New Graduate Student Checklist

Phase 1: Preparing to Enroll

Three women sitting in the grass with notebooks

  1.  Activate your UMS account

    A University of Maine System (UMS) account is used to access system-wide technology services such as myUMaine Portal, MaineStreet, and your @maine.edu email accounts. These accounts are universal across all seven UMS campuses. Learn more about the portal, MaineStreet, and how to maintain your UMS account.

  2. Complete Financial Terms and Conditions

    Once you’ve activated your UMS account, be sure to sign in to your MaineStreet account, navigate to the Student Service Center, and complete your Financial Terms and Conditions. You will not be able to enroll in classes without completing this step.

  3. Submit Immunization Records

    The University of Maine requires the submission of official immunization records prior to enrollment. All questions regarding immunization should be directed to the Office of Student Records at 207.581.1288 or via email to um.immunizations@maine.edu.

  4. Review Your Acceptance Letter

    Check your acceptance letter to see whether you need to have official versions of your transcript or test scores be sent to the Graduate School. Remember, official documents are ones sent directly from your school, clearinghouse, or testing agency to the Graduate School. Failure to provide these official documents in a timely manner will prevent you from being able to register for classes. For expedited processing, direct electronic transcripts to debbi.clements@maine.edu. Hard copies of transcripts can be sent to:

    Attn: Debbi Clements
    University of Maine
    Graduate School
    5775 Stodder Hall
    Orono, ME 04469-5775   

    For test scores, contact ETS to request that your scores be sent to: University of Maine, institution code 3916.

  5. Learn About Your Health Insurance

    All non-international graduate students enrolled in 6 credit hours or more are eligible to enroll in the University of Maine System’s voluntary health insurance plan. Plan and enrollment information is available at Gallagher Health.

    Health insurance is required for all graduate, teaching, and research assistants, fellows, and international students. Eligible students with adequate health insurance must complete the online health insurance waiver process to opt-out of the plan. 

  6. Get Enrolled in Classes

    Newly admitted students will register for their first semester of classes through the Graduate School by submitting a registration form. After the first semester, you will be able to register yourself in the MaineStreet Self Service Center. For more information and forms, visit the Graduate School’s Enrolling 101 page.

Phase 2: Funding your Graduate Education

  1. Enter Your Anticipated Resources

    Make sure to complete this step at the earliest opportunity to avoid a late fee. If a 3rd party — an assistantship, military benefits, your employer, or a loan for example — is paying for your tuition and/or fees, you will want to enter the amount the 3rd party is paying into anticipated resources. Tuition bills are generated on a schedule. If a bill has not yet been generated for your tuition, visit the Bursar’s Office Website to see an estimate of the potential charges.

  2. If You Have an Assistantship, Complete Your I-9

    Once your appointment form is completed and processed by payroll, you will receive an email confirming that your job is activated in MaineStreet and outlining the next required steps. You will then complete the first portion of the online I-9 via MaineStreet > Employee Self-Service > Personal Details.

    When the first portion of your I-9 is completed AND the job is activated in MaineStreet, you will then go in person to the Office of Student Employment in Wingate Hall with your documents so that they can verify and complete the second portion of the I-9.

    More information about mandatory paperwork can be found on the Student Employment website.

  3. If You Don’t Have Funding Yet, Research Funding Options

    The link above provides some information about the options available to you.

Not sure where to begin? Here’s a quick checklist of the steps to complete right away to get your first year as a grad student at UMaine off to a great start. Follow the links provided to complete each step. More detailed information can be found on the relevant pages in the above menu.

Phase 3: Preparing for your Campus Experience

  1. Register for New Student Orientation

    In addition to the information available on this website, we will also be providing an information session in August for new graduate students. Check here for more information about orientation and other events on campus for new students.

  2. Get Your MaineCard

    Obtain your MaineCard to access the Library, utilize on-campus resources, and to use the Bangor Area Transit (BAT) system for free. Online students can request a non-photo MaineCard using the form available here. 

