Academic and University Policies

Application for Graduation

Candidates for degrees must submit an application through MaineStreet in order to:

• Have the final degree awarded/conferred; the conferral date will be the same date as the diploma
• March in the in-person Commencement
• Participate in the virtual Commencement (for those students who DO NOT march)

Auditing Courses

Students auditing a course pay regular tuition and receive no credit for the course, but will have the notation AU recorded on their transcripts. Audit courses must be declared at registration.

Clinical Contracts

Many divisions of study at the University require as a condition of graduation the completion of one or more training programs or courses in a clinical setting, such as a hospital, clinic, professional office, or public schoolroom. Participation in these programs may require those students to execute releases or other contracts with the institution or provider of clinical services, which release them from liability, and which also provide that students will comply with all their participating requirements and regulations, including possible health examinations. The University assumes there will be assent and compliance to such requirements and procedures by each student upon his or her enrollment in those courses involving outside clinical study.

Confidentiality of Student Records

The UMPI Office of Student Records maintains the official academic record for each student in perpetuity. The office also maintains each student’s accurate mailing address and contacts students regarding official academic actions taken by UMPI. Students should use the Maine Street portal to report any changes of home or mailing address. The University accepts no liability for failure to communicate official academic information or for the inability to contact students in an emergency if up-to-date address information has not been reported to the University or recorded by the student in Maine Street.

Current students may obtain an “unofficial” transcript at any time by visiting the Office of Student Records in person or by selecting Unofficial Transcript from the drop-down box labeled “other Academic” in the Maine Street Student Center. No partial transcripts are issued.

Course Placement and Placement Testing

Incoming students’ high school and college transcripts will be evaluated for placement to create a Personalized Placement Profile for each student: Students will be placed in General Education Curriculum (GEC) and/or major courses if:

1. The student has transferred college-level classes with grades of C- or higher:
   1. In ENG 101 - College Composition  (or equivalent), for placement in reading and writing-based courses.
   2. In a college mathematics course, for placement in math/science-based courses.

- Or -

2. If the student’s high school GPA is equivalent to a B average or higher or if the student has achieved overall proficiency as defined by the student’s high school..

- Or -

3. SAT or ACT scores meet the following criteria:

For SAT tests taken prior to March 2016:

1. SAT Verbal of 500 or higher for placement in reading and writing-based courses.
2. SAT Math of 500 or higher for placement in GEC MAT 121 , MAT 140  or MAT 201  and college-level science courses.

For SAT tests taken March 2016 and forward:

1. A score of 550 or higher in Evidence-based Reading & Writing (ERWS) for placement in reading and writing based courses.
2. A score of 530 or higher in Math (MSS) for placement in GEC MAT 121 , MAT 140  or MAT 201  and college level science courses.

For ACT scores:

1. An ACT Reading (not writing) score of 22 or higher for placement in reading and writing based courses.
2. An ACT Math score of 21 or higher for placement in GEC MAT 121 , MAT 140  or MAT 201  and college level science courses.

- Or -

4. If most recent high school grades are Bs or better or if the student has achieved proficiency as defined by the student’s high school:
   1. In most recent high school English class for placement in reading/writing based courses.
   2. In most recent high school Algebra II class for placement in MAT 101  or MAT 117 .
   3. In most recent high school science class for placement in science courses.

Students meeting none of the above criteria will be placed in:

1. ENG 100 - Introduction to College Reading & Writing  (or a First Year Learning Community equivalent), which carries GEC credit if passed with a C- or higher,
2. SCI 186  Science Practicum, which carries degree credit but not GEC credit; and,
3. MAT 186   Math Practicum, which carries degree credit but not GEC credit.

Students placed in the above listed courses may request to sit for an Accuplacer® exam in writing, reading, algebra and /or science and the resulting test scores will be used for placement in courses according to our Guide to Test Scores and Placement. ★

Course Work at Other Institutions

Matriculated students may satisfy degree requirements through study at another institution following approval from their advisor; however, grades earned in approved courses taken at another institution are not included in the cumulative grade point average.

