Before Advising & Course Selection (ACS) Appointment
The Help Desk is able to walk students through how to set up their e-mail account. It is important that maine.edu email addresses are set-up and checked frequently, as USM uses email as the primary method of communication. Help Desk may also be reached by phone: (207) 780-4029.
Contact the Orientation office at (207) 780-4604. If no one answers, please leave a message and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Send or fax proof of immunizations at least 10 days before the orientation date to the Shared Processing Center; PO Box 412; Bangor, ME 04402-0412 or fax it to (207) 561-3430.
You can find more information about the immunization requirements at University Health and Counseling Services.
Understanding your level of math proficiency as an incoming student is an essential component of your academic success. USM requires all students to meet “math readiness” before they are allowed to take certain required courses, and some majors additionally require that students have advanced math skills.
Some students meet “math readiness” and/or show advanced math skill, through standardized test scores or completion of prior college-level coursework, while other students may need to have their college-level math skills evaluated by taking an additional assessment.
To learn more about the assessments and how to arrange an opportunity to take one, contact Academic Assessment at (207) 780-4383.
Family members are welcomed to join you at your Advising & Course Selection (ACS) appointment.
Family members are also invited to participate in our Family Members Program during in-person Orientation sessions. This short program introduces family members to the new lives of the students. Topics discussed will include how to succeed in the classroom, financial aid, college student and family transitions, and student life at USM. Family members will also have the opportunity to ask questions, address any concerns they may have, and speak with faculty and staff. Learn more about the Family Members Program.
Check here for directions and maps to the campus.
There will be tours of the campus given during in-person Orientation sessions. Students may take a tour another day by contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Register for a tour.
If students have registered for an Orientation session and unable to attend any of the programs due to extenuating circumstances, please will need to contact the Orientation office at (207) 780-4604 to make other arrangements.
During Orientation
Before attending an in-person Orientation session, students are required to attend an Advising & Course Selection (ACS) meeting. During Advising & Course Selection meetings, students meet with an Academic or Faculty Advisor who will help them select courses for their first semester at USM. To schedule an Advising & Course Selection meeting students must first complete USM’s New Student Course via Brightspace.
Orientation is a time when students and family members will learn more about the University. Students will have the chance to learn about campus life, academics, and financial responsibility while parents and family will have the chance learn how they can help support their student in their transition to USM and college life. Students will also be able to get a parking pass (if needed), visit the University store and purchase textbooks, and their student ID cards.
At the beginning of the Academic term, each new student with a declared major will be assigned both a Professional Academic Advisor and a Faculty Advisor. Undeclared students will be assigned a Professional Academic Advisor who will help them explore. Once assigned, students will be able to see their assigned advisor(s) on the Student Center page in MaineStreet. To learn more about our advising model, you can visit the Advising Center.
Students can register for classes that are scheduled on any USM campus regardless of where they have their Orientation or Advising & Course Selection meeting. However, it is helpful and important to see both campuses because it is not a guarantee that all classes will be on one campus.
Students can learn about their student account and financial aid as part of the Online Orientation in BlackBoard. Students may also check the following sites for more information.
Student Financial Services Offices
- 101 Bailey Hall, Gorham campus
- 137 Luther Bonney Hall, Portland campus
- 51 Westminster St., Lewiston-Auburn Campus
Call (207) 780-5200 for more information.
- 101 Bailey Hall, Gorham campus
- 137 Luther Bonney Hall, Portland campus
- 51 Westminster St., Lewiston-Auburn Campus
Call (207) 780-5250 for more information.
At the end of Advising & Course Selection (ACS) meetings, and once students have signed up for classes, they will have an opportunity to have their picture taken for their USM ID card. The card provides an array of services, such as printing, acts as a key to residence halls, entrance to the gymnasiums, holds Husky Bucks for meal plans, and connects students to discounts at local businesses.
If a student was unable to attend an in-person Advising & Course Selection meeting or was unable to get their card at that time, they may get an ID card at any one of the Campus Card Offices, providing that they have registered for classes. Campus Card Offices are located at Luther Bonney Hall on the Portland campus; Upton Hall Basement on the Gorham campus; or in Student Success at the Lewiston/Auburn campus. Photo identification or passport is required.
Parking hang tags (also called Parking Permits) are only required for students parking on the Portland and Gorham campuses. Parking permits are not required on the Lewiston campus.
