Buoy in yellow wildflowers

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The EAP is a free, voluntary and confidential service provided by ComPsych® Guidance Resources®. It provides employees, retirees and their household members with assessments, consultations and referrals to resources.

The EAP is designed to assist you in dealing with a wide variety of personal concerns, including:

  • Emotional Support
  • Work and Lifestyle Support
  • Legal Guidance
  • Financial Resources
  • Wellness Support

The EAP offers counseling services up to six sessions per person, per issue. If a referral for additional services or treatment is necessary, EAP counselors will help employees locate services that are convenient, appropriate, and affordable. Counselors are licensed healthcare professionals including psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

You can consult with an EAP representative 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 1-866-365-0829 or visiting guidanceresources.com (current employees may contact HR for an employer code).


Wellness

The 2025 UMS Wellness Website is available and contains links to the EAP, Omada, the Cigna Wellness site, answers Level 1 and Level 2 questions, and more.  Please note that this updated website replaces the traditional Wellness Guide.


Overview of Level 1 and Level 2 Incentives

Participation in the UMS Wellness Program begins with Level 1. Satisfying Level 1 keeps your insurance premiums at the preferred rate.

The deadline to meet Level 1 is April 30th of each calendar year. Once you and your spouse/domestic partner (if applicable) meet the Level 1 requirement, you will graduate to Level 2.  

You have a few options to satisfy Level 1 for the optimum premium reduction (health insurance premium discount):

  1. Complete a TrestleTree Health Coaching session
  2. Complete a preventive care appointment
  3. Complete a health screening, such as a routine OB/GYN visit, mammogram, or prostate cancer screening

Your preventive care appointment will automatically be credited to your Cigna account after your healthcare provider submits confirmation.

If you do not completed the Level 1 requirement by April 30th, you will pay the non-incentive health premium until you do. If you complete a preventive care appointment or health screening close to the April 30th deadline, please bring the Preventive Care Form with you and have your provider complete and fax to the Employee Benefits Center at 207-561-3454.

To learn more about Level 1 and Level 2 incentives, visit the UMS Wellness Site.

The USM Wellness Committee encourages you to consider participating in a Level 2-approved activity, such as a TrestleTree webinar, campus wellness event, or a self-reporting activity.

If you participate in a Level 2-approved activity, the University will contribute $100 (taxable) toward your benefits premiums in your final paycheck of the year. This is applicable to spouses and domestic partners covered by your health insurance as well. The deadline to submit a Level 2 incentive for credit is November 30, 2025.

Keep an eye on your campus listings, shown below, as colleagues devise exciting ways to earn the incentive credit even if traditional community events and multi-session activities are not currently available.


Upcoming Wellness Events

The following events are all approved for Level 2 credit.

Self-Reporting Instructions:

Complete the Release and Assumption of Risk form linked in the event description, take a picture of yourself (and your spouse or domestic partner if applicable), and email both to usmwellnesscommittee@maine.edu.  We’ll do the rest and make sure that your information is submitted to our benefits team for level 2 credit.

EventDateLocation & Details
PickleballMondays & Wednesdays, 12 – 1 p.m.Drop in for a game of pickleball, every Monday & Wednesday from 12 – 1 p.m. in the Costello Sports Complex Fieldhouse on the Gorham campus.

Complete a Risk & Release of Liability form prior to completing this event and email it to usmwellnesscommittee@maine.edu.
Memorial Ruck EventApril 11, 2025In memory of our University of Southern Maine students, this event will also include a display of the Honor Case, a light lunch after the walk/run and the opportunity to screen a 25-minute film.
 
The ruck starts in the McGoldrick Center and carries on to the Back Bay for a 5-mile ruck.  Kick off time is 9:30 a.m. and ends at approximately 12 p.m.
 
Stay tuned for more details and the opportunity to register!

Please be sure to complete a Risk & Release of Liability form prior to completing this event.
University of Southern Maine faculty & staff softball teamExact dates TBD with a tentative kick-off in early May.Enjoy this fun activity and get out and play ball! More details forthcoming.
Risk and Release Form
Level 2-approved hikes/walksMay 1 – November 30, 2025Choose from any of the Southern Maine Eastern Trails—Thorncrag Sanctuary (Lewiston), Lewiston/Auburn Riverwalk, Cherry Hill Farm (Gorham), Shaw Park (Gorham), Indian Cellar Preserve (Hollis), Robinson Woods Preserve (Cape Elizabeth), or Indoor Wellness Walking (Sullivan and Costello Complexes). New this year is the Back Bay walking trail in Portland and the Portland Trails Network.

