November 2016

Earlier this semester, UMPI’s AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer Victoria Forkus set up a chalkboard on campus with the prompt “This school year I want to…” The hope was that students would write honest and thought-provoking answers. Well, participants filled the board, and here’s what they had to say:

UMPI and the Houlton Higher Education Center were pleased to be a part of this year’s World Polio Day and Purple Pinkie Project celebrations. Here are just a few photos from the

Houlton Center students, Center Director Tracy Rockwell and Otis Smith help stamp out polio!

Thanks to Ben Shaw, Sharon Roix and Vanessa Pearson, who (among others) helped to cover the Purple Pinkie station in the CIL!

A purple pinkie is a symbol of one life saved from polio!

Thank you Paul Callnan, Houlton Rotarian, for being a good neighbor and helping us with our Purple Pinkie Project!

Thank you Kathleen Harrigan, UMPI English instructor, and James Dobbs, UMPI student, for helping us with the Purple Pinkie Project!

Even Hootie had a purple pinkie... er, feather!

It’s that time of year  again. IT Services will be placing two pallets behind the back entrance of the Center for Innovative Learning for you to put all your electronic devices for recycling.   A recycling company will be here to pick it up in one month (ie, microwaves, TV’s, all computers and accessories, etc).  The only items that you cannot bring are fluorescent bulbs,  AC units, or refrigerators unless they have been properly drained of freon and tagged. This is for everyone, not just UMPI equipment. Items will be picked up on Monday, Dec. 5.

UMPI’s Relay for Life Team held its silent auction Nov. 7 – Nov. 10 and the event was a huge success again this year. People bid on various items such as homemade fudge, peanut butter balls, pie, and peanut brittle, jewelry, pottery, hand made bird houses, fences, mittens, scarfs, blankets and a beautiful print of Mt. Katahdin. Over 70 items were donated for the auction this year and they took in over $1,500. The Team thanks everyone who participated in this year’s event!

The Adam Ezra Group performed on Nov. 9 and the concert was a huge success! Over 200 people attended the event and enjoyed their music. Music students from the area attended a workshop with the group earlier in the day and were able to join the group on stage to perform the piece they worked on. Over $2,000 was raised towards future renovations to the Auditorium. For photos of the show, check out this photo album on the UMPI facebook page.

Congratulations to October Student of the Month Alexandra DesRuisseaux, from Bow, NH, a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education with a Social Studies concentration and a minor in Psychology. DesRuisseaux is the student representative to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, the Vice President of SEAM, a Resident Assistant on campus and a senator in the Student Government Association. Congratulations again, Alexandra!

Dr. Cohen’s book Ecstasy and Distress is a historical family saga and romance that spans several generations. The story unfolds as a Jewish immigrant family settles in the busy and growing city of Portland, Maine, in 1840. Here they find many hardships as they confront anti-Semitism, nativism, and adjustment difficulties as they gain acceptance as peddlers and shopkeepers. At that time, Jewish men becoming physicians and lawyers parallels the women who faced the same derision in order to become doctors and lawyers as well. The novel thus tells of Jewish marriages and intermarriages that continue to build the family tree. These characters are strong self-assured women and men who reject family dismay as they find love, joy and gain acceptance in their struggle for dignity and honor, not only in their chosen professions but within the various families. Dr. Cohen’s book can be purchased from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many other retailers worldwide. Congratulations!

The Houlton Higher Education Center celebrated Halloween not only by giving out candy this year, they also made a pitch for literacy by distributing children’s books! As part of the fun, many folks also dressed up for Halloween.

The UMPI/Community Band will hold its winter concert on Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium in Wieden Hall. The UMPI/Community Band is a unique ensemble with members ranging from local high school students, adults from all over Aroostook County, and professional musicians. To match the variety in the ensemble, the UMPI/Community Band will perform many different types and styles of music. The band performs modern works, classic band literature, marches, popular and Christmas music. This event is free and open to the public. FMI, contact Jon Simonoff at jonrsimonoff@gmail.com.

Including projected Seniors and 2^nd Year Associate Degree students:

Are you planning to complete your degree requirements in May or August of 2017?  If so, you need to submit your Application for Degree by November 30, 2016.

Applications for December 2016 potential graduates are due NOW.

The application is now online.  Login to the UMPI Portal and click on Academics>Academic Policies/Forms or just click this link Application for Degree.  (If you’ve already submitted a paper form to the Registrar’s Office, there’s no need to submit the online form.  Your professional advisor will be in touch with you about your Degree Completion Plan appointment. If you’re not sure, go ahead and submit the online form, to be safe).

Why Do I Need to Apply for a Degree?

Completing an Application for Degree allows the following to happen:

• An appointment with your professional advisor to review your degree completion plan to ensure your path to completion
• Your Degree Status Report and Degree Completion Plan will be forwarded to your faculty academic advisor for review and signatures
• Information regarding Commencement, Caps, Gowns and Announcements will be mailed in late March, 2017
• Your name will be included in the Commencement Program and on lists of graduating seniors being considered for awards or other recognitions
• Commencement list to be approved by Faculty Assembly in April

Neglecting to apply and meet with your professional advisor may delay the awarding of your degree.

Commencement and Degrees 

Students who submit their Application for Degree by the November 30, 2016 deadline, and who have a completed Degree Status Report signed by their advisors and the Registrar will be allowed to participate in the May 2017 commencement ceremony.  Once students have completed all degree requirements, the Registrar’s Office will issue a transcript and award the degree.

Students will receive a diploma that will be dated the August, December or May following the actual completion of degree requirements.  Diplomas are awarded only three times per year.

Commencement Participation Policy

Students lacking no more than six semester hours of credit toward completion of all degree requirements OR who have a single internship or practicum worth no more than fifteen credit hours (which are graded on a pass/fail basis) may participate in the commencement ceremony in May.  Either shortfall should be completed by the following December.  Students meeting this policy must submit an Application for Degree by the November 30, 2016 deadline.

The University Players performed “Love for Losers”, written by UMPI student Darci Faye, the last weekend in October. “Love for Losers” dealt with themes of domestic violence and, directly following both performances, the Hope and Justice Project hosted a panel (which included survivors) and had an open discussion about domestic violence awareness. All monetary donations from these two performances was presented to the Hope and Justice Project.

Maine Robotics will be holding a regional qualifier for the First LEGO League Competition (FLL) on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Wieden Gymnasium. This will be the first time that Aroostook County has hosted the event. The FLL event is held every fall and involves children from schools throughout Maine between the ages of 9 and 14. The teams must work together to accomplish various parts of a themed “mission” and part of it involves LEGO robots. Students have already pre-registered for the event and registration is now closed. There are approximately 8 teams from The County that will be participating in this regional qualifier. This event is free and open to the public if you are interested in watching. The UMPI Athletics teams will be selling lunch and snacks throughout the day as a fundraiser. Also, volunteers are needed for this event. If you are interested, please contact Amanda Wilbur at awilbur@mainerobotics.org or go to http://www.mainerobotics.org/volunteer-registration.html.