Credit for Prior Learning

In addition to accepting transfer credits from other regionally accredited postsecondary institutions, UMPI offers several options through which a student’s previously acquired information and skills could be incorporated into their overall college program. These include but are not limited to, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), as well as any training, courses, and exams for which the American Council on Education (ACE) has recommended the granting of college credit. In some cases, UMPI may allow a student to complete a Challenge Exam or submit a portfolio of prior learning to demonstrate proficiency equivalent to a given course. These options are referred to collectively as Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).

Students must be matriculated into an Associate or Bachelor’s degree program to be eligible for CPL. Non-degree students and students enrolled in certificate programs of fewer than 30 credits must receive permission from the Registrar in order to be eligible for a CPL. Students in Associate degree programs may earn a maximum of 15 credits through CPL. Students in Bachelor’s degree programs may earn a maximum of 30 credits. In other words, the combination of all forms of CPL cannot exceed a total of 15 credits of an Associate’s degree and 30 credits of a Bachelor’s degree. Credits will only be granted when they apply toward a student’s program.

Students must utilize test options such as CLEP, DANTES or Challenge Exams whenever available. When no test option is available, students may request a Portfolio Assessment of their Credit for Prior Learning. For more information on Challenge Exams or Portfolio Assessments, please visit http://www.umpi.edu/academics/ prior-learning-assessment/.

Department of Veterans Affairs - Covered Individual Policy

In compliance with United States Code section 3679 of Title 38, any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits will be permitted to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance. A certificate of eligibility can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits website or a VA form 28-1905 form for Chapter 31 authorization purposes.

UMPI will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from the VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

This agreement will terminate on the date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution or 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility, whichever date is most beneficial to the covered individual.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Directory Information

UMPI has designated certain information contained in the education records of its students as directory information for the purposes of FERPA. Such directory information may be publicly shared by the University without the student’s consent unless the student has taken formal action to restrict its release. Directory information includes: name, date of birth, e-mail address, address, phone number, class level, program of study, dates of attendance, enrollment status (full or part-time), degrees and awards received, most recent previous educational institution attended, participation in sports and activities, and appropriate personal athletic statistical data. Students can request that their directory information not be released at any time while they are an enrolled student at UMPI. Students can sign into the MaineStreet portal and select Student Center, then select Privacy Setting from the drop-down menu. Select either “Do not release any directory information” or “Release all directory information except address,” then click Save in order to restrict release of Directory Information. Students may also request non-disclosure of directory information by contacting the Office of Student Records.

If a student chooses to have directory information suppressed, UMPI cannot assume responsibility to contact a student for subsequent permission to release this information. Regardless of the effect on a student, UMPI assumes no liability as a result of honoring a student’s instructions that such information be withheld. Requests for non-disclosure will be honored by UMPI until removed, in writing, by the student or by the student updating their privacy settings via the MaineStreet Student Center.

Double Majors

Double majors are possible within a single baccalaureate degree providing they are appropriately differentiated. Both majors may be within the same college, or they may be in different colleges. Students may complete two different majors simultaneously with no prescribed increase in total credits beyond those required to satisfy both majors.  Majors may not duplicate the same discipline; thus, a second major may not be awarded if it is defined by a subset of required programmatic coursework within the first major. Students pursuing a double major must complete a minimum of 15 credits that are unique to each major, not including the General Education coursework.  As a reminder, candidates must complete at least 30 residency credit hours through UMPI in order to receive a baccalaureate degree. At least 12 of these credits must be in the major and at least 9 of these 12 must be at the upper level (300-level or above).  Thus, a double-major (or triple-major) would need to have a minimum of 12 hours of residency credit in each individual major, 9 hours of which need to be at 300-level or above.  A student must complete a minimum of 30 UMPI residency credit hours.  The University does not guarantee that any double major combination will be possible to complete within four years. 

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) or a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) may not declare the other as a second major.  

While the University allows students to pursue a double major, it is important to note that Federal Financial Aid regulations do not allow funding for a double major program. Students who are pursuing a double major are not eligible for additional financial aid beyond what is available for a single major, as determined by federal guidelines.

We encourage students to carefully review their financial aid options and consult with the Financial Aid Office to understand how pursuing a double major may impact their eligibility for funding.

Dual Baccalaureate Degrees

A student may earn multiple degrees provided they are appropriately differentiated. In order to receive additional degrees, the following conditions must be met:

(1) The first degree must have been awarded.

(2) The student must apply through Admissions for subsequent degrees.

