Steps for Early College Success
Qualified Maine students in grades 9-12 may earn up to 12 tuition-free credits per academic year. Learn more about whether you qualify on our Tuition and Fees page.
Determine College Readiness
Meet with your school counselor and/or parent to discuss your course options and determine if you are ready for college classes.
Students are required to demonstrate college readiness and the first step in doing this is allowing them to lead their early college experience. As such we expect students to initiate the application process and follow-up on subsequent communication with university staff, faculty, and instructors. Counselors and parents/guardians can certainly assist, but the students should be leading the way. Otherwise, students will not realize the full benefits of the program, which include gaining skills in self-advocacy and learning how to navigate the college process.
Review Course Options
Explore your course and pathways options to determine which course would be the best fit.
Important Reminders:
▪️ Make sure to select the correct course modality- in-person, online, distance synchronous, hybrid or hyflex (Learn more about course modality on our course information page linked below).
▪️ Before applying make sure that you have fulfilled any course prerequisites (requirements you must meet in order to take the course)
Helpful Resources:
Course Information Page
Career Pathway Options
Credits with a Purpose
Create your ExplorEC Account
ExplorEC (External Site) is a web-based application portal designed to process and manage Early College applications in collaboration with high school counselors and parents. Through ExplorEC you can apply for and navigate all the courses the University of Maine System (UMS) has to offer. It will include course search options, course descriptions, prerequisites, credit information, modality, and start/end dates.
Important Reminders:
▪️ The information you type into ExplorEC will be used to create your official university transcript, be sure to enter everything correctly and use your legal name.
▪️ Applying in ExplorEC does not automatically register you for courses. Early College Administrators review and approve applications in ExplorEC and then use this information to register students in MaineStreet.
▪️ You will only use ExplorEC to add or drop/withdraw from classes. You should NEVER use MaineStreet to add and drop early college courses.
Helpful Resources:
ExplorEC Portal Guided Video Tutorials
Need assistance? Email explorecaccounts@maine.edu
Check your Email for Updates
Check the email you provided in your ExplorEC account regularly for updates from the Early College Program regarding your application status and important next steps.
These are the types of emails you can expect:
▪️ Emails through ExplorEC regarding application status changes
▪️ Emails through ExplorEC from our Early College offices with important questions or information about your class.
▪️ Account Activation Email (see Step 5 for further information) from ums.ec.activate@maine.edu.
▪️ Registration Confirmation Email
▪️ Emails about campus-specific resources
▪️ Emails from your instructors
Important Reminders:
You can also read any emails sent through ExplorEC by clicking on the Notes tile on your dashboard.
Activate your UMS Account
Every person registered to take a course is assigned a University of Maine System (UMS) student account. Before an account can be used it must be activated and this must be done right away because activation keys expire!
Once you are registered for your class, you will receive an email with activation instructions.
Email Sender: ums.ec.activate@maine.edu
Subject Line: Time Sensitive – Activate Your UMS Account
Email Text:
“Welcome to the University of Maine System(UMS) Early College Program!
Below you will find the information needed to activate your UMS account, which will allow you access to the following:
→ MaineStreet (External Site): Your Student Records (View and Request transcripts, View and Pay Your Bill, View UMS Admissions status)
→ UMS Gmail (External Site): Your official means of communication with UMS staff and faculty/instructors.
→ UMS Campus Portal (External Site): Your single sign-on access to all UMS resources.
→ Brightspace (External Site): Your Online Classroom (For Courses Offered by UMS Faculty/Instructors)
Activating your UMS account is important even if your class is offered at your high school. Your course may involve accessing the platforms listed below in order to connect with the UMS resources available to you as an Early College student.
To activate your UMS account go to the UMS User Account Management page (External Site) and click on Activate Your Account, then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
You will need the following:
1. Your Identification Number is:
2. Your Activation Key:
(this is comprised of only lower case letters and/or digits)
Please wait at least 15-30 minutes before attempting to log-in.
If you need further assistance with account activation, contact the IT Help Desk by phone (required) at 1-800-696-4357. For Help Desk hours and other resources please click here (External Site).
If you have questions about your course registration or course content, please contact your host campus Early College Office. Contact information for all campuses can be found here (External Site).
Thank you!“
Important Reminders:
▪️ Your password will need to be reset every 180 days. Write down your password. You will need to know your current password to reset it.
▪️ You must use this email address for all official communication with your instructors and any university offices.
▪️ Your identification number can also be found in your ExplorEC Portal on the home page on the right hand side in the aqua box.
▪️ If you cannot locate this email or your activation key has expired then contact the IT Help Desk by phone (required) at 1-800-696-4357 and they will be able to assist you.
Helpful Resources:
Account Activation Walkthrough (External Site)
IT Help Desk Resources (External Site)
Password Expiration Information (External Site)
Log into your UMS Campus Portal
Logging into Your UMS Campus Portal (External Site) requires the use of your UMS account user name and password that you created in step 5. Your UMS Campus Portal provides easy access to your @maine.edu gmail, Brightspace, MaineStreet, Zoom, and additional apps all in one location. Bookmark this one link to access all the resources you need. You will use the same username and password to log into all your UMS accounts.
Helpful Resources:
UMS Portal Video (External Site)
Order Course Materials
Students are responsible for purchasing any required textbooks and other supplies needed for their courses.
Some high schools have funding to cover the cost of required materials. Talk with your school counselor if you need assistance.
Books do not need to purchased through our online bookstores. Students can sometimes find books cheaper through another website. When purchasing items on another website make sure that you search based on the ISBN and not the book title to make sure you get the correct edition.
Helpful Resources:
Bookstore Links and Directions
Access Your Online Course on Brightspace
Your course might not show up in your Brightspace account until the first day of classes and your instructor might not email you before the first day of class.
There are 2 ways to access Brightspace:
1. Go to https://courses.maine.edu (External Site) and enter your single sign-on username and password.
2. Log into your UMS Campus Portal (External Site) and click on the Brighspace Icon (large orange B symbol)
Brightspace will include your syllabus, where you post assignments, receive notices from professors, etc. It is very important to have a solid understanding of BrightSpace before you begin your class. BrightSpace is now used by all UMS schools and the Maine Community College System.
Please note: The occasional instructor may use Google Classroom instead of Brightspace. If that is the case then they will email your @maine.edu address with this information.
Helpful Resources:
University of Maine at Augusta Brightspace Orientation (External Site)
Brightspace Video Tutorials (External Site)
Brightspace Student Documentation (External Site)
Pulse Brightspace App (External Site)
Technical Support: If you have technical difficulties, or trouble logging in, submitting quizzes or assignments and or viewing course content, reach out to our UMS:IT Help Desk.
Log into MaineStreet
As an Early College student you will use your MaineStreet Student Center to do the following:
▪️ View your class schedule
▪️ View the course modality
▪️ Find your classroom location (for on-campus classes)
▪️ View drop and withdrawal deadlines
▪️ Check your final grades
Helpful Resources:
How to Log Into MaineStreet (External Site)
MaineStreet Information – Student Center for Current Students (External Site)