college bound

Special Supplement • Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Wednesday, September 14, 20112 Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special Supplement |COLLEGE BOUND

Located in Nashua, New Hampshire,Rivier College is praised by students for itscommunity atmosphere, vibrant student life,and professors’ and coaches’ vested interestin students’ academic and personal growth.With fully updated facilities and more than30 liberal arts and pre-professional under-graduate majors, Rivier College preparesstudents for a rewarding career.

“You can walk from one building toanother and see people you know, whetherthey are students or faculty members,” saysKaren Waterman, of the Class of 2012. Shequickly adds, “And people hold doors foreach other.” Nicole Peacock, a sophomore,has also encountered the closeness of theRivier community. “It’s like family,” shesays.

Rivier has an undergraduate day student-faculty ratio of 19:1, resulting in small classsizes and a lot of student-teacher interaction,both inside and outside the classroom.Student-centered instructional methodsallow students to engage in the material, andprofessors are always accessible outside ofclass to meet with students. “You get toknow your professors and they get to knowyou,” says junior Sarah Howard. Rivier fac-ulty members are widely recognized asexperts in their respective disciplines. Morethan professors, they are artists, nurses,economists, and police officers, to name afew. They infuse their courses with uniqueinsights by bringing real-world experience tothe classroom.

Rivier’s coaches are also dedicated to stu-dent-athletes. “All the coaches want you todo your best,” says Howard, a member ofRivier’s basketball and softball teams.Sophomore Tom Poitras, a member of themen’s basketball team, says “To them,school always comes first.”

Rivier fields 13 NCAA Division IIIteams, offering a variety of sports for menand women. Student-athletes train with themost up to date fitness equipment, thanks toa recent major renovation of the MuldoonFitness Center. Completed in December, theexpansion project included new exercise and

weightlifting machines, an athletic trainingfacility, a coaches’ office suite, and a sandvolleyball court. “Without this updatedequipment it would be difficult to get thesame high-quality training we do now,” sayssophomore Nicole Boucher, a member ofthe Raiders volleyball team.

The college also offers service learningopportunities and internships so students canapply what they learn in the classroom to thereal world. Service projects with variouslocal agencies and charities allow students touse their academic knowledge to help oth-ers, and internship opportunities with severalpublic and private sector organizations in awide variety of fields allows students to gainreal-world experience so they can land theirfirst professional position.

With 1,000 undergraduate day students,Rivier is a tight-knit community where stu-dents get to know one another through class-es, participating in student activities andorganizations, or by simply walking aroundcampus. “You always feel like you’re a partof something,” says junior SarahFronckwicz.

Rivier offers a quality education that posi-tions students for future success. Graduatesleave Rivier with the knowledge and back-ground necessary for the competitive global

environment, and the skills employersdemand — solid critical thinking, communi-cations, and analytical abilities, cutting-edgeprofessional training, and practical real-world experience.

For more information visitwww.rivier.edu.

3| Kennebec Journal | Morning Sentinel | Special SupplementWednesday, September 14, 2011 COLLEGE BOUND

Since 1891, Central Maine Medical CenterCollege of Nursing and Health Professions inLewiston, Maine has educated students forrewarding careers as Registered Nurses. TheCollege has now added an Associate DegreeRadiologic Technology Program as well as aNuclear Medicine Technology Program.Check the College’s website www.cmmccol-lege.edu for information about these excitingprograms.

General education courses are offered tothe public and include Anatomy &Physiology I and II, Microbiology, CollegeWriting, Introduction to Literature,Introduction to Psychology, DevelopmentalPsychology, Pharmacology, various electivecourses, and a Phlebotomy course. An RNRe-Entry course is offered for RegisteredNurses who are licensed in the State ofMaine but who have not practiced recently.

Also available to LPN’s, Paramedics, andstudents transferring from other nursing pro-grams is an Advanced Placement Bridge pro-gram for qualified applicants.