(3) A minimum number of credits must be earned in residency beyond the total hours earned for the previous degree: 15 for each additional Associate, 30 for each additional Baccalaureate.

(4) Additional degrees cannot be awarded whose content serves as a subset of required program courses to the first degree (i.e., a student may not earn a second degree in the form of a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) or Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) that uses the “minor” of the major program of the first degree).

(5)  As is the requirement for the initial degree, transfer credits may not be used toward the attainment of minimum credit hour requirements (15 for Associate, 30 for Baccalaureate) for additional degrees.

(6) Students pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) or a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) may not declare the other as a dual degree. 

In accordance with Federal Financial Aid guidelines, students are eligible to receive full financial aid only for their first bachelor’s degree. While the University permits students to pursue a dual degree, students who choose this path will only have access to student loans, if eligible, for the second degree.

We advise students to consult with the Financial Aid Office to fully understand how pursuing a dual degree may impact their financial aid eligibility and loan options.

Equal Opportunity Policy

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

Inquiries or complaints about discrimination in employment or education may also be referred to the Maine Human Rights Commission. Inquiries or complaints about discrimination in employment may be referred to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Inquiries about the University’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, may also be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) 33 Arch Street Suite 900, Boston, MA 02110-1491, telephone (617) 289-0111. Facsimile: (617) 289-0150. Generally, an individual may also file a complaint with OCR within 180 days of alleged discrimination.

For more information, please visit https://www.umpi.edu/security/title-ix/

Exemption from the GEC

Students entering the University of Maine at Presque Isle as degree seekers who have a completed baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution will receive transfer credit for their previous degree work and will be exempt from meeting the specific requirements of the GEC. This does not exempt them from program requirements; it does exempt them from Placement Testing. Advisors should counsel exempted students to take courses to fill any deficiencies in their general education relevant to their career or future citizenship.

Students who have completed the ‘General Education Block’ at another UMS institution at the time they transfer to UMPI will be considered to have met all the requirements of the UMPI General Education Curriculum. This also applies to students who have completed the ‘General Education Transfer Block’ at a Maine Community College System institution.

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student’s education records. The law applies to all Universities that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. When a student attends the University, the rights under FERPA belong to the student, regardless of the student’s age. However, there are circumstances under which education records may be disclosed to parents of college students. Nothing in FERPA prevents the University from disclosing personally identifiable information from education records to a parent without the prior written consent of the student if the disclosure meets the conditions of any of the exceptions to the consent requirement, such as a health and safety emergency or if the student is a dependent student for tax purposes.

Students have the right to inspect and review all of the student’s education records maintained by the University. The University must comply with a request for access to records within a reasonable period of time, but not more than 45 days after it has received the request. If the education records of a student contain information on more than one student, the student may inspect and review or be informed of only the specific information about that him/herself. Universities are not required to provide copies of materials in education records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for students to inspect the records. Universities may charge a fee for copies.

Students have the right to request that the University correct records believed to be inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record, the eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the University still decides not to amend the record, the eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record commenting on the contested information in the record.

Generally, the University must have written permission from the student before releasing any information from a student’s education record. However, the law allows Universities to disclose information from education records, without the student’s consent, to the following parties:

• University officials, including contractors, consultants and volunteers, with a legitimate educational interest (which means they need the information to do their work);
• other Universities to which a student seeks or intends to enroll or where a student is already enrolled;
• specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
• appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
• organizations conducting certain studies for the University;
• accrediting organizations;
• parents of a dependent student;
• individuals who have obtained court orders or subpoenas;
• persons who need to know in cases of health and safety emergencies;
• state and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific state law;
• the victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense;
• to anyone of the final results of a disciplinary proceeding at the University if the University determines that the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the University’s rules or policies;
• a parent of a student at the University regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the University, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance;
• anyone of information regarding registered sex offenders; or,
• the court in a legal action between the student and the University.

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by UMPI to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20202-8520.

Foundation Coursework

Our program of foundation coursework is designed for new students who need additional preparation for college study. We offer foundation coursework in reading and writing (ENG 100 ), mathematics (MAT 186 ) and science (SCI 186 ). Foundation courses should be included in the student’s first semester of study and should be completed by the end of the freshman year. When enrollment in foundation courses is required by the student’s placement profile, those courses must be completed with a C- or better prior to enrolling in corresponding college-level coursework. ENG 100 , when completed with a C- or higher, will earn General Education Curriculum (GEC) credit in place of ENG 101 . MAT 186  and SCI 186  are added as a practicum along with enrollment in math and science courses meeting GEC requirements and carry elective credit toward the student’s degree program.