Walking trails and hikes outside of the approved list are excluded from the USM level 2 incentive. Please reach out to the UMS Benefits team at wellness@maine.edu to inquire about possible approval of other walks/trails.

Please be sure to complete these two steps to earn level 2 credit:

1. Complete a Risk & Release of Liability form prior to completing this event and email it to usmwellnesscommittee@maine.edu.

2. Follow the self-reporting instructions above.
TrestleTree WebinarsNew webinar events just releasedExercising for Strength and Flexibility
Thursday, March 20, 2 – 3 p.m. EST
Register here
 
Quick and Cost-Conscious Meal Ideas
Wednesday, June 25, 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Register here
 
The Importance of Sleep
Tuesday, September 16, 2 – 3 p.m. EST
Register here
 
Proven Stress Management Techniques
Monday, November 17, 6 – 7 p.m. EST
Register here
 
No Release Form required.
 
There are multiple dates and times available to fit your schedule! Be sure to check out the 6 p.m. webinars, which offer added flexibility and the opportunity to invite a spouse or domestic partner to join you.
Annual Fall Rucking EventTBAJoin us for community and a cookout directly following the Ruck.
Stay tuned for more details.
Risk and Release Form
Annual USM Hikes Bradbury MountainTBACheck in is from 9 – 9:30 a.m.
Complete a Risk & Release of Liability form prior to completing this event and email it to usmwellnesscommittee@maine.edu.
Bradbury Mountain directions.

Release & Assumption of Risk Form is required for all Level 2 activities

All Level 2-approved activities require a completed Release and Assumption of Risk Form (also linked in the descriptions of the events above), excluding the TrestleTree webinars. Please fill out the form completely and send to usmwellnesscommittee@maine.edu or, if applicable, hand to the onsite contact at group events. 

For those faculty and staff that may be participating with a spouse or domestic partner who is also seeking Level 2 credit, please be sure to use your employee ID on their form.

Please note that to receive credit for offsite events, such as our Pineland Farms Snowshoeing event and our USM Hikes Bradbury Mountain event, you must check in with the onsite contact during the announced check-in time.  We are no longer able to provide incentive credit for late arrivals.


Additional Wellness Activities & Programs

These activities/programs can also help you achieve Level 2 credit!

Did you know you can get Level 2 credit for working out at the USM fitness centers? Just swipe-in a minimum of 5 times in a year and you will automatically earn credit!

Be sure to complete the online Release Form in MaineStreet Employee Self Service along with any fitness center-specific forms prior to beginning your workout. 

It is important to note that USM Fitness Centers do not provide any type of waiver or pass to allow faculty and staff to workout at other UMS locations. Please connect directly with the campus you wish to visit for their specific guidelines.

If you would like your spouse or domestic partner to use the USM Fitness Centers, please contact Kevin Normand.  

Are you currently participating in Weight Watchers, Noom, or Jenny Craig?  These programs are approved for Level 2 credit. You must actively participate in the program and be able to provide evidence upon request. The online community event form must be completed when requesting a level 2 award, which can be requested from the Employee Benefits Center by emailing benefits@maine.edu or wellness@maine.edu.

Have you been participating in an activity that you think may qualify you for level 2 credit? 

Email wellness@maine.edu and inquire!


Wellness Committee

  • Katie Andrews, Financial Analyst, Finance and Administration
  • Zorica Andric, Administrative Specialist, Student Affairs
  • Cathy Clements, Administrative Support Supervisor, Office of Admissions
  • Renee Cote, Project Specialist, Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact
  • Lisa Eddy, Project Manager, Human Resources and Workforce Development
  • Amy Geren, Policy Associate, Cutler Institute
  • Natalie Jones, Vice President, Human Resources and Workforce Development
  • Kevin Normand, Wellness Champion and Assistant Director for Fitness and Wellness, Athletics
  • Lorrie Spaulding, Director, Military Affiliated Student Hub (MASH)

Collaborators

  • Amy Cobb, TrestleTree Health Coach
  • Outdoor Adventures Board (OAB) – Facebook and Instagram: @oab.usm

Questions?

UMS Wellness: wellness@maine.edu

Employee Benefits Center: benefits@maine.edu or 207-973-3372.

Questions about USM-specific wellness events should be emailed to the USM Wellness committee: usmwellnesscommittee@maine.edu.