For new Black Bears, college starts with an “RLE” — experiences that give you access to some of the best opportunities offered by a UMaine education.  Each RLE has two components.  First, you’ll have an immersive experience the week before the rest of your classes begin—one that helps you meet new friends and set a foundation for a research mindset.  Then, during the fall semester with those same friends, you’ll participate in a small, hands-on course, get to know an instructor well, and ask your own questions around the course theme.  Together, these two experiences will help you connect to campus, open your mind to different ways of learning, and unlock doors to many possible future UMaine opportunities. The immersive week costs a small fee, but this fall we will waive the cost of one credit of tuition to make sure an RLE costs no more than any other UMaine course.