  3. Make Sure You Have Housing

    There are many resources for housing at UMaine. Check out the Grad Life section of the orientation site for more information.

  4. Get Your Parking Permit

    If you plan to have a car on campus, you will need to obtain a parking permit. If you will only be on campus in the evenings or once a week, find out if obtaining a UMaine visitor pass is right for you. You’ll also need to know where to park on campus – click here for a downloadable parking map.

  5. Get Connected to Campus Wi-Fi

    Access the Wi-Fi and set up your laptop to print on campus. You can also reach out to 207.581.2506, 800.696.4357, or help@maine.edu if you have any IT-specific questions.

Upcoming Live Graduate Student Orientation

New Teaching Assistant Orientation
Wednesday, August 28, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. @ Stodder #57

This event is the place for new TAs to learn about what teaching at UMaine entails with a chance to meet and network with fellow TAs.

Register for New TA Orientation

9:00-9:15 Welcome & Overview

9:15-9:45 Introduction to the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

9:45-10:15 How do you learn?

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-10:50 University of Maine Graduate Workers Union (UMGWU-UAW)

10:50-11:50 Part I: Diversity and Nondiscrimination in the Classroom

11:50-12:30 Lunch (Provided by Las Palapas)

12:30-1:30 Part II: Compliance Training (This session fulfills mandatory Title IX training needed for all TAs)

1:30-2:45 Concurrent Sessions (choose one) – breakout rooms

  • Expectations versus reality: Orienting yourself and students to the classroom- Heather Falconer, Assistant Prof. of Professional & Technical Writing (Intended for Teaching Assignments in English, Education, other Liberal Arts)
  • Teaching a Laboratory
    Frank Dudish, Physics Lecturer
    MacKenzie Stetzer, Associate Prof. of Physics
    (Intended for Teaching Assignments in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, other Sciences)

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00-4:00 Concurrent Sessions (choose one) – breakout rooms

  • Preparing for your First Day of Class
    Natasha Speer, Associate Prof., Dept. of Mathematics & RiSE Center
    (Intended for Teaching Assignment with direct instruction of students)
  • Grading Computer Science Assignments
    Torsten Hahmann, Associate Prof. Computing and Information Science
    (Intended for Teaching Assignments with indirect instruction of students)

4:00 Raffle

New Graduate Student Orientation
Thursday, August 29, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. @ 316 Aubuert Hall

This information-filled day is a great chance to start your graduate school experience off right. 

1:00-1:10 Welcome & Overview

1:10-1:15 Greetings from Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School

1:15 – 1:25 Introduction of Graduate School Staff – Q&A

1:25 – 1:35 Overview of the Graduate Student Government & How to Get Involved

1:35-1:50 Graduate Student Research Tips & Tricks

1:50-2:15 Student Life/Involvement Opportunities/Important Things to Know/Questions & Answers

2:15-2:25 Introduction of the Office of Major Scholarships

2:25-4:00 Information Fair & Ice cream Social at #57 Stodder Hall

Register for New Grad Student Orientation

Additional Training Around Campus

More information to be added as it becomes available.

New STEM Teaching Assistant Orientation
Friday, August 30, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. @ Ferland 214

This STEM-specific orientation will focus on teaching strategies and approaches that are effective in supporting student learning. During this workshop, you will learn about facilitating small and large group discussions with students, discuss features of teaching as part of a multi-section course, practice your first few minutes of class, and meet with the faculty supervisor (and other TAs) for your course. This session is in addition to the general orientation held on Wednesday, August 28.

Register for STEM TA Training

Need to learn Brightspace as an instructor?

The University of Maine uses the Brightspace learning management system (LMS). You can think of the LMS as a portal for your students to gain access to course content including the syllabus, videos, reading materials, assignments, exams, external links, and publisher content. Sign up for an asynchronous online course with optional synchronous Q&A to help you get started. 

Learn more and register for Brightspace Training