Maine Memo — May 7

Congratulations students, faculty and staff. We have completed a third UMaine and UMM semester during a pandemic. There is still work to be done, including final exams to score and semester grades to post, and preparations for May term classes starting Monday, summer research and community engagement activities. But before we move on to our end-of-semester duties and summer activities, we need to individually and collectively take a moment to reflect on and appreciate all that we’ve been able to accomplish amid the personal and professional challenges. How we’ve worked together as a community to stay safe.

To all I extend my sincerest thanks for all you’ve done and continue to do as members of the UMaine and UMM communities. To the 4,292 UMaine graduates and 187 UMM graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021, my sincere congratulations to you all.

We look forward to the summer and fall, and will continue to monitor the latest evidence-based health and safety guidance, and take the next steps.

Our communities can watch for the latest COVID-19-related updates on the UMaine and UMM websites. We will continue to communicate any information needed throughout the summer and into the fall semester. In addition to health and safety guidance related to the pandemic, we will have updates on our important institutional work from UMaine 2025; the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and the UMaine/UMM Regional Campus Task Force.

Whatever and wherever you are this summer, please remain vigilant and safe. Get vaccinated as soon as you can. And when you reflect on this past year at UMaine and UMM, please take great pride in what each of you did personally to keep learning going, to take care of yourselves, and to help our communities.

Thank you again for being part of this spring semester success. And best wishes, in whatever the next several weeks hold in store for you, for finding time to reflect and recharge.

Hoping to see you on our campuses in September!

Joan Ferrini-Mundy
President