Undergraduate Advising

ECS uses the Navigate app for advising during the academic year (September through May). Navigate is an all-purpose email, appointment scheduling, and note keeping app. Please see this help page, and download the app: https://umaine.edu/navigate/students/. If you have questions and want to speak directly to your advisor, email your advisor through Navigate: https://umaine.campus.eab.com.

If you are looking for general information about resources available on campus, check out the UMaine Student Success Hub umaine.edu/studentsuccesshub

Each student has an Academic Advisor to meet with at least once per semester and help keep things on track.

Topics for discussion may include:

  1. Course Registration (details below)
  2. Summer internships
  3. Capstone options
  4. Study Abroad
  5. Declaring a minor/concentration/double major
  6. Advice for emailing professors to ask about research opportunities at UMaine
  7. Updating your Student Planner on MaineStreet
  8. Applying for graduation
  9. Dropping/withdrawing from a course
  10. Academic and health support resources at UMaine
  11. Any other issues you are experiencing within courses that you are hoping to resolve

Email your advisor to arrange a meeting and indicate which topics you would like to discuss.  Please arrive to your advising meetings prepared so you can make the most of your time together.

Course Registration

Registration Process for Undergrad ECS Majors

  1. Create your Wish List on MaineStreet before meeting with your advisor (see Wish List instructions below). They will not meet with you if you do not have a Wish List.
  2. You must make an appointment with an academic advisor in order to verify and click the button to approve your Wish List before you can register. There are no drop-in appointments. You will be contacted to set up appointments via Navigate (https://umaine.campus.eab.com) across the semester for Add/Drop, Preregistration, and Registration.

Before making your Wish List, complete your Student Planner on MaineStreet

  1. Graduating in a timely manner starts with making a plan in your Student Planner on MaineStreet.  All new majors should meet with Alice Doughty (alice.doughty@maine.edu) within their first semester to fill in your Student Planner.  Please email Alice if you’d like to schedule a meeting.
  2. Update your Student Planner if you dropped, withdrew or earned a grade lower than a C- in an ERS course or an ancillary (MAT, CHY, PHY, or STS) course, or failed a GenEd or other elective.  Planning is easier if you don’t remove the course…just move it to the semester when it is offered and there is space in your schedule.
  3. Count the number of credits for each semester (goal is 15 credits/semester, 120 required to graduate).
  4. Make an appointment to see your advisor, and follow his/her advice.  Many of your ERS courses are offered on a every other year sequence.  If you don’t follow the plan for these courses and their prereqs (also not always offered every semester), you could find yourself a year or more behind on classes.
  5. Plan ahead for ERS electives and capstone-related courses (ERS 410, 498, 499).  Refer to the Capstone website for more details about credit requirements: https://umaine.edu/earthclimate/undergraduate-studies/capstone/

Wish List / Shopping Cart on MaineStreet

  1. Once you know what courses you are going to take, go to your MaineStreet Student Center, and open the Wishlist/Shopping Cart tool for the correct semester.
  2. Start adding classes from your planner, starting with your ERS required courses.  Write down the timing of each course so you don’t overlap.
  3. Fill in the remaining credits with Gen Ed Courses, ERS electives or other electives. You can use the class search tool to help find classes by time offered, number of credits or Gen Ed category.
  4. Have your advisor approve your wish list (there is a button you click next to your wish list that will email your advisor).
  5. Check which date you are allowed to start enrolling in classes and mark it in your calendar.

Registering for courses on MaineStreet

  1. Register as soon as your appointment window opens.  Some classes fill quickly.  You may need to select an alternative time or course.  If an ERS course is full, contact your advisor.

Link:

https://studentrecords.umaine.edu/home/enrollment-checklist/

Advising FAQs

How do I build a Wish List on Maine Street?

Follow the instructions provided below.

  1. Make sure you are in your Student Center.
  2. Click on “Search for Classes” and start searching (by course, Gen Ed, etc.)
  3. Once you find a course and section you want, click “Select” at the far right.
  4. Review your choice in the “checkout” window.
    • If you would like to be on the Waitlist for a course, check the Waitlist button. See the UMaine Wait List policy for more information.
    • When you are sure this is the section you want, click “Next.”
  5. The course should now be on your Wish List to register.

How do I build and use a shopping cart on Maine Street?

Your Shopping Cart is the same thing as the Wish List, just different versions of MaineStreet.  Use the instructions above to add courses to your Shopping Cart/Wish List.

How do I enroll for classes?

Follow the instructions provided below.

  1. Before you begin, you must have had your advisor click the ‘Approve’ button on your Wish List.
  2. Click on “Wish List” in your Student Center.
  3. Choose the semester you are going to enroll for.
  4. Select those courses you want to enroll in, then click “Enroll.” (Note: The Wish List includes all classes you added that you *might* want to take. You do not have to enroll in all of them. Check the box next to the courses you want to enroll in or all if that is your plan).
  5. Confirm your selections.
  6. View your results. You are registered!
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How do I Add or Drop courses in Maine Street?

