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University of Maine at Presque Isle

Coordinates: 46°40′15″N 68°1′0″W / 46.67083°N 68.01667°W / 46.67083; -68.01667
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This article is about the University of Maine at Presque Isle. For the flagship campus in Orono, see University of Maine.
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Former name
Aroostook State Normal School (1903-1952)
The Aroostook State Teachers College (1952-1965)
The Aroostook State College (1965-1971)
MottoNorth of Ordinary
TypePublic college
Established1903; 121 years ago (1903)
Parent institution
University of Maine System
Endowment$5M[1]
ChancellorDannel Malloy
PresidentRay Rice
Vice-ChancellorCarolyn Dorsey
ProvostRay Rice
Students1,847 (Fall 2022)[2]
Undergraduates1,824 (Fall 2022)[2]
Postgraduates23 (Fall 2022)[2]
Location
Presque Isle
,
Maine
,
United States

46°40′15″N 68°1′0″W / 46.67083°N 68.01667°W / 46.67083; -68.01667
Campus150 acres (0.61 km2)
Colors  Blue
  Gold
NicknameOwls
Sporting affiliations
MascotHootie the Owl
Websitewww.umpi.edu

The University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMaine Presque Isle or UMPI) is a public college in Presque Isle, Maine. It is part of the University of Maine System and one of two University of Maine System schools in Aroostook County (the other being the University of Maine at Fort Kent).

History

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Aroostook State Normal School in 1908, now the University of Maine at Presque Isle

The college began in 1903 as Aroostook State Normal School which offered a two-year teacher preparation program.[3] It has undergone four name changes since then: The Aroostook State Teachers College in 1952; The Aroostook State College in 1965; The Aroostook State College of the University of Maine when it joined the new University of Maine System in 1968; and finally the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1971.[4]

UMPI's wind turbine began generating clean energy in late spring 2009 after the university reached an agreement with general contractor Lumus Construction Inc. on a $2 million project to install a 600-kilowatt wind turbine on the campus. This agreement established UMPI as the first college or university in the state and one of only a handful in New England to install a midsize wind turbine, according to officials. The wind turbine produces about 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and saves the institution more than $100,000 annually in electricity charges and saves an estimated 572 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year.[5]

In January 2015, officials from the Foundation of the University of Maine at Presque Isle announced their completion of efforts to completely divest from all fossil fuels on campus. This effort began in fall 2013 and ended in November 2014. UMPI installed a 999 voltage solar panel array on the roof of its major classroom buildings Folsom and Pullen Halls as well as a biomass boiler and heat pump technology inside those buildings.[6]

In October 2020, the college announced its first master's degree, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.[7]

Academics

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UMPI currently offers 1 master's degree program, 22 baccalaureate degree programs, 7 associate degrees, 40 minor programs, and 5 certificate programs.[8]

The institution began using a proficiency-based model for certain programs in 2018. It also began allowing students who would otherwise fail a course to re-do material to ensure they pass.[9]

The college received a $2.25 million grant to add programs in computer science and health administration in 2019.[10]

Online learning

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Through the YourPace competency-based education program, UMPI offers self-paced online baccalaureate programs. In 2020 UMPI added its first masters program, a Masters in Organizational Leadership, through YourPace. Separately from YourPace, UMPI also offers three semester-based online bachelor's degrees.[11]

UMPI's OpenU program allows learners of all ages to take specific online and on-site course for free if they are not currently enrolled in a degree program.[12]

Northern Maine Museum of Science

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Main article: Northern Maine Museum of Science

The Northern Maine Museum of Science began in the early 1970s on the UMPI campus. The 40-mile (64 km) long Solar System model is one of the largest in the world. Folsom Hall encompasses the Sun of this model and it ends with Pluto, just outside Houlton, Maine.[13]

Student life

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Athletics

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UMPI has 12 varsity sport programs and is a member of NCAA Division III and in the fall of 2018 joined the North Atlantic Conference. The college previously competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association as part of the Sunrise Athletic Conference[14] Men's and women's sports include: Cross-Country Running, Soccer, Basketball and Nordic Skiing (governed by the USCSA). Male only sports include: Golf and Baseball. Women only sports: Softball and Volleyball. In addition, the university also hosts a variety of intramural sports and one club sport, ice hockey. The University Ice Hockey Club Team was the first team to play in the Alfond Arena against the University of Maine Black Bears losing 4–3 on February 4, 1977. The 1979 Wrestling team won the Northern New England Wrestling Championship, and the 1978 Women's Field Hockey team won the Maine State Championships. The school's sports teams are called the Owls and team colors are blue and gold.[15]

NAIA Honors Athletes and All-Americans [15]
1994   Tamera Blades   Scholar-Athlete   Division II Women's Basketball
1996 Katherine Chabot All-American Women's Cross Country
1996 Neal Labrie Scholar-Athlete Men's Cross Country
1996 Pierre Michaud Statistical Leader Division II Men's Basketball
1997 Jason Adickes Scholar-Athlete Men's Soccer
1998 Jason Adickes Scholar-Athlete Men's Soccer
1998 Shannon Henthorn Scholar-Athlete Women's Soccer

Greek life

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UMPI is the location of chapters of Kappa Delta Phi National Fraternity, Kappa Delta Phi National Sorority, and Phi Eta Sigma National Academic Fraternity.[16]

Notable faculty and alumni

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Faculty

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  • Caroline D. Gentile – Associate Professor Emeritus of Physical Education; longest-serving faculty member of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.[17]

Alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "UMS Annual Report" (PDF). UMS Annual Report.
  2. ^ a b c "College Navigator – University of Maine at Presque Isle - Enrollment".
  3. ^ "Overview of University of Maine--Presque Isle". U.S. News & World Report - College Compass.
  4. ^ "About UMPI". UMPI. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  5. ^ Lynds, Jen. “UMPI windmill project a ‘go.’” Archived 2012-07-01 at archive.today Bangor Daily News. November 20, 2008. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  6. ^ Respaut, Robin (27 January 2015). "University of Maine Board votes to divest from coal". Reuters.
  7. ^ "UMPI Announces First-Ever Graduate Program". WAGTV. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Academics", UMPI. Accessed 2021-07-08.
  9. ^ Feinberg, Robbie (2018-01-03). "In rural Maine, a university eliminates most Fs in an effort to increase graduation rates". The Hechinger Report. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  10. ^ "UMPI receives largest grant in its history". www.wagmtv.com. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  11. ^ "Online Programs". Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  12. ^ Kolowich, Steve (September 6, 2012). "U. of Maine campus experiments with small-scale, high-touch open courses". www.insidehighered.com.
  13. ^ Bayly, Julia (November 6, 2017). "Here's how you can visit the solar system in Maine, no rocket ship required". Bangor Daily News.
  14. ^ Mahoney, Larry (June 17, 2011). "UMFK, UMPI, UMM leave NAIA for new association". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Athletics Home", UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-04.
  16. ^ Student Organizations Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine, UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-08.
  17. ^ Lynds, Jen. "Long-time UMPI benefactor, faculty member dies". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 15 Feb 2017.
  18. ^ "Mabel J. Desmond". Maine House of Representatives. Maine.gov. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  19. ^ [1] Archived 2014-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "Candadicy is Announced". Bangor Daily News. April 25, 1980. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  21. ^ "John L. Tuttle, Jr". Maine House of Representatives. Maine House of Representatives. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  22. ^ "Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
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