Pack Chat
Your go-to blog for tips and stories from our USM campuses and Southern Maine.
People
Class of ’26: How One Adult Student Kept Her Promise — and Earned Two USM Degrees Along the Way
April 27, 2026
When Lisa Struebing was in her twenties, she made a promise to her mother: she would finish the college degree that she’d started and set aside. Keep reading to hear how decades of determination, two USM degrees, and one introductory physics class led her here.
Purpose
Meet USM’s Polymath Pathways: President Jacqueline Edmondson on the Degree Built for Career Resilience
April 27, 2026
Most college programs ask students to pick a lane — USM’s new Polymath Pathways program is built for those who have always been drawn to more than one. Keep reading to hear President Jacqueline Edmondson on what sparked the program and what she hopes it means for USM students.
Place
College Decision Day: What to Consider Before Committing to USM
April 29, 2026
College Decision Day falls on May 1 — and if you’re in the middle of the process, you know how much weight this date can carry. Keep reading to hear from Ani Roberts, a USM sophomore and women’s soccer player, on what actually made a difference once she got to campus — and what she’d tell her high school self today.
Recent stories
The Monthly Round-Up
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.
University news
Where Maine Teachers Are Made: USM Hosts Ceremony Celebrating Pay Increase for Educators
April 29, 2026