University of Maine at Presque Isle

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
ProvostAlana Margeson
Students2,171 (fall 2024)
Undergraduates2,056 (fall 2024)
Postgraduates115 (fall 2024)
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)
ColorsBlue and 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

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Academics

UMPI currently offers 1 master's degree program, 22 baccalaureate degree programs, 7 associate degrees, 40 minor programs, and 5 certificate programs.[6]

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.[7]

The college received a $2.25 million grant to add programs in computer science and health administration in 2019.[8]

Online learning

UMPI offers self-paced online baccalaureate programs. In 2020 UMPI added its first masters program, a Masters in Organizational Leadership.[9] UMPI also offers three semester-based online bachelor's degrees.[10]

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.[11]

Northern Maine Museum of Science

Main article: Northern Maine Museum of Science

The Northern Maine Museum of Science began in the early 1970s on the UMPI campus. It is located in Folsom Hall.[12]

Student life

Athletics

UMPI has 12 varsity sport programs and is a member of NCAA Division III and in 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[13] 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.[14]

Greek life

Chapters include Kappa Delta Phi, Kappa Delta Phi, and Phi Eta Sigma.[15]

Notable faculty and alumni

Faculty

  • Caroline D. Gentile – Associate Professor Emeritus of Physical Education; longest-serving faculty member of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.[16]

Alumni

References

  1. ^ "UMS Annual Report" (PDF). UMS Annual Report. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-07-11. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  2. ^ "Overview of University of Maine--Presque Isle". U.S. News & World Report - College Compass.
  3. ^ "About UMPI". UMPI. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  4. ^ Lynds, Jen. “UMPI windmill project a ‘go.’” Archived 2012-07-01 at archive.today Bangor Daily News. November 20, 2008. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  5. ^ Respaut, Robin (27 January 2015). "University of Maine Board votes to divest from coal". Reuters.
  6. ^ "Academics" Archived 2009-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, UMPI. Accessed 2021-07-08.
  7. ^ Feinberg, Robbie (2018-01-03). "In rural Maine, a university eliminates most Fs in an effort to increase graduation rates". The Hechinger Report. Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  8. ^ "UMPI receives largest grant in its history". www.wagmtv.com. 4 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  9. ^ "UMPI Announces First-Ever Graduate Program". WAGTV. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Online Programs". Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  11. ^ Kolowich, Steve (September 6, 2012). "U. of Maine campus experiments with small-scale, high-touch open courses". www.insidehighered.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  12. ^ Bayly, Julia (November 6, 2017). "Here's how you can visit the solar system in Maine, no rocket ship required". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  13. ^ Mahoney, Larry (June 17, 2011). "UMFK, UMPI, UMM leave NAIA for new association". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  14. ^ "Athletics Home", UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-04.
  15. ^ Student Organizations Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine, UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-08.
  16. ^ Lynds, Jen. "Long-time UMPI benefactor, faculty member dies". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 15 Feb 2017.
  17. ^ "Mabel J. Desmond". Maine House of Representatives. Maine.gov. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  18. ^ [1] Archived 2014-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Candadicy is Announced". Bangor Daily News. April 25, 1980. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  20. ^ "John L. Tuttle, Jr". Maine House of Representatives. Maine House of Representatives. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  21. ^ "Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.