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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

The Road Behind Us: A Final Reflection From the Green Curtain Roadshow 

Calvin Soule looks through binoculars across Collins Marsh in Wisconsin on a clear, sunny day, with a vast expanse of wetland and cracked dry earth stretching toward a tree line in the distance.

September 8, 2026

Stonecoast MFA student Calvin Soule traveled 2,000 miles from Maine to Montana this summer, documenting old-growth forests and climate refugia along the way. Keep reading to find out what inspired him to go — and what he discovered while on the road.

Hearts of Pine fans wave scarves and flags behind a University of Southern Maine banner at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

September 2, 2026

Meet 7 Huskies Behind the Scenes of Portland Hearts of Pine
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
More people stories
Calvin Soule looks through binoculars across Collins Marsh in Wisconsin on a clear, sunny day, with a vast expanse of wetland and cracked dry earth stretching toward a tree line in the distance.

September 8, 2026

The Road Behind Us: A Final Reflection From the Green Curtain Roadshow 
Hearts of Pine fans wave scarves and flags behind a University of Southern Maine banner at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

September 2, 2026

Meet 7 Huskies Behind the Scenes of Portland Hearts of Pine
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
Browse all people stories

Browse all people stories

Purpose

Why You Should Get to Know Your Professors — And How to Start

A professor smiles while engaging with students during a classroom discussion

September 9, 2026

Building a relationship with your professors can feel intimidating, but it’s one of the most valuable things you can do in college. Keep reading to find out how a few small steps can make all the difference.

Students chat over lunch at a table by large windows in a busy campus dining hall.

August 26, 2026

Community Hour, Explained: Your Guide to USM’s Newest Tradition
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
More purpose stories
A professor smiles while engaging with students during a classroom discussion

September 9, 2026

Why You Should Get to Know Your Professors — And How to Start
Students chat over lunch at a table by large windows in a busy campus dining hall.

August 26, 2026

Community Hour, Explained: Your Guide to USM’s Newest Tradition
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
Browse all purpose stories

Browse all purpose stories

Place

New Semester, Who Dis? Huskies Return to Campus

Students placed over top USM backdrop with graphics of various first day of school need.

September 2, 2026

On the first day of the fall semester, we grabbed a microphone and asked USM students the questions that actually matter: hot or iced, dream job in one sentence and the one thing in your bag you couldn’t survive without. Keep reading to get their hot takes.

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
More place stories
Students placed over top USM backdrop with graphics of various first day of school need.

September 2, 2026

New Semester, Who Dis? Huskies Return to Campus
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
Browse all place stories

Browse all place stories

Recent stories

A professor smiles while engaging with students during a classroom discussion

September 9, 2026

Why You Should Get to Know Your Professors — And How to Start
Calvin Soule looks through binoculars across Collins Marsh in Wisconsin on a clear, sunny day, with a vast expanse of wetland and cracked dry earth stretching toward a tree line in the distance.

September 8, 2026

The Road Behind Us: A Final Reflection From the Green Curtain Roadshow 
Hearts of Pine fans wave scarves and flags behind a University of Southern Maine banner at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

September 2, 2026

Meet 7 Huskies Behind the Scenes of Portland Hearts of Pine
Students placed over top USM backdrop with graphics of various first day of school need.

September 2, 2026

New Semester, Who Dis? Huskies Return to Campus
The word "SEPTEMBER" in white text overlaid on a student carrying a laundry basket outdoors on campus

August 28, 2026

Monthly Roundup: September
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
Browse all stories

Browse all stories

The word "SEPTEMBER" in white text overlaid on a student carrying a laundry basket outdoors on campus

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! From campus performances, concerts, and student events to local festivals, cultural happenings, and activities throughout 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

An Army ROTC cadet carries a red and white 'ROTC B' company flag while leading a group of cadets in uniform and civilians in '9/11 Memorial Ruck' shirts along a gravel path through tall grass near Back Cove.

September 14, 2026

USM’s 9/11 Memorial Ruck Gathers Campus Community for 25th Anniversary
Jonathan Friedman, keynote speaker for Forum on American Democracy Fall 2026

September 3, 2026

USM’s Forum on American Democracy Returns with Keynote on Free Expression
A University of Southern Maine banner marking USM as Exclusive Education Partner lines the stands at Fitzpatrick Stadium during a match.

September 2, 2026

USM, Hearts of Pine Kick Off Partnership With New Opportunities for Students
An aerial view of USM's Gorham campus in fall, with brick academic buildings nestled among trees displaying vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange, red, yellow, and green.

August 31, 2026

University of Southern Maine Launches Academic Year With Two New Colleges
Mollie Cashwell speaks into a microphone during a panel discussion with NEA Chairman Mary Anne Carter, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, and Maine Arts Commission Chair Bob Keyes, seated left to right, at USM's Crewe Center for the Arts.

August 27, 2026

USM Hosts NEA Chairman for Statewide Conversation on Creativity and Community
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
Browse all stories

Browse all university news

USM’s 9/11 Memorial Ruck Gathers Campus Community for 25th Anniversary

An Army ROTC cadet carries a red and white 'ROTC B' company flag while leading a group of cadets in uniform and civilians in '9/11 Memorial Ruck' shirts along a gravel path through tall grass near Back Cove.

September 14, 2026

On Sept. 11, the University of Southern Maine’s (USM) Military-Affiliated Student Hub (MASH), in partnership with USM’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), hosted the USM 9/11 Memorial Ruck, drawing students, faculty, staff, and service members for a walk around … Read More
Jonathan Friedman, keynote speaker for Forum on American Democracy Fall 2026

September 3, 2026

USM’s Forum on American Democracy Returns with Keynote on Free Expression
A University of Southern Maine banner marking USM as Exclusive Education Partner lines the stands at Fitzpatrick Stadium during a match.

September 2, 2026

USM, Hearts of Pine Kick Off Partnership With New Opportunities for Students
An aerial view of USM's Gorham campus in fall, with brick academic buildings nestled among trees displaying vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange, red, yellow, and green.

August 31, 2026

University of Southern Maine Launches Academic Year With Two New Colleges
Browse all news stories