Students may challenge their placement in foundation coursework by scheduling a placement test with their professional advisor prior to the end of the first week of classes.

Grading Basis

The Grading System

The letter grades used by UMPI to evaluate scholastic achievement are interpreted as follows:

Grade Point Average

Letter grades are assigned the following numerical values:

To find the quality points earned in a course, multiply the numerical value of the course grade by the number of credit hours earned in each course. That is, a grade of B in a 3-semester-hour course would be worth 3 x 3 or 9 quality points. To find the quality point average, total all the quality points earned and divide the sum by the total number of graded credit hours. Grades received for transfer credits do not earn quality points. Incompletes are not calculated in the GPA until a grade is assigned for the course.

Many divisions of study at the University require as a condition of graduation the completion of one or more training programs or courses in a clinical setting, such as a hospital, clinic, professional office, or public schoolroom. Participation in these programs may require those students to execute releases or other contracts with the institution or provider of clinical services, which release them from liability, and which also provide that students will comply with all their participating requirements and regulations, including possible health examinations. The University assumes there will be assent and compliance to such requirements and procedures by each student upon his or her enrollment in those courses involving outside clinical study.

Grade Changes

Students with questions regarding the accuracy of a grade should contact the appropriate instructor for resolution. If a change of grade is justified, the instructor will forward a Change of Grade form to the Registrar’s Office. Grade changes will not be processed for students who are two semesters beyond separation from the course in which the grade was assigned or from the University, or for a student whose degree has been awarded.

Grade Reports

A student’s academic performance is confidential information, and written permission from the student is required to release information to individuals outside the administrative or academic community of UMPI.

Considerable care is taken to ensure that all course registration and grade information entered on a student’s permanent record is accurate. Records are assumed to be correct if a student does not report errors to the Office of Student Records prior to the beginning of final examinations of the following semester, or earlier if possible.

Grade Warning Systems

The University has devised grade-warning systems to help contribute to a successful educational experience for students, particularly those who are having initial difficulties adjusting to the demands of their university experience.

The early warning systems are under-taken during the fourth, eighth and twelfth weeks of class for all courses.

Through these systems, students are alerted in a timely fashion so as to make adjustments before their academic records are affected.

***YourPace students do not have this warning system.

Graduation Participation Policy

Students whose degree requirements will not be completed prior to the graduation ceremony in May will still be permitted to participate in the ceremony provided that at least ONE of the following criteria has been met:

1. The student has 6 credits or fewer remaining, or;
2. The student has two courses or fewer remaining, or;
3. The student only needs to complete student teaching, an internship, or a practicum as the final part of their program, or;
4. The student has developed a plan, with the approval of their faculty and professional academic advisors, to complete all remaining requirements by the conclusion of the subsequent fall semester. The plan must show that the student will be eligible to receive their degree before the start of the next spring semester, and a copy of this plan must be on file with the Office of Student Records.

For options 1, 2, or 3, all requirements must be anticipated to be completed by the following December.

A student may not participate in two separate graduation exercises for the same degree.

All UMPI students are requested to complete a “future plans” survey when they participate in graduation rehearsal in the spring of each year. The survey is administered before rehearsal begins.

Conferral of Degrees

Degrees are conferred once ALL grades have been posted. The process is a manual one, so it takes SIX to EIGHT weeks to confer all degrees for the semester.

The Diploma Process: Degree information will be batch uploaded once the conferral process is COMPLETE for ALL degrees to our outside vendor Parchment. Students will receive an email from Parchment with a digital copy of the diploma as well as information on when the hard copy will be mailed once all mailing address information is confirmed.

You should review your MaineStreet degree audit and work with your professional academic and faculty advisor if there are any course substitutions that need to be processed.  Please DO let the Office of Student Records know if the degree audit does not appear to be pulling the correct set of requirements (i.e. catalog edition) or if the audit is not recognizing when a requirement has already been met. 

