Weeks of Welcome (WoW) occur the first two weeks of each semester and are jam packed with events meant to encourage students to become engaged with fellow students, staff, and faculty. WoW connects students with organizations, important resources and supportive environments. We highly encourage both new and returning students to attend events during these weeks to get a jump start on their engagement for the semester.
Homecoming & Family Weekend, held in October, brings together alumni, students, friends, and families together to celebrate our Husky Pride through a variety of fun events across both the Gorham and Portland campuses. Student Engagement & Belonging hosts Octoberfest, complete with food trucks, pumpkin painting, and more, as well as our Casino Night in Lower Brooks. Cheer on USM Athletics at one of the many games to be seen that weekend, or attend a music concert! Visit our Homecoming & Family Weekend website for more information.
Stress Relief Week is offered at the end of each semester leading into finals week as a way to help students take short breaks from their workloads and avoid burnout. We strive to offer various opportunities for students to relax, refocus, and decompress. While events vary each year, they always have the goal of providing students with an opportunity to engage in mindfulness and mental health activities. We often collaborate with student organizations and other departments to offer many activities throughout the week.
The Banned Book Fair is hosted in the spring semester and is a great opportunity for the campus community to learn about and purchase banned books. Our partnership with Books-A-Million allows us to offer a wide variety of texts and information on why those texts are banned.
Spring Fling happens towards the end of the spring semester and is filled with community activities to celebrate the return of nice weather and get a boost as we work toward the end of the academic year. As with all of our traditional events, the specific activities vary from year to year, but the fun is always front and center.
Towards the end of the academic year, Student Engagement & Belonging hosts a variety of events exclusive to the graduating class. These events vary from year to year but what doesn’t change is us celebrating all our graduates have accomplished.