University of Maine at Presque Isle

University of Maine at Presque Isle
Motto North of Ordinary
Type Public
Established 1903
President Ray Rice
Provost Ray Rice
Dean Vanessa Pearson, Interim Dean of Students
Students 1,200
Address 181 Main Street, Presque Isle, Maine, United States
46°40′15″N 68°1′0″W / 46.67083°N 68.01667°W / 46.67083; -68.01667Coordinates: 46°40′15″N 68°1′0″W / 46.67083°N 68.01667°W / 46.67083; -68.01667
Campus 150 acres (0.61 km2)
Colors Blue and Gold
Nickname Owls
Affiliations NCAA Division III
Mascot Hootie the Owl
Website www.umpi.edu

The University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) is part of the University of Maine System. Located in Presque Isle, UMPI offers studies in career and professional fields, teacher education, health and human services, arts and sciences, and the natural environment. The University also offers associate degrees, articulated transfer arrangements, non-degree certificates, continuing education for practicing professionals, and an online learning project which allows participants to take an online UMPI course for free as long as they are not seeking college credit. Its campus radio station is WUPI and its student newspaper is the University Times.

History

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

It was founded in 1903 as Aroostook State Normal School, offering a two-year teacher preparation program.[1] It has undergone four name changes since then. In 1952, it was renamed The Aroostook State Teachers College; in 1965, it became The Aroostook State College; three years later when it joined the new University of Maine System, it was renamed The Aroostook State College of the University of Maine; and since 1971, it has been known as the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Academics

UMPI currently offers 22 Baccalaureate Degrees from Accounting and Social Work to Art and Environmental Studies, 7 Associate Degrees, 35 Minor Programs and 5 Certificate Programs. In addition, the university also offers a Geographic Information Systems certificate program, a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community Certification, and a 1-year Teacher Certification Program.[2]

Online learning

UMPI currently offers three online degree programs in English, history, and psychology.

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.[3]

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.[4]

Alumni

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.[9]

Reducing carbon footprint

Wind Turbine

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 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.[10]

Divestment from Fossil Fuels

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.[11]

Athletics

Athletics logo

UMPI has 12 varsity sport programs and is a member of NCAA Division III and in the fall of 2018 will join the North Atlantic Conference. The university 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[12] 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.[13]

NAIA Honors Athletes and All-Americans [13]
1994 Tamera Blades Scholar-Athlete Division II Women's Basketball
1996Katherine ChabotAll-AmericanWomen's Cross Country
1996Neal LabrieScholar-AthleteMen's Cross Country
1996Pierre MichaudStatistical LeaderDivision II Men's Basketball
1997Jason AdickesScholar-AthleteMen's Soccer
1998Jason AdickesScholar-AthleteMen's Soccer
1998Shannon HenthornScholar-AthleteWomen's Soccer

Greek life

UMPI is the location of chapters of Kappa Delta Phi National Fraternity, Kappa Delta Phi National Sorority, and Phi Eta Sigma National Academic Fraternity.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Stawasz, Linda. "The History of the U of M at Presque Isle: A Narrative". Pages.umpi.edu. Retrieved 5 Feb 2013.
  2. ↑ "Academics", UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-04.
  3. ↑ "OpenU Courses - UMPI Academics". University of Maine at Presque Isle. Retrieved 23 Feb 2017.
  4. ↑ Lynds, Jen. "Long-time UMPI benefactor, faculty member dies". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 15 Feb 2017.
  5. ↑ "Mabel J. Desmond". Maine House of Representatives. Maine.gov. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  6. ↑ Archived 2014-10-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "Candadicy is Annoucned". Bangor Daily News. April 25, 1980. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  8. ↑ "John L. Tuttle, Jr". Maine House of Representatives. Maine House of Representatives. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  9. ↑ "Northern Maine Museum of Science", UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-04.
  10. ↑ Lynds, Jen. “UMPI windmill project a ‘go.’” Archived 2012-07-01 at Archive.is Bangor Daily News. November 20, 2008. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  11. ↑ "UMPI Foundation Board completes total divestment from fossil fuels". News and Events, University of Maine at Presque Isle. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  12. ↑ Mahoney, Larry (June 17, 2011). "UMFK, UMPI, UMM leave NAIA for new association". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Athletics Home", UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-04.
  14. ↑ Student Organizations Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine., UMPI. Accessed 2009-03-08.
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