New Students Move in at UMaine Friday;

Contact: Media contact; Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571

ORONO — Members of the University of Maine’s Class of 2007 will arrive on campus on Friday, Aug. 30 as they move into residence halls and participate in UMaine’s unique and successful “Maine Hello” student greeting and orientation program.

“Maine Hello” is highlighted by a Friday volunteer effort involving some 300 UMaine students, staff members and faculty members.  Each new student and his or her family is greeted by a “Maine Hello” volunteer who provides a warm welcome and helps to move belongings into residence hall rooms.  As he has each year since becoming UMaine’s president in 1997, Peter Hoff will lead this effort by lending a hand at various residence halls around campus. 

Almost all of the more than 1,700 members of UMaine’s new first-year class will live in a residence hall.  They will have an outstanding opportunity to learn more about UMaine and make new friends through participation in a variety of activities from the time of their arrival through the end of the day on Monday.  Fall semester classes begin on Tuesday, Sept. 2.  Returning students move into their rooms on Monday, Sept. 1.

The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) recognized the “Maine Hello” with its regional Program of the Year Award for 2002-2003.

Note: Reporters who are interested in speaking with President Hoff during Friday’s move-in activities should call Joe Carr, who will be at Oxford Hall, at 949-4149 to determine Hoff’s location.