About

Overview

This fall at the University of Maine, there is a Research Learning Experience (RLE) for everyone, whether you like to solve problems, build sculptures, or spend time in the Maine outdoors.

For Incoming First-year Students, each RLE consists of two components:

An immersive “bridge week” that begins the week before the start of the rest of your classes (see more below), and
A small group, hands-on course during the fall where you’ll get to know a supportive instructor.

Bridge Week – All first-year students arrive on campus on Monday, Aug. 24, a week before classes start. Students will move right into their residence hall room for the whole first year. This “bridge week” takes two forms:

Join together with students from many different majors for our “Black Bear Bridge” experience. In this bridge week, you’ll make friends that will support you throughout your time at UMaine, be introduced to unique research opportunities available at this R1 research institution, and discover how UMaine is here to support you in your first semester,
Or, start working with your small class cohort and the instructor of your fall RLE course right away in a bridge experience tailored to your course theme. These bridge experiences may happen on campus or somewhere else exciting across the state, and you’ll immediately start developing the skills that will be important for the rest of your course. These tailored bridge experiences are described in more detail in the course descriptions.

Which type of bridge experience is connected to each RLE is indicated on the course details page.

Why Sign up for an RLE?

RLEs are designed to make students more successful for all of their time at UMaine. Students who start their time at UMaine with an RLE:

Have higher morale
Feel stronger that they belong here
Feel more comfortable doing the kind of work that will be required in later classes
Strongly value the friendships they made during their bridge experience
Are more aware of student research and other experiential opportunities on campus
Are more likely to stay at UMaine

RLEs are so beneficial to incoming students that eight majors on campus require them, and other majors have designed courses specifically for their students. Some RLEs also fulfill a general education requirement for any student who enrolls, and all of the RLEs are designed to make transitioning to UMaine a great experience.

Financial Info

Courses identified as Research Learning Experiences cost the same per credit hour as any other one- to four- credit course. All first year students are assessed a Black Bear Bridge Week experience fee of $450 for the required pre semester bridge week (August 24-August 28, 2026). This experience fee can be covered by financial aid. Students may request scholarship assistance to cover the fee. All requests are reviewed by the UMaine Office of Student Financial Services. Scholarship awards are based on financial need.

Frequently Asked Questions

The UMaine Research Learning Experience is a 2 component program with a semester long course and a required early arrival bridge week. The RLE class during the fall costs the same as any other course 1-4 credit course. The required RLE bridge week is an immersive experience with day and evening activities throughout the week of August 24-28, 2026. The Black Bear Bridge Week experience fee of $450 supports these activities. This fee can be covered by your financial aid. Students may request scholarship assistance to cover the fee. All requests are reviewed by the UMaine Office of Student FInancial Services. Scholarship awards are based on financial need.

We will send you a confirmation letter once we have begun processing your request. If you are a first-year student, someone from your academic major will let you know when you have a schedule for your entire fall semester courses, including your RLE. If we are unable to enroll you in an RLE, we will contact you directly. “No news” means that we are working diligently on it.

If you are a rising second-year student, you can sign up for any Advanced RLE of your choice with open seats right now using MaineStreet. The online RLE form is meant only for rising first-year students. The MaineStreet course signup information is listed after each course description. If you are a rising sophomore and have questions about how to sign up for RLEs or any courses, please contact your regular contact in your major for assistance.

Each course section has a limited number of seats, so the earlier you submit your registration request the better your chances! If we can’t fit you into these five preferences, we will contact you and ask if you are interested in any of the courses that still have seats open.

Yes, this cost will be considered and there are additional opportunities for financial aid to cover the fee for those who qualify. For specific questions contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at 207.581.1324 or umscholarships@maine.edu.

If you are living on campus during the fall, you will move into your residence hall room early on Monday, Aug. 24. For most RLEs, you will live in the same room that will be your room for the upcoming year. For those who don’t, it’s because you are traveling somewhere amazing, but you can still leave your stuff in your residence hall room before you go!

First year students are required to live on campus unless they request and are granted a waiver/exemption. If you have not yet requested an exemption to this requirement, email Andra Bowen, Director of Residence Life (andra.schofield@maine.edu). If you are granted a waiver, it applies to the summer week RLE program as well.

Instructor information is listed as part of the course information on the website. Most faculty, however, are engaged in travel and other scholarly activity during the summer and may not check their email prior to the end of August. For further assistance please contact us at rle@maine.edu or call 207.581.4848.

All first-year RLE courses have a mandatory pre-semester program connected to the RLE fall semester course. The mandatory programs will occur the week before the regular fall semester begins. Unless you are engaged in another UMaine activity that week, the pre-semester program is required for participation in the fall course.

Students who are engaged in another UMaine activity that builds community and connects you to campus (e.g., marching band, Black Bear Bound Exhibitions, athletics training) may sign up for any of the courses whose Bridge Week Theme is designated as “Black Bear Bridge Experience.” You may not, unfortunately, sign up for any of the other courses, as they begin their course during that preliminary week, and you would miss the content (and the fun!).

Grading is set by the individual RLE instructors. Most students will earn a letter grade that will count toward their GPA, and for all students the credit will count toward the 120 minimum credits required by the university to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Participating in a research learning experience is not required for all UMaine students.

Students majoring in the following majors are required to take an RLE:

Business
Nursing
Primary and Secondary Education
Kinesiology and Physical Education Athletic Training
Child Development and Family Relations
Music
Biology, Botany and Zoology
History
Economics and Finance Economics

Students in these programs will be automatically enrolled in their RLE course and welcomed to Bridge week on August 24, 2026

Unfortunately, you may only sign up for one RLE course. We are trying to offer this experience to as many students as possible, and many of our courses occur at the same time. We get it, though; we wish we could have a schedule with nothing but RLEs too.

Maybe. During the add/drop period (i.e., the first week of classes) you will be able to switch RLE sections if there are open seats. We do not anticipate many open seats, however. Speak with the office of your home major before the end of the first week of classes to get help with this.

Supported by a generous grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation as part of UMS TRANSFORMS.

Questions?

Reach out if you have any questions about RLEs by calling 207.581.4848 or emailing rle@maine.edu.

Commencement

May 8 & 9 | Alfond Arena

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