Student Diversity

Graduating Maine high school students who receive the state's first-ever Seal of Biliteracy (acknowledging proficiency in English and another language), and who attend any school in the University of Maine System are now eligible to be awarded up to 8 credits towards college language courses. The announcement was made at a UMS event hosted by the University of Southern Maine. The event was covered by WGME13 news and Maine Public.

Leading up to the University of Southern Maine 2019 Commencement, many departments are busy with special events celebrating the accomplishments of their graduating students in a more intimate setting.

Dozens of USM students, faculty and staff marched in the 2018 Pride Portland parade in celebration of diversity and inclusion.

Celebrate Pride 2018 at these June events! March with the USM Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity in the Portland Pride parade on Saturday, June 16th, catch "Bar Stories" at One Longfellow Square June 9th, and "Gay Side Story" after the parade on June 16th.

The last few weeks leading up to graduation were busy with many special Commencement-related ceremonies celebrating student accomplishments in a more intimate setting.

On the October episode of “The USM Update,” President Glenn Cummings welcomes guests to talk about the University of Maine School of Law, USM’s tutoring and library services, and exciting goings-on within the university’s Multicultural Student Center.

USM has issued a statement condemning hatred and violence in wake of the events that occurred over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The Portland Press Herald has quoted USM officials in an article regarding the university’s commitment to diversity.

University of Southern Maine is at the forefront of efforts to provide a safe environment for the LGBTQ+ community and that work continues on. Led by Assistant Dean of Students Sarah Holmes, USM's campuses strive to be a place where all students can be true to themselves and where their identities can be celebrated.

The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine honored USM's Pious Ali and Reza Jalali at its annual meeting on June 11. The organization gave Pious Ali the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence, citing "his ongoing multi-faceted work in Maine fostering meaningful dialogue across cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic and faith-based barriers."