Students admitted with conditions have an academic support program designed to assist students who may need scaffolding to succeed in the rigorous academic environment at the University of Southern Maine. The focus is academic success and support for all its participants. Students accepted with conditions will have a personalized Academic Support Plan. This plan offers several key elements to help students succeed. These include a developmental approach to advising, courses to strengthen academic performance, and carefully selected course schedules.

Benefits to Students

One of the program’s most valuable resources is the partnership between student and advisor. Starting with their Advising and Course Selection meeting, students will work closely with their advisor and develop a personalized Academic Support Plan and required course work that will enhance and strengthen academic self management, decision making and career exploration. Students will develop this plan through regular meetings with their academic advisor.

Advisors are often thought of as the people who help students identify appropriate courses for their degree program. While course selection is vital to the advising process, it is only a piece of the partnership that helps guide students through the process that is their education. USM’s Advisors adhere to a developmental approach to academic advising, where the advisor is a facilitator, a partner in the learning process. By working collaboratively, the student and advisor will develop a plan to ensure a successful and productive college experience. This partnership can begin with the advisor learning what students bring to college. Some of these things might include:

  • Community involvement
  • Family life
  • Expectations
  • Academic accomplishments

The goal is to help students create, develop, and reach their educational goals. It is also to develop a relationship based on trust and understanding between the advisor and the student.

Students who are conditionally admitted are encouraged to make an appointment early in the semester with their Academic Advisor to discuss the specific requirements.

There are academic requirements for students admitted with conditions that are met early in the student’s college career which are outlined in the student’s Academic Support Plan.  They include courses that support learning strategy, and the decision making process.  In addition there are courses offered to help students meet areas of proficiency in math and writing as needed .

The Academic Support Plan is tailored to each student, therefore all students in the program continually move forward at their own pace.  The overall goal is academic learning, support and success!

The following outlines the course work required of students admitted with conditions, including  FYE 188.  This course is designed to enhance student success.

FYE 188: College & Career Success

The focus of the course is on self, learning and career exploration and the critical role of personal decision making in identifying and pursuing strengths, interests, and areas for growth.  Students will learn to understand their own decision making process and the factors that influence that process.  Course activities will include assessments of self, assessments of interest, and explorations of academic life and career.  This course provides students with the opportunity and tools for taking enhanced control of their academic learning process.  Throughout the course, students will be introduced to resources and support systems to help maximize the University experience and create an intentional career path.  This is a 3-credit course used as elective credit toward graduation. 

Math Competency

All degree seeking students must show college mathematics readiness.  There are several ways that this can be demonstrated.

  • SAT-M scores (taken March 2016 or after) of 570 or higher on the Math Section (or ACT scores of 22 or above) OR
  • Minimum grade of C in MAT 100 or MAT 101 or its equivalent OR
  • ALEKS Placement exam (min. Score 31) and recommended Quantitative Reasoning course OR
  • Completion of a Quantitative Reasoning course

Writing Competency

All students must demonstrate competency in college level writing.  This is generally satisfied with an approved credit course that satisfies the Core Writing, Ready, and Inquiry 1 Requirement. Some students may want to see if their writing level is already at the competency level, and will elect to take a challenge exam in writing, such as a CLEP Exam. Some students may transfer to USM an approved course in writing competency from another college or university.

Click here to learn more about tutoring by trained peer tutors for both Writing and Mathematics.

Completion of the Academic Support Plan and Requirements

Additional requirements include:

  1. Completion of 12 credits, including the Writing, Reading, and Inquiry 1 Requirement
  2. A minimum GPA of 2.0

Once all terms of the Academic Support Plan have been completed, students can transition into their major of choice, as long as they have met all academic requirements to declare that major.  Some students choose to not declare a major immediately, and either switch to or remain Undeclared.  These students then continue working with their academic advisor until they decide on a major.