FITS: FIELDWORK INNOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
USING SENSORS

Invest in a Smarter Future: Earn College Credits &
a Verified Micro-Badge Learning About Sensors.

Sensor drone flying in front of fall trees

Interest Form

If you are a high school student or parent/guardian interested in this upcoming summer 2027 program, please complete the following form:

FITS Interest Form
Student using sensor equipment

What is FITS?

FITS stands for Fieldwork Innovations and Technology Using Sensors, a UMaine Early College summer program that turns high school students into tech explorers. Through a mix of online learning and a residential campus experience, students earn three college credits and a verified digital micro-badge while engaging with the sensors that drive today’s biggest industries.

Program Details

  • July 11, 2027 – August 7, 2027
  • Four-Week Course
  • August 1, 2027 – August 7, 2027
  • UMaine Orono Residential Experience
  • Applications Open February 2027
  • $2,500 Program Fee
  • This includes the discounted Early College tuition
    rate of $155/credit. Please navigate to the Early College Tuition & Fees page for more Early College tuition details.
Lab space at Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center
Students look at engineering project.
Sensor-Fitted Drone on table

WHY ENROLL IN THIS
summer PROGRAM?

Develop technical skills essential for success in higher education and STEM careers through hands-on research and connection with faculty and industry experts. The demand for sensor technology will grow significantly over the next decade and this summer program provides an amazing head start for higher education and careers!

If you’re interested in …

  • Athletics
  • Business
  • Computing
  • Design
  • Ecology
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Science
  • Field Technology
  • Health Sciences
  • Marine Sciences
  • Wildlife Conservation

FITS is the perfect opportunity for you!

Program Highlights and the UMaine Difference

Earn three-college credits and a verified digital Micro-Badge, while participating in a residential campus experience before college.

Gain research knowledge, hone your teamwork skills, and forge lasting connections with peers, faculty, and industry experts.

UMaine is the state’s flagship university, holds an R1 research designation, and is in the top 3.7% of research universities in the country.

Student and professor kneeling down on ground to look at sensor.
student looking at sensor chip they are holding up with tweezers.
Sensor drones at UMaine's Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center

fits Program FAqs

Who should apply?

Students beginning their junior or senior year of high school in Fall 2027. Rising sophomores will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Will a student need to be on campus?

Yes. Although the course begins with three weeks of online coursework, there is a required one-week overnight, residential experience on the University of Maine Orono campus. During this week students collaborate on projects, engage in team activities, and participate in field trips.

How much does this program cost?

  • If you are a Maine student attending a Maine public high school, state-approved independent institution, or a state-registered home school this three credit course could be applied to your lifetime total of 18 tuition-free credits.
  • If you are a Maine student attending private school and paying tuition or an out of state student you can take this course at a discounted tuition rate of $155 per credit compared to the standard rate of $424 per credit. 
  • The cost includes a $2,500 program fee. Maine resident students are still required to pay the program fee, even if the tuition cost is covered under their tuition-free credit limit. The program fee cost covers meals, lodging, materials, and activities.

Interest Form

If you are a high school student or parent/guardian interested in this upcoming summer 2027 program, please complete the following form:

FITS Interest Form

Questions?

Email um.earlycollege@maine.edu.