About the Russell Scholars ProgramRSP at USM is comprised of approximately one-hundred dedicated students, faculty, and outside advisors closely working together through collaborative learning to achieve the students' academic goals in their degree programs. Fifty first-year students (freshmen) are admitted to RSP every fall and they all reside in Woodward Hall, the residence hall home of Russell Scholars. “I have enjoyed being a Russell Scholar because it has allowed me to meet people from diverse backgrounds and interests in a common setting, and to maintain those friendships over the years at USM. It has been a fun way to experience college.” RSP is an academic community first. All RSP courses are taught by USM faculty in or near Woodward Hall. Classrooms and faculty offices are located on the first floor of Woodward Hall. RSP students take only a few of their USM courses through RSP. Most of their academic course work is completed outside of RSP. The Russell Scholars Program has its own common space for formal and informal gatherings. This ”commons” enables students and faculty to connect with other Russell Scholars and mentors on campus. Russell Scholars and faculty are a learning community of students, teachers, and mentors who share a committment to success. Russell Scholars, with the help of their mentors, shape their academic experiences through program design, course participation, and ongoing portfolio assessment. Students know that their input is expected and respected, in and out of class. The Russell Scholars Program (RSP) is the most exciting first-year learning community at USM. In RSP, students make friends easily, attend some classes together, and participate in optional activities outside of class such as concerts, plays, and trips to interesting places. The advantages of taking USM core classes through RSP are that the classes are small, they are taught by two professors, most or all of your classmates are in your dormitory, classes are often taught in the dormitory, and professors’ offices are often in the dorm. Russell Scholar faculty are professors from throughout the university who volunteer to teach in RSP because they enjoy the enthusiasm of RSP students. All RSP courses are either Core courses (Writing, Social Science, Literature, etc.) or electives. RSP courses do not meet the requirements for any academic major. They are strictly Core and/or elective courses that you need for a broad education and for graduation in addition to your major field of study. Therefore, RSP courses are a great way to take your required USM core classes with other students and faculty that you know. Above all, students can make friends quickly, easily meet with professors, and feel at home in a small community within USM. ResultsEach Russell Scholar is assigned a faculty mentor who will helps the student through the process of selecting courses and identifying learning opportunities during his/her academic career. Ongoing assessment indicates that approximately 90% of fist-year RSP students return to USM as successful sophomores. RSP students also consistently earn academic credit, participate in university life, and express satisfaction with their university experience at a level higher than students who are not in RSP. BenefitsAll first-year Russell Scholars live in Woodward Hall, a coeducational residence hall centrally located on the beautiful Gorham campus. Making friends is easy to do in RSP. Russell Scholars’ classrooms and faculty offices are located in the residence hall for the convenience of students. (Also see: Activities) Russell Scholars work with their faculty mentors, as well as with a team of guest mentors from inside and outside of the University who provide students with individualized academic and professional support. Graduating Russell Scholars will be proficient in the following skills identified as essential by educators, professionals, and business leaders:
Russell Scholars will be recognized on their transcripts and at Commencement for their successful completion of an intensive program of learning that:
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