Incomplete Grade

An I (incomplete grade) means that, in consultation with the student, the instructor has postponed the assignment of a final grade to allow the student time to complete specific work not turned in before the end of the semester. Instructors assign the “I” grade only when they are persuaded that events beyond the student’s control prevented completion of assigned work on time, and when the student has completed a substantial amount of work, and when the student is already scoring at the 4 or 3 (proficiency) level regarding completed work. If the incomplete work is not submitted within the time allotted by the faculty member, the grade may automatically be changed to an “F” grade. Students receiving an “I” grade are not allowed to re-register for the same course until the incomplete has been made up or converted to an “F” grade. A student receiving an “I” grade may not make up missed work by sitting in on the course the next time it is taught.

Upon selecting the “I” grade during the grade input process, the instructor will be prompted to provide information related to the incomplete grade including:

1. A description of the assignment(s) needed to complete the course requirements and have the “I” replaced by a regular grade.
2. The date by which work is to be completed. The time allowed for work to be completed is up to 140 days from the end of the semester in which the class was held. The “end of the semester” is defined as the final day that grades may be submitted. [Exceptions to this rule are rare and allowed only with the approval of the faculty member and the Registrar. The extension is not to exceed one year from the original end of the semester in which the course was taken.]
3. The grade the student will earn if the work is not completed.

Incomplete Grade and Not Proficient Grade in Academic Standing

Students receiving a combination of I grades or NP grades whose term GPA does not meet the minimum required for good standing will also be subject to probation, suspension or dismissal according to the GPA criteria for each, irrespective of the deadlines allowed in the I or NP contracts.

For more information on the Scholastic Standards Policy, please see Scholastic Standards.

Leave of Absence or Withdrawal from the University

The University requires that all degree-seeking students enroll in coursework every fall and spring semester during their academic career. Summer sessions are optional.

If a student’s academic plans must be discontinued, the student must choose one of two options: a Leave of Absence or Student Withdrawal from the University. The Advising Center can help students decide the more appropriate course of action for their situation. Failure to formally request a leave or withdrawal will result in the automatic removal from the official roll, and the student must re-apply through the Admissions Office for reinstatement of degree status.

A Leave of Absence releases the student from degree study for one academic semester (not including summer sessions), after which the student may resume study according to regular registration procedures, or the student may request an extension of the leave of absence for one additional semester, or may withdraw from the University

A Student Withdrawal from the University (as opposed to a course withdrawal) is appropriate if the student wishes to discontinue study at UMPI for the foreseeable future. This officially closes the student’s file and serves as notice that the student initiated separation from the University. Failure to withdraw officially can seriously complicate any effort later to resume study at this or another university.

Students may request leaves or withdrawals during a semester if circumstances are such that the student is no longer able to continue with coursework. When a request is submitted prior to the last date for withdrawal without academic penalty (as determined by the Provost/Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and published in the academic calendar) a grade of W is recorded for all courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

If the request is submitted after the deadline for withdrawal only extenuating circumstances, as determined by the Academic Appeals Board, justify the granting of W grades. Requests for leaves of absence and student withdrawals are processed through the Advising Center and the Registrar’s Office.

Licensure

Students who are pursuing degrees leading to application for professional licensure or certification, and/or who will be participating in clinical placements, internships, or practica through their UMPI program should be aware that their host facility may require a criminal background check, finger printing, or drug screening. In such situations, each student is responsible for obtaining and paying for the background check or other screening process and for delivering required documentation to the facility. Although the University will make reasonable efforts to place admitted students in field experiences and internships, it will be up to the host facility to determine whether a student will be allowed to work at that facility. Students should further be aware that a criminal record may jeopardize licensure by the state certification body. Students may consult the certification body corresponding to their intended occupation for more details. Successful completion of a program of study at UMPI does not guarantee licensure, certification, or employment in the relevant occupation. ★

Maine State Immunization Law for Post Secondary Education

Maine State law requires that all students who are enrolled full-time or part-time in a degree program or who are taking at least 12 credits through the Continuing Education Department show proof of immunity to the following infectious diseases: measles (rubeola), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus and diphtheria. The University is not allowed to permit any such student to be enrolled or to attend classes without a certificate of immunization or other evidence of immunity. The presentation of acceptable proof of immunization or immunity must be made prior to a students attendance at class or participation in other activities conducted by the University.

