Programs
Early College
Early College (EC) within the University of Maine System (UMS) is broadly defined as any program in which high school students enroll in college courses. Students in EC programs earn transcripted college and high school credit when they successfully pass the course. EC programs are based on partnerships between Maine’s Public Universities and high schools to help students successfully transition to college. Early College Webpage
Maine Geospatial Institute
The Maine Geospatial Institute is a statewide collaborative of the seven University of Maine System (UMS) campuses developed to support economic growth, workforce development, education and research in geospatial technologies. MGI Webpage
Maine Community College System Transfer ME Program
Transfer ME is a pathway for Maine Community College System (MCCS) graduates to bypass the traditional transfer admissions process into the University of Maine System (UMS). Graduates from select UMS-MCCS transfer pathway programs are automatically admitted to one or more of Maine’s public universities based on academic performance and progress.
Annual Summer Academy of Adult Learning and Teaching (SAALT)
A 4-day immersive faculty development conference sponsored by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and organized by the University of Southern Maine. SAALT brings together UMS faculty representing all seven of the University of Maine System campuses to build a UMS community of forward-thinking and innovative faculty, SAALT focused on teaching and learning best practices for the adult learner.
Non-Credit Academic Programs
Initiatives
Learning Outcomes Assessment
This collaborative effort brings together experts from each UMS university to systematically evaluate academic programs, define learning outcomes, analyze evidence of student achievement, and use the results to enhance teaching, learning, and student success.
Micro-Credential Initiative
The University of Maine System (UMS) Micro-Credential Initiative aims to meet the growing demand for quality-assured, competency-based, short-duration courses that validate what learners know and can do, serving the workforce needs of Maine and beyond. The Initiative seeks to develop and sustain a collaborative, unified micro-credential ecosystem that leverages the expertise of professional staff and faculty across the system.
Academic Alignment and Student Success
Working in collaboration with faculty and staff to coordinate and integrate our academic and research programs across our institutions, we will ensure that our critical programs are adequately resourced, every Maine student has affordable access to any University program for which he or she is qualified, and that our institutions advance economic growth and opportunity.
90-Credit Applied Bachelor’s Degree Programs Pilot
In July 2025, the UMS Board of Trustees approved five 90-credit bachelor’s degree programs as a pilot with enrollment limited to adult students. This site will provide guidance and information on developments in this innovative area, including updates on final approval by UMS’s primary accreditor, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Learning Outcomes Assessment
Learning Outcomes Assessment is the process of systematically evaluating student learning to ensure that academic programs are effectively meeting their educational goals. UMS supports accountability, accreditation, and continuous improvement across the university system, fostering a culture of meaningful assessment that benefits both students and educators.