After August 15th you may bring a copy of your student bill or schedule, your USM student ID card, and your car registration to the Parking Garage office located in the Portland parking garage (207) 780-4718 or to the Campus Safety Office in Gorham. You may also request that a permit be mailed to you. Learn more about Parking and Transportation.
If you attend an in-person Orientation session, we will provide opportunities for you to pick-up your parking pass at that time.
If you wish to live on campus in the Gorham residence halls contact the Office of Residential Life, 125 Upton Hall, Gorham or call (207) 780-5240. A representative from Residential Life will be at Orientation to answer any questions you may have.
To buy books for classes students may consult the How to Find and Order Your Textbooks section of the our Orientation Page or visit the University store located on the second floor of Abromson Hall, near the skywalk (207)780-4070. Learn more about the University Store.
To best serve the interests of all USM students, the University Store is proud to offer pre-paid order pickup on all 3 USM campuses, free of charge. Orders may be picked up at the Gorham Campus Library located in Bailey Hall during regular Gorham library hours. Orders may also be picked up at the Lewiston-Auburn Campus Library during regular LAC library hours. Please note that all orders are put together in Portland and require transit time between campuses. A photo ID is required when picking up orders.
The Admissions Pathway Program (APP) and Conditional Admission are two separate academic support programs.
APP is offered through the University of Southern Maine’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Department. It was formerly known as The English Language Bridge (ELB) program. Students in the APP program are non-native English speakers and multilingual writers who have met USM’s admission requirements, except that their TOEFL or SAT scores fall below the required level. All APP students meet with an academic advisor to select courses to promote that student’s academic success. Students in the APP program take both ESOL and regular classes during their first semester or year at USM. Once students have achieved proficiency in academic reading and writing, they may declare their choice of major. Students enrolled in APP are not
Conditionally Admitted students participate in an academic program focused on growth and academic success. Students accepted to this program will have a personalized Academic Support Plan, offering several key elements to intended to help them succeed in their transition to college. Their plan will include a developmental approach to advising, courses to strengthen academic performance, and carefully selected course schedules.
USM’s Veterans Services is an on-campus resource for veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Transitioning from combat to the classroom can be challenging and so can navigating the U.S. government benefits known as the GI Bill®. USM Veterans Services is here to help.
Questions about Orientation may be directed to: usm.orientation@maine.edu or by calling (207) 780-4604.
After Orientation & ACS
Greater Portland METRO offers Husky Line bus service between USM’s Portland and Gorham campuses. This service will is free of charge to registered USM students. Students must present their USM ID in order to ride.
For convenient banking, automated teller machines are located inside the Abromson Community Center (Portland) and the Brooks Student Center (Gorham). The University Credit Union (UCU) has a branch office located on the lower level of the Brooks Student Center. Banks and ATMs are also within walking distance from both the Portland and Gorham campuses.
Health Services is managed by University Health and Counseling Services and is located on the Gorham campus at 125 Upton Hall. Counseling Services are offered on all three campuses. Most illnesses seen on college campuses are treatable and usually not severe. It may surprise you that USM’s Health Services provides many services on the Gorham campus. You can make an appointment to be seen for various acute illnesses, and we also provide birth control, STD/I testing, smoking cessation, travel and other immunizations, lab services, free condoms, and basic primary care.
Health Services and Counseling Services will bill your health insurance, so please bring your insurance card to your appointment with you. Copays will be charged in accordance with the requirement of your health insurance plan. If an in-house lab or medication is ordered that cannot be charged to your insurance then the charge will be billed to you direct.
On the Portland Campus, a snack bar can be found in Luther Bonney Hall and a Starbucks is on the first floor of Glickman Family Library. In Gorham, an eat-in cafeteria is located at the Brooks Student Center and snack bars are located in Bailey Hall and the lower level of the Brooks Student Center. Contact Dining Services at (207) 780-4039 to learn more about meal plan options.
Emergency call boxes can be found in the parking lots and campus courtyards. The USM Police Department will also escort students across campus or to the parking lots. For general questions, please contact (207) 780-5211. For emergencies, dial 911.
Many departments and offices on campus have positions for work-study students. USM uses an eRecruiting system to post all of our student jobs. Career and Employment Hub can assist students in accessing the job search site.
Career and Employment Hub can assist you in accessing the job search off-campus jobs. Learn more about the Career Network.
USM offers a variety of activities, clubs, organizations and interest groups, and ways to get involved. Students can learn about the various options by visiting the Student Engagement & Leadership website. If you are interested in joining or starting a student organization, contact the Board of Student Organizations (BSO) (228-8502).