You may Add courses during the first week of a regular semester. You may Drop courses during the first two weeks of a semester. Note: The exact dates for Add and Drop vary by semester, so check with Student Records or your Advisor to make sure you know the deadlines.)

  1. From your Student Center, select “Enroll.”
  2. Select the term you want to Add or Drop classes in.
  3. Choose Add or Drop and proceed accordingly. Note: for Add you can either use the Course Number (CRN) or add classes to your Wish List to choose from.  You would add the CRN from a course that you are not currently enrolled in to Add it (or use the Wish List function).

Why won’t MaineStreet won’t let me enroll in a class even though it’s on my wish list?

There are several possible reasons why you are unable to enroll:

  • The course is full. If this is the case, you should automatically be put on the wait list. MaineStreet automatically enrolls people from the wait list in order if space becomes available before the last add date.
  • You do not meet the prerequisites for the course. You can put a class on your wish list even if you do not meet these requirements, but will not be able to enroll. Double check the course description to see if there are any listed. Common prerequisites are previous courses or specific year in school by credit number.
  • You are already enrolled in too many credits. MaineStreet will only allow enrollment in up to 18 credits per semester.
  • You are already enrolled in a class during the scheduled time. MaineStreet prevents you from enrolling in courses that have schedule conflicts.
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How do I find important deadlines for course enrollment?

All dates for registration and enrolling for classes can be found on the University’s academic calendar.

Why don’t you have appointments available when I need them?

Appointment times fill up quickly during the weeks of enrollment. Plan ahead and schedule your appointment early. Remember that you can come in before your scheduled enrollment time. If we simply do not offer appointments during your preferred time, you can also email your advisor with any questions you have.

I’ve made an appointment but where do I go?

Your Navigate message will indicate whether the meeting is on zoom or in your advisor’s office.  ECS advisors have offices in Bryand Global Sciences Center or Sawyer next door.

I emailed my ECS advisor. When will I get a response?

First, make sure you email your advisor, who is listed on your Student Center. You will get the fastest response that way. Advisors respond to emails Monday-Friday during work hours and typically reply in less than 24 hours. During busy enrollment time, we may take a bit longer. Please be patient — we try to respond as quickly as possible. If you email on Friday through the weekend, we may not respond before the following Monday.

How do I know what classes I have left to take for my major?

You can find your degree progress in the student self service center on MaineStreet. This report will tell you what requirements you have completed and what remains. This report will not show if an exception has been made for any of your requirements. You can also check the Program Requirements page on the department website to see what ERS classes count towards your major.

I want to sign up for summer courses. Do I need approval?

No, you should be able to sign up on your own. If you have filed for May graduation but need to take a summer course, you can still walk in graduation as planned, but will need to file as an August graduate.

I’ve finished all my requirements. Why can’t I graduate?

Graduation requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. This number of credits is required for all students, no matter what your major is. Fulfilling all of your requirements will not often get you to the required number of credits. It is recommended that you take at least 15 credits per semester in order to reach this number in four years.

How do general education requirements work at UMaine?

Please watch this video to get a better understanding of general education requirements at the University of Maine.

Return to FAQ list

Useful UMaine Links

Suggested Schedule of Courses:

First year fall

– ELH 117

– ERS 101

– MAT 111 or 116 or 122 or 126

– ENG 101 or Gen Ed

– ERS 152 or ANT 101 or course for minor

– Complete Student Planner on MaineStreet with your advisor

First year spring

– MAT 117 or 122 or 126 or 127

– ERS 108

– ERS 240

– Gen Ed

– Interested in a minor or Study Abroad? Talk with your advisor

Summer between First year and Sophomore year

– Go home, reflect on the year, contact your advisor for adjustments

Sophomore fall

– CHY 121/123

– ERS 200

– MAT (depends on first year)

– ERS 420 or ERS Elective

Sophomore spring

– CHY 122/124

– ERS 201

– ERS 350 or Gen Ed

– ERS 330 or ERS 312

– Update Student Planner on MaineStreet with your advisor

Summer between Sophomore and Junior years

– Internship or research on campus or courses

Junior fall

– ERS 320

– ERS 315

– ERS 301 or Gen Ed

– PHY 111 or 121

– ERS Elective

Junior spring

– ERS 312

– ERS 410

– PHY 112 or 122

– STS 132

– Check Degree Progress Report with your advisor

Summer between Junior and Senior year

– Internship, field camp, capstone, research, or courses

Senior fall

– ERS 316

– ERS 361

– ERS 420 or Gen Ed

– ERS elective

– Apply to graduate on MaineStreet

Senior spring

– ERS 317

– Any course requirements remaining