Certificate of Immunization

Students must present certification of immunization or proof of immunity which indicate the following:

1. Diphtheria and tetanus vaccine given within the past 10 years. If a tetanus shot only has been given within the past 5 years, the student may be temporarily exempt from the diphtheria requirement.
2. Two doses of measles vaccine given after the first birthday with live vaccine. Vaccines given after 1968 use live vaccine. If the vaccine was given before 1968, the type of vaccine must be indicated. “live vaccine” is acceptable. “unspecified vaccine” is unacceptable and the student will need to be re-immunized or show proof of immunity through laboratory bloodwork called a titre.
3. Two doses of rubella vaccine given after the first birthday,
4. Two doses of mumps vaccine given after the first birthday.

Proof of Immunity

A photocopy of the following is acceptable as proof of immunity: school immunization/ health record signed by school nurse or physician; immunization record from your physician, nurse practitioner, or physicians assistant or other professional health care provider; U.S. Military immunization record; or, laboratory evidence of immunity (titres) to rubeola, rubella, and mumps if immunization records are not available.

All records must be signed by the physician or nurse who administered the vaccine. Please do not submit original records as immunization records will be kept on file and not returned. Send copies of records to the Admissions Office, 181 Main Street, Presque Isle, me 04769. 207.768.9532.

Re-immunization/Exemptions

If you do not have the required immunizations or do not have official records, have your health care provider immunize or re-immunize you prior to coming to campus. Students with medical exemptions from vaccination must present a written reason for exemption signed by their health care provider. Exempted students shall be excluded from campus during a disease outbreak, should one occur.

Not Proficient Grade

An NP grade (Not Proficient) means that, in consultation with the student, the instructor has postponed the assignment of a final grade to allow the student extra time to demonstrate proficiency (up to 45 days) beyond the end of the semester.

A contract must be created between the instructor and student in MaineStreet about how the student will meet proficiency.

Instructors assign the “NP” grade only when the student has completed a substantial amount of work and when the student is scoring at the 2 or 1 (not proficient) level regarding completed work. If the student is not proficient within the time allotted by the faculty member, the grade will automatically be changed to an “F” grade.

Students who have an NP grade in a course that is a pre-requisite to a course the student has pre-enrolled in for an upcoming semester will be dropped from the pre-enrolled course if the NP grade has not been changed to a passing grade prior to the first day of classes, irrespective of the contract deadline.

Once the grade is posted, the details of the Not Proficient Contract are available to the student in MaineStreet.

Pass/Fail Option

Students may elect to take one course per semester on a pass/fail basis. Courses in the General Education Curriculum and courses required in the student’s major field are excluded from this option.

Students who are receiving Veterans Benefits should note that when taking the pass/fail option, a pass grade is required in order to receive Veterans Benefits. Should you receive a fail, you will be responsible to the Veterans Administration for an overpayment.

The pass/fail option must be requested during the first two weeks of the semester. At the end of the semester, students whose work in the course represents a C- or above will have an entry of P with the number of credit hours made on their official record. For work below a C-, an F entry will be made. Credit hours earned with a P grade will be counted toward degree credit. Courses taken under pass/fail option will not be used in computing the GPA.

Post-Baccalaureate Study for Second Degree

Students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, other than UMPI, will receive a waiver of UMPI’s General Education Curriculum requirements. This waiver will be noted on the student’s academic record during the transfer credit evaluation process.

Repeating a Course

A student may repeat a course for the purpose of replacing a grade only once. Requests to repeat a course more than once must be approved by the appropriate advising contact. Semester-based students must consult with their Faculty Academic Advisor or Professional Academic Advisor, while YourPace students must consult with their Academic Success Coach. When a course is repeated, only the highest grade earned will be used in the calculation of the student’s grade point average (GPA). However, all attempts of a course taken for credit will appear on the student’s transcript. If a required course is failed, the student must repeat the course at the same campus where it was originally taken in order to replace the failing grade with a letter grade. Exceptions to this policy may apply to topics courses or other courses in which the subject matter varies by offering. Coursework completed at another institution may be used to replace a UMPI course grade, provided that the transfer course is deemed equivalent in content to the UMPI course. In such cases, the original UMPI grade will be excluded from GPA calculations, and no new grade will be factored in. Neither grade will be counted in the term or cumulative GPA. Students who wish to pursue this option must obtain approval in advance. Semester-based students should consult with their Professional Academic Advisor, and YourPace students should work with their Academic Success Coach.

