TRIO Student Support Services

Get insider tips from current UMaine students on how to navigate campus, manage college life, and thrive once you’re here.

Coming to college can be a culture shock. There are a lot of new experiences and new things to learn. TRIO Student Support Services wants to prepare you for the transition. We asked our Student Outreach Ambassadors, “What do you wish you had known before you came to UMaine? What were the things that would’ve been helpful to know in the first week you were on campus?” Based on their responses, we developed JumpStart.

Join current students and advisors virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays in mid-August for these vital sessions for free. Each Zoom session is jam-packed with tips and hacks to get the most out of your first semester at UMaine!

Online, 7:00-8:00 pm, August 13, 15, 20, & 22

Here are four reasons to get your JumpStart:

• Attend four virtual JumpStart sessions and hear from current students on their first-hand experiences navigating college life
• Get additional personalized advice from our Student Outreach Ambassadors during the after-session Q&A
• Gain access to our virtual college resource library with over 80 brochures and booklets
• Get on the fast track to receiving even more great services from TRIO SSS in the fall

About the Sessions

The UMaine Survival Guide (August 13)

Lectures, labs, and assignments are only part of the college experience. Acquire college survival skills as you learn how to navigate meal plans, find a place to park, find off-campus resources, learn how and where you can receive packages, and much more. The UMaine Survival Guide is essential knowledge for every Black Bear.

Classroom Culture & How to Get What I Want (August 15)

It’s the first day of class. Where do you sit? What will the class be like? Is there a dress code? Can you use your laptop or your phone? Is it okay to bring food to class? What if you need to go to the bathroom? What if you can’t attend because you’re sick? We will talk about all of these questions and more as we give you the inside scoop on how college classes run and how to get the most out of them. We will also give you tips on how to communicate with professors and other staff to put your best foot forward and get what you want. Don’t miss this essential discussion on the classroom and communication hacks at UMaine!

How Do I Stay On Top of It All? (August 20)

The way you manage your time is critical to your success as a college student. College classes are often structured differently than in high school, and at the same time, you have more freedom and opportunities. Learn the real secrets to college achievement in this session. Our students and staff have some great insight into managing your schedule, keeping track of assignments, balancing class work with other commitments, maintaining your wellness, and making your time as productive as possible. This is going to be one session you won’t want to miss!

Day Zero: What Can I Do Now to Prep for College? (August 22)

What can you do now to prepare for the Fall 2024 semester? In this session, we’ll show you how to access and navigate Brightspace, UMaine’s learning management website. Chances are you will use Brightspace extensively at UMaine. It can contain assignments, your syllabus, your grades, your textbooks, and more. We’ll talk about some other websites and apps that you might be using during your college experience, and we’ll give you some last minute pointers about things you might buy for your classes or your residence hall to make your experience the best it can be.

Questions?

Email us at um.sss@maine.edu or call us at (207) 581-2310.