Thousands on UMaine Campus Monday for Summer Tour

The University of Maine campus was packed Monday, Aug. 27 with thousands of visitors from around the country for the third Summer Tour, a UMaine admissions event that gave prospective students and their guests the opportunity to ask questions about UMaine, tour the campus, get a glimpse of student life and even skate on the same ice sheet as the UMaine hockey teams.

Nearly 2,300 students and their guests preregistered for the event, the popularity of which has grown each year. Last year nearly 1,900 people preregistered for Summer Tour and there were 1,500 attendees in 2010.

Summer Tour started Monday morning with check-in on the University Mall, during which time attendees had a chance to speak one-on-one with UMaine students, faculty and administrators in their areas of academic interest and met with representatives from academic student groups, admissions and financial aid. Attendees thronged tables representing each college and other UMaine divisions and programs such as the Explorations program, the Foster Center for Student Innovation, and the Division of Lifelong Learning.

UMaine President Paul Ferguson and other members of the administration, along with UMaine mascot Bananas the Bear, greeted attendees Monday morning.

Following a series of tours and presentations at locations throughout the campus, Summer Tour attendees reconvened at Alfond Arena for the Maine Event, which included the Black Bear Picnic. There were also information tables on UMaine student organizations.

Contact: Jessica Bloch (207) 581-3777 or jessica.bloch@umit.maine.edu