The University of Maine at Fort Kent and the University of Maine at Presque Isle today unveiled a new tuition structure for out-of-state and international students that offers competitive pricing in those markets and also acts as a catalyst for economic development in Aroostook County.

Starting with the Fall 2014 semester, UMPI and UMFK will be simplifying their tuition structure by offering out-of-state students the same tuition rate extended to students who participate in the New England Board of Higher Education Tuition Break Program.

University of Maine at Presque Isle officials announced today that Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Sonntag will step down at the end of January to accept the top position at the University of South Carolina Sumter. He has served as UMPI’s chief academic officer since 2007.

A University of Maine at Presque Isle Fine Art professor spent several months this summer and fall working in locations throughout Europe after being awarded three art residencies—two of them with fellowships—to focus on her art work.

Heather Sincavage, UMPI Assistant Professor of Fine Art, participated in art residencies at the Arteles Creative Center in Hameenkyro, Finland; at the Can Serrat International Art Center in Barcelona, Spain; and at the Nes Artist Residency in Skagastrond, Iceland. Based on the strength of her application and artistic merit, she was awarded fellowships from both Arteles and Can Serrat.

University of Maine at Presque Isle officials are pleased to announce that the University’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program has received official status as an academic program after receiving full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education [CAPTE].

The University of Maine at Presque Isle has hired an experienced facilities and construction leader, planner and manager to serve as its new Director of Facilities Management.

Gregg Bouchard, who comes to UMPI with 16 years of facilities management experience, replaces outgoing Director of Facilities Management Robert Aughinbaugh, who relocated to Pittsburgh earlier this fall to take a position closer to family.

David Putnam, archaeologist/climate scientist and University of Maine at Presque Isle faculty member, recently took part in the Comer Abrupt Climate Change conference, an annual conference that draws top leaders and scientists from around the world to Wisconsin to discuss abrupt climate change research.

A group of University of Maine at Presque Isle Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS) program faculty and students attended the 105th annual meeting of the New England Intercollegiate Geologic Conference (NEIGC), held at Millinocket Lake in the Katahdin region earlier this fall. NEIGC is a conference composed of three days of field trips led by regional experts to locations of geological and historical significance. It is designed to facilitate field-based interactions and dialogue between regional college students, faculty, and professional geologists.

Kevin McCartney, University of Maine at Presque Isle Professor of Geology, spent the Thanksgiving week with research colleagues at Yamagata University in Japan. He was invited to present a talk at the Japanese university, titled “Silicoflagellate double skeletons: a summary of recent observations of fossil and modern specimens.” He also worked with several graduate students there on various projects.

Momentum Aroostook, MMG Insurance, and the University of Maine at Presque Isle are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the seventh annual Young Professionals Institute, running this year on Tuesdays from March 4 to April 29. The online nomination/application form is available at www.umpi.edu/ypi. The nomination deadline is Monday, Dec. 16.