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Your go-to blog for tips and stories from our USM campuses and Southern Maine.

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@usouthernmaine

USouthern Maine on Instagram
USouthern Maine on TikTok
USouthern Maine on Facebook
USouthern Maine on YouTube
USouthern Maine on LinkedIn

People

How to Use Google Calendar to Organize Your Semester

Featured image of two students working on laptops at an outdoor picnic table, with an illustrated September 2026 calendar graphic layered over the scene.

August 18, 2026

Juggling classes, work, and a busy schedule left me overwhelmed until I found the tool that changed everything. Keep reading to see how Google Calendar helped me stay organized and might just do the same for you.

Annie Lee-Zimerle holds open a colorful pop-up artist book featuring a three-dimensional garden scene.

August 3, 2026

Inside USM’s Kate Cheney Chappell Center for Book Arts: A Q&A With Director Annie Lee-Zimerle
Camdyn Johnson holds an ancient wooden fish weir stake in the Maine State Museum's collections building, with illustrated icons of a bone, fishing hook, and berries layered over the photo.

July 28, 2026

Bones, Berries, and Ancient Diets: Inside one USM Student’s Summer Internship
Green Curtain Roadshow participants look up into the forest canopy during a guided hike through Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest.

July 22, 2026

Checking In From The Green Curtain Roadshow
More people stories
Featured image of two students working on laptops at an outdoor picnic table, with an illustrated September 2026 calendar graphic layered over the scene.

August 18, 2026

How to Use Google Calendar to Organize Your Semester
Annie Lee-Zimerle holds open a colorful pop-up artist book featuring a three-dimensional garden scene.

August 3, 2026

Inside USM’s Kate Cheney Chappell Center for Book Arts: A Q&A With Director Annie Lee-Zimerle
Camdyn Johnson holds an ancient wooden fish weir stake in the Maine State Museum's collections building, with illustrated icons of a bone, fishing hook, and berries layered over the photo.

July 28, 2026

Bones, Berries, and Ancient Diets: Inside one USM Student’s Summer Internship
Green Curtain Roadshow participants look up into the forest canopy during a guided hike through Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest.

July 22, 2026

Checking In From The Green Curtain Roadshow
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Browse all people stories

Purpose

Your First Days as a Husky: What to Expect at USM Orientation

Orientation Leaders with students in the background.

August 14, 2026

Orientation at the University of Southern Maine unfolds over several weeks, beginning when you submit your deposit and continuing through your first semester. Keep reading for what to expect at every step, from your advising appointment through Move-In and Orientation Weekend.

Graphic representation of a course schedule for in person, blended and online courses with advisor Cody Rohde on the right hand side.

August 5, 2026

In-person, Blended, or Online? An Advisor’s Guide to Course Options at USM
Gina Capra chatting with students at a previous Adult Students Open House at USM.

July 29, 2026

Back to School, On Your Terms: What to Expect at USM’s Adult Student Open House
Meredith Madden commemorative Special Olympics trading card.

July 23, 2026

From Med Tents to Milkshakes: Meet the USM Faculty Member Who Became Maine’s First Special Olympics USA Games Medical Delegate
More purpose stories
Orientation Leaders with students in the background.

August 14, 2026

Your First Days as a Husky: What to Expect at USM Orientation
Graphic representation of a course schedule for in person, blended and online courses with advisor Cody Rohde on the right hand side.

August 5, 2026

In-person, Blended, or Online? An Advisor’s Guide to Course Options at USM
Gina Capra chatting with students at a previous Adult Students Open House at USM.

July 29, 2026

Back to School, On Your Terms: What to Expect at USM’s Adult Student Open House
Meredith Madden commemorative Special Olympics trading card.

July 23, 2026

From Med Tents to Milkshakes: Meet the USM Faculty Member Who Became Maine’s First Special Olympics USA Games Medical Delegate
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Browse all purpose stories

Place

5 Tips to Help You Navigate Campus Groups

Three students laugh together while browsing items at an outdoor table, with playful hand-drawn accents around them."

August 24, 2026

There’s a whole calendar of free events on this campus, hiding in plain sight. Keep reading to find out how Campus Groups can help you make the most of it.

A large group of students jumping in the air together at the same time.

August 24, 2026

Move-in and Beyond: Your First Six Weeks as a USM Husky
Students walk along a tree-lined pathway between rows of blue-draped resource and club tables during an outdoor fair on USM's Portland campus, with a brick academic building visible in the background.

August 11, 2026

A USM Student’s Guide to Going Back to School
Student smiles while opening a mini fridge covered in stickers in a decorated dorm room with string lights and a patterned blanket

August 4, 2026

10 Dorm Essentials to Pack for Your First Year at USM
More place stories
Three students laugh together while browsing items at an outdoor table, with playful hand-drawn accents around them."

August 24, 2026

5 Tips to Help You Navigate Campus Groups
A large group of students jumping in the air together at the same time.

August 24, 2026

Move-in and Beyond: Your First Six Weeks as a USM Husky
Students walk along a tree-lined pathway between rows of blue-draped resource and club tables during an outdoor fair on USM's Portland campus, with a brick academic building visible in the background.