Residency Requirements

All four-year degree candidates must complete at least 30 credit hours of study through UMPI in order to receive a baccalaureate degree. At least 12 of these credits must be in the major and at least 9 of these 12 must be at the upper level (300-level or above).

All two-year degree programs require 15 credits completed at UMPI.

Right to Revise

UMPI reserves the right to revise, amend, or change items set forth in this publication. Accordingly, readers of this publication should inquire about revisions, amendments, or changes that have been made since the date of printing. The University reserves the right to cancel course offerings, to set minimum and maximum class sizes, to change designated instructors in courses, and to make decisions affecting the academic standing of anyone participating in a course or program offered by UMPI. Notice of the cancellation will be issued before the course’s second class meeting.

Student Class Level

Class level is determined by the number of credits completed at the University, including those accepted in transfer from other institutions.

The Grading System

Student Responsibility

This catalog and the Student Handbook are the students’ guides to the programs and regulations of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Students are expected to become familiar with University policies and procedures, and to assume responsibility for abiding by them. Failure to do so does not constitute a waiver. Enrollment implies that students understand and accept the obligation to comply with University regulations and procedures and that they will endeavor to meet the academic standards of the University. For specific information, consult this catalog and the Student Handbook, which is available in the Student Affairs Office and on our website.

• Attendance/Participation Policy: Individual faculty members determine the attendance policy for each class. The attendance policy is part of each class syllabus. Students are expected to review the class attendance policy during the add/drop period. Students are expected to arrive punctually and to attend all classes. Any necessary absences should be discussed with the professor beforehand whenever possible. Any work missed must be satisfactorily completed. Students who never attend a class or classes in which they are enrolled may be dropped for non-attendance. After the add/drop period, all students leaving a class without officially withdrawing may receive a grade of F or L.
• Participation Policy for Online Courses: The University expects all students enrolled in online coursework to actively participate in the course. For fully asynchronous courses and for asynchronous elements of hybrid courses, “participation” is defined as the student’s virtual presence for, and participation in discussions, activities, and related forms of electronic contact occurring in a course’s learning environment(s), e.g. participation in online discussion about academic matters, podcast viewing, group writing sessions, whole-class or one-on-one chat, completion of assignments. Broad discretion regarding the required frequency and quality of a student’s participation rests with the instructor of record and should be delineated in the course syllabus.
  
  Behavior that detracts from the learning environment, including excessive absences or extensive periods of not logging into the class or posting to discussion boards, may result in sanctions, including conduct code violations and/or grades of F or L being assigned.

