University of Maine at Machias

This article is about the University of Maine at Machias. For the flagship campus in Orono, see The University of Maine.
University of Maine at Machias
Type Public
Established 1909
President Dr. Joyce Hedlund[1]
Academic staff
 61 full-time & part-time
Students ~1200
Location Machias, Maine, U.S.
44°42′35″N 67°27′25″W / 44.70972°N 67.45694°W / 44.70972; -67.45694Coordinates: 44°42′35″N 67°27′25″W / 44.70972°N 67.45694°W / 44.70972; -67.45694
Campus Rural 42 acres (170,000 m2)
Colors Green and White
Nickname Clippers
Affiliations NCAA Division III
Website www.machias.edu

The University of Maine at Machias (UMM) is one of seven campuses in the University of Maine System. Located in Machias, Maine, United States, the seat of Washington County, the university was founded in 1909 as a normal school for educating teachers, and offers studies in recreation, education, Psychology & Community Studies and physical sciences, including a recognized marine biology program. Enrollment is approximately 1,200 students.[2]

Campus

The University of Maine at Machias is part of the University of Maine System. The university was founded in 1909. The campus occupies 43 acres (170,000 m2) in rural downeast coastal Maine on the Machias River.

History and mission

The original name of school was the Washington State Normal School.[3] It was later renamed to the University of Maine at Machias. The prior name is still evident in several locations on campus most prominently on Powers Hall. Through its liberal arts core and distinctive baccalaureate programs, the University prepares students for lifelong intellectual growth, individual success, leadership in a global society, and the advancement of a sustainable environment. The University’s applied research and public services contribute to the improvement of the quality of life and economic development in Downeast Maine.[4]

In April 2016, the University announced that, due to struggles and declining enrollment, it would enter into a partnership with the much larger University of Maine in Orono. The agreement included the sharing of administrators between the universities.[5]

Degree programs

The University of Maine at Machias offers 12 undergraduate majors. These include: Psychology & Community Studies, Biology, Business and Entrepreneurial Studies, Education (Elementary and Secondary), English, Creative Writing and Book Arts, Environmental Studies, History, Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, Marine Biology, and Recreation Management.[6]

Student-faculty ratio is 14:1.[2] For three straight years, the University of Maine at Machias was ranked among the top-five public comprehensive colleges in the north region by U.S. News and World Report.[7]

Student life

Activities

All student organizations are run independently through an elected process with oversight by a Student Senate. Students are responsible for meetings, financial organization, and group meetings and outings.[8] Additionally, there are a great deal of unofficial activities on campus, ranging from hallway sports to movie nights in the lounge. UMM offers a wide variety of activities for all manner of students.

Greek organizations

There are nine Greek organizations on campus, five fraternities and four sororities. Some organizations are nationally affiliated, while others are local and exist solely at the University of Maine at Machias. All groups are run independently and jointly form Greek Council, which oversees Greek life as a whole. The recognized Greek fraternities on campus are Psi Delta (currently petitioning to join Alpha Delta National Fraternity), Kappa Delta Phi (Eta chapter), Kappa Mu Alpha, Sigma Chi Lambda, and Omicron Delta Pi (a co-ed fraternal organization). The sororities located on campus are Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Kappa Alpha Kappa, Kappa Eta, and Phi Tau Phi.[9]

Sunrise Senior College

The University of Maine at Machias is the home of Sunrise Senior College, which is one of 16 enrichment experience institutions in Maine for people 50 and over and their partners of any age. Founded in 2002 as part of the Maine Senior College Network, Sunrise Senior College offers most of its classes on the UMM campus. SSC has fall and spring semesters, but they only generally follow UMM's semesters—all of the SSC courses are shorter. The courses are not for credit, are taught by volunteers with expertise in their areas, and no one needs to be a college (or even high school) graduate to attend. For more information about Sunrise Senior College, visit its official website [10]

Maine Blackfly Breeders Association Annual Convention

The University of Maine at Machias has for many years been host to the annual Maine Blackfly Breeders Association[11] convention in March. Convention-goers are asked to bring limericks, jokes, stories and songs for annual contests. Exhibits, art, crafts and other items also are sought. Special guests in March 2009 were members of the UMM Ukulele Club. Bloody Merry, an 8-foot-long black fly who made her debut at the 2007 convention, was in attendance, gently flapping her wings and posing for admirers. Breeders also heard the latest buzz on the association’s attempts at establishing a blackfly farm in Washington County, first discussed at last year’s event. (The blackfly farm would harness the power of black flies to provide renewable energy.)[12]

Athletics

The University of Maine at Machias offers several intercollegiate sports teams for both men and women. All sports teams participate in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) as a member of the Yankee Small College Conference.[13] The school previously participated in the NAIA's Sunrise Athletic Conference.[14] Men's sports include basketball, soccer, cross country, and golf while women's sports include basketball, soccer, volleyball, and cross country. The university also offers several club and intramural sports.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "UMaine Machias Names New Interim President". Maine Public Broadcasting Network. December 12, 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 Where on Earth Do You Fit In?. University of Maine at Machias (UMM). Accessed 2009-03-07.
  3. ↑ Celebrate UMM's Birthday March 3rd, UMM. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  4. ↑ Missions Statement, UMM. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  5. ↑ McCrea, Nick (April 6, 2016). "Struggles at Machias campus prompt partnership with UMaine in Orono". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Areas of study, UMM. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  7. ↑ "America’s Best Colleges 2009", U.S. News & World Report. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  8. ↑ Student Senate, UMM. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  9. ↑ Greek Organizations, UMM. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  10. ↑ Sunrise Senior College
  11. ↑ Maine Blackfly Breeders Association - official website. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  12. ↑ “Black fly breeders to ‘wing in the new’”, Bangor Daily News. February 20, 2009. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  13. ↑ Mahoney, Larry (June 17, 2011). "UMFK, UMPI, UMM leave NAIA for new association". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  14. ↑ http://www.sunriseconference.com/members.php#38
  15. ↑ Athletics, UMM. Accessed 2009-03-07.
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