August 11, 2026

A USM Student’s Guide to Going Back to School
Student smiles while opening a mini fridge covered in stickers in a decorated dorm room with string lights and a patterned blanket

August 4, 2026

10 Dorm Essentials to Pack for Your First Year at USM
Browse all place stories

Browse all place stories

Recent stories

Three students laugh together while browsing items at an outdoor table, with playful hand-drawn accents around them."

August 24, 2026

5 Tips to Help You Navigate Campus Groups
A large group of students jumping in the air together at the same time.

August 24, 2026

Move-in and Beyond: Your First Six Weeks as a USM Husky
Featured image of two students working on laptops at an outdoor picnic table, with an illustrated September 2026 calendar graphic layered over the scene.

August 18, 2026

How to Use Google Calendar to Organize Your Semester
Orientation Leaders with students in the background.

August 14, 2026

Your First Days as a Husky: What to Expect at USM Orientation
Students walk along a tree-lined pathway between rows of blue-draped resource and club tables during an outdoor fair on USM's Portland campus, with a brick academic building visible in the background.

August 11, 2026

A USM Student’s Guide to Going Back to School
Student smiles while opening a mini fridge covered in stickers in a decorated dorm room with string lights and a patterned blanket

August 4, 2026

10 Dorm Essentials to Pack for Your First Year at USM
Annie Lee-Zimerle holds open a colorful pop-up artist book featuring a three-dimensional garden scene.

August 3, 2026

Inside USM’s Kate Cheney Chappell Center for Book Arts: A Q&A With Director Annie Lee-Zimerle
A scenic coastal view from Monhegan Island, ME, with rocky cliffs and pine tree branches framing the calm blue ocean. Text overlay reads "Summer Hiking Guide from a USM student."

July 29, 2026

8 of My Favorite Summer Hikes as a USM Student
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Browse all stories

The word "AUGUST" in white text overlaid on sailboats moored in a Maine bay with grasses and trees in the foreground

The Monthly Roundup

Welcome to the Monthly Roundup, your go-to guide for what’s happening at the University of Southern Maine and across the Greater Portland area each month! During the summer, we feature community festivals and local events happening across Southern Maine, plus summer stops — spots near campus or along the Busky where you can grab food, meet friends, and explore the region. This series will keep you connected to what’s new, what’s next, and what’s worth checking out across our Portland and Gorham campuses and beyond.

Explore what’s on

University news

Cast of Gianni Schicchi posed on stage during a run of the Opera.

August 21, 2026

USM’s Osher Opera Theatre Named National Finalist for The American Prize in Directing
A bare room with a thin mattress on the floor, a blanket and pillow arranged on top, and daylight coming through the room's one window.

August 19, 2026

USM Project Makes Rural Housing Insecurity Visible Through Photography
Academic Year 2025-2026 Dean's List over spring florals.

July 20, 2026

USM Academic Year 2025-2026 Dean’s List — 157 part-time students have earned the distinction this academic year
Dean's List Spring 2026

July 14, 2026

USM Spring 2026 Dean’s List — 1,375 full-time students have earned the distinction this spring
Nicholas DeAngelis '26 and his fellow District 1 NATA members take home first place at the NATA Quiz Bowl.

July 10, 2026

Recent USM graduate helps District 1 win national athletic training Quiz Bowl 
USM Alumnus and World Affairs Council of Maine board member, Riley Worth.

July 2, 2026

USM alumnus Riley Worth elected to World Affairs Council of Maine board
A delegate gestures while making a point during a table discussion.

July 2, 2026

USM-Led Citizens’ Assembly Sets Two Priorities for Maine Education
Attendees seated at round tables laugh and chat during the "Good People, Great Connections" networking event at USM's Alumni Reception Center, with championship plaques lining the walls behind them.

June 24, 2026

USM Opens Its Doors to Gorham’s Business Community for First Campus-Hosted Networking Event
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Browse all university news

USM’s Osher Opera Theatre Named National Finalist for The American Prize in Directing

Cast of Gianni Schicchi posed on stage during a run of the Opera.

August 21, 2026

The University of Southern Maine’s Osher Opera Theatre has been named a national finalist for The American Prize in Directing, the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize, recognizing Malinda Haslett’s direction of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi.” The one-act comedy was produced in November … Read More
A bare room with a thin mattress on the floor, a blanket and pillow arranged on top, and daylight coming through the room's one window.

August 19, 2026

USM Project Makes Rural Housing Insecurity Visible Through Photography
Academic Year 2025-2026 Dean's List over spring florals.

July 20, 2026

USM Academic Year 2025-2026 Dean’s List — 157 part-time students have earned the distinction this academic year
Dean's List Spring 2026

July 14, 2026

USM Spring 2026 Dean’s List — 1,375 full-time students have earned the distinction this spring
Browse all news stories