call (207) 780-4706 or TTY (207) 780-4395, or e-mail to oassd@usm.maine.edu. The Office is located at 242 Luther Bonney Hall in Portland; www.usm.maine.edu/oassd.

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