The CMMC College of Nursing andHealth Professions is accredited by the NewEngland Association of Schools and CollegesCommission on Higher Education, theNational League for Nursing AccreditingCommission, the Maine State Board ofNursing, the Joint Review Committee onEducation in Radiologic Technology, theJoint Review Committee on EducationalPrograms in Nuclear Medicine Technology,and is approved by the State ApprovingAgency for Veterans’ Education.

CMMCC —More than

just a college of nursing

The community of Rivier College

www.rivier.edu.


At Southern Maine Community College(SMCC) you will find a vibrant campusthat is home to a wide array of programsas well as to a faculty and staff committedto student success. Well-situated at theedge of Casco Bay and surrounded byextraordinary ocean views, SMCC is anattractive setting for learning and discover-ing. With nearly 40 areas of study thatinclude business, health, education, thearts, trades, and the natural and social sci-ences, your opportunities at SMCC arealmost limitless.

At SMCC, we strive to be your firstchoice for a high quality and extremelyaffordable education. Because of our com-mitment to student learning, you will finda collegial environment with small classesthat allow students to work side-by-sidewith faculty. Our exceptional faculty men-tor and guide students throughout theircollege career with the important academ-ic and career choices available to them.Their goal is to make your transition tocollege life and beyond both easy andenriching. Even if you are the first personin your family to go to college, you willfeel at home at SMCC.

Our most impressive resource, however,is our students. They come from across thestate and around the world, sharing bothtalent and an astonishing drive to succeed.Our students and graduates excel academi-cally, transferring to universities and elitecolleges throughout Maine and the UnitedStates, such as the University of Maineand Mt. Holyoke and Smith colleges.

Even in these difficult times, and per-haps because of them, SMCC refuses torest on its laurels. We continuouslyendeavor to match our programs withevolving and expanding job opportunitiesto maximize the opportunities available toour students.

This year, the college opened its newmidcoast campus in Brunswick atBrunwick Landing (the former BrunswickNaval Air Station). It will provide accessto higher education for an additional 2,000students and is designed to be a thrivingcenter for education, innovation and eco-nomic growth in Maine working as a closepartner to Maine businesses.

Once fully operational, the SMCC mid-coast campus will offer new associatedegree and certificate programs in pre-

engineering, composites, manufacturing,and heavy equipment operations and main-tenance, as well as expanded programs inhealth science including nursing, imagingand EMT/paramedicine. The midcoastcampus will feature the Maine AdvancedTechnology and Engineering Center, offer-ing a seamless education pathway fromassociate, to bachelor, to master degrees inengineering in partnership with theUniversity of Maine. Other buildings oncampus will include the LearningCommons & Health Science Center,Transportation Technology Center,Academic Center (Arts & SciencesCenter), and the midcoast campus resi-dence hall.

This is only a small glimpse ofSouthern Maine Community College.Browse our website to explore our richhistory, our diverse programs of study, ourwide variety of cultural and athletic oppor-tunities, and our picturesque campus over-looking Casco Bay. Discover a communitythat is dedicated to expanding educationalopportunities at an affordable price andpromoting academic excellence, responsi-ble citizenship, and personal growth.

Southern Maine Community College


D’Youville College, a small private insti-tution in Buffalo, has emerged over the pastdecade as an international leader in healthcare education with strong offerings inteacher education and business.

Now in its second century, D’Youvilleenrolls approximately 3000 undergraduate,graduate and doctoral students in dayevening, weekend and summer sessions.

Founded in 1908 by a religious orderfrom Canada, the Grey Nuns, as the firstprivate women’s college in Western NewYork, and named for Saint Marguerited’Youville, it developed into a quality insti-tution with outstanding faculty. It becamecoeducational in 1971.

Initially, D’Youville focused on prepar-ing students for a career in teaching andwith the advent of World War II, launched afour-year nursing program, the first in thearea that became the keystone of a fullarray of state-of-the-art health care pro-grams. Combined with teacher educationD’Youville has positioned itself in an envi-able position for its second century.

“We have the academic programs thatlead to good jobs and students and theirparents know the importance of the rightdegree,” says D. John