Early-college programs serve the needs of Maine’s top high school students

Academ-e
The first early-college distance education program in Maine, UMaine Academ-e offers courses for university credit to Maine high school juniors and seniors in five broad areas — mathematics, natural sciences, arts, humanities and social sciences — through online technologies. All Maine high schools are eligible to nominate students for enrollment in Academ-e on a first-come, first-served basis. Academ-e courses carry UMaine credit, and students establish a UMaine transcript, enabling them to apply their credit hours to a UMaine degree program, or to other colleges and universities. These courses also are designed to ensure adequate student-faculty interaction, while accommodating students’ schedules and personal circumstances.

Bridge Year
Like Academ-e, Bridge Year supports Maine high school students taking credit-bearing UMaine courses, but in a face-to-face setting, in classes taught by high school teachers certified as UMaine instructors for this purpose. In 2015–16, UMaine Bridge Year is offering courses in chemistry, history, physics and Canadian studies at a substantial per-credit discount. Bridge Year students establish a UMaine transcript and can apply credits earned to a UMaine degree program if they matriculate. To date, more than one in four Bridge Year students have gone on to pursue a degree full time at UMaine.