Transfer Policies & Practices

1. Transferring students must provide official transcripts reflecting all previous post-secondary coursework.
2. An evaluation of transfer credit will be prepared by the Transfer Officer for each accepted transfer student, and will be available in the student’s MaineStreet Student Center. The transfer student should meet with an academic advisor at the receiving university to review how the transfer credit will be applied toward the student’s degree program. Transfer evaluations will be prepared based on the following principles:
   1. Within the University of Maine System: Undergraduate courses completed with a C- or higher, including P grades, will transfer from one UMS university to another. Courses will be recorded on the student’s transcript but not computed into the cumulative GPA.
   2. Outside the University of Maine System: Credit earned with a C- or higher in courses from regionally accredited colleges/universities outside the UMS will be considered for transfer. Pass-fail courses taken outside the UMS must have “pass” defined as a C- or higher in order to transfer.
   3. Course grades do not transfer from one college/ university to another. Semester and cumulative GPA’s reflect only those courses taken at the home university. Students in cooperative degree programs should inquire about any exceptions that may apply.
   4. Coursework defined as developmental by the University to which the student is transferring will not be awarded degree credit. Developmental courses are considered preparatory to college-level work, and will not count towards a degree.
   5. Courses from colleges and universities outside the United States will be accepted for transfer consistent with established university policies and practices.
   6. To ensure academic consistency and alignment with the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s curriculum, transfer courses will be considered for equivalency if they are within 0.5 credit hours of the published credit hours of the corresponding UMPI course. This policy applies to all undergraduate and graduate transfer credit evaluations. 
3. Credit may be awarded for high school Advanced Placement (AP) exams, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, or college-level knowledge gained through life experience (e.g., prior learning, such as military or other training) when validated through the approved campus processes.
4. UMPI may accept transfer credits from institutions that are not regionally accredited. Students who have completed courses or training at such institutions should first investigate whether the courses completed are recommended for transfer credit by the American Council on Education. If not, students may initiate the evaluation process by contacting their professional academic advisor. Students will be required to provide a description of the training/ course, contact hours, instructor credentials, and a syllabus or training outline as supporting documents.  In no case will the transferability of such courses be guaranteed. The documentation requirement will be waived if an evaluation of the course or training has already been completed and credit transfer approved within the last 5 years, provided that there have been no major changes to the training or course. Transfer credit will only be granted where a grade of C- or better (or equivalent) has been earned.
5. If a student has concerns about the transfer evaluation, the student should contact the Transfer Officer at the receiving university. After such conferral, the student may appeal through the academic appeals process at the receiving university.
6. Transfer students should consult the University’s catalog and/ or meet with an appropriate advisor to determine requirements regarding the number and distribution of credits that must be completed at the university to earn the desired degree.
7. Students must meet the established requirements of the academic program or college into which they are transferring. Transfer credits do not necessarily count towards these requirements.
8. Students may also confer with the Transfer Officer and/or academic advisor regarding possible flexibility in the application of their credits to their program, through approved campus processes.
9. Current UMS students who plan to take courses at another university, inside or outside of the UMS, are strongly encouraged to seek prior approval of their plans from the university where they are matriculated.

University of Maine at Presque Isle Campus Public Posting and Advertising Policy

Below are guidelines related to public posting and advertising in any University of Maine at Presque Isle-operated locations. 

Public posting and advertising materials may include, but are not limited to: posters, flyers, bulletin boards, billboards, stickers, table tents, signs, placards, door hangers, banners, and decals.

Public areas include: any public space on campus including bathrooms, classrooms, hallways, lounges, outdoor spaces, etc. This also includes any public-facing windows or doors that belong to a specific individual (residence hall or office doors/windows). Individuals are welcome to post items of personal preference and significance inside their residence hall room or office as long as they have the consent of anyone else who shares the space.

Glossary: The following terms are referred to within this document.

• Fire retardant material: Materials that do not ignite readily or propagate flames under small to moderate fire exposures

• Posted materials: refers to any the specific materials under the purview of this policy as designated above

• Poster: the individual or individuals directly responsible for the posting of materials within a public venue

• Resident Assistant: student who is responsible for supervising and assisting other students who live in the residence halls 

• Sponsoring group: any group, internal or external to UMPI, responsible for the content of posted materials and the actions of individual posters

Guidelines:

1. All posted materials must include contact information of the sponsoring group or individual. Posted materials missing the sponsor’s information will be taken down immediately; all replacements will be made at the poster’s expense. 

2. In observance of fire code guidelines, no materials should be posted in windows without approval from campus administration.

3. The UMPI campus has approved locations across campus for public postings and advertisements. Prior to posting any materials, individuals should contact the Marketing and Communications office to ensure guidelines are observed.   

4. In general, materials should not be posted on painted walls. However, if given special permission to affix postings to a painted area painter’s tape must be used to avoid damages. 

5. No materials should be posted on the private doors of residence halls or offices without the consent of the occupant of the space. The only exception to this rule is name placards on offices from the Marketing and Communications Office or door decorations with residents’ names placed on a residence hall door by the Resident Assistant (RA) of that floor. Residents may remove such door decorations upon notification of their RA of such a preference.

6. All postings that advertise or are defined by specific dates (example: an event occurring at a specific day and time) should be removed as soon as the event(s) is complete. It is the responsibility of the posters to remove advertisements in a timely manner.

7. Specific bulletin boards on campus are designated for the exclusive use of certain offices or programs; others are open for public postings. Before posting something on a bulletin board, individuals should confirm that it is a board open for public postings. Postings hung on specified (non-public) boards may be summarily removed.

8. For any other posting or advertising-related questions, please contact the UMPI Marketing and Communications Office. 

Last updated: August 30, 2024

Approved 9/4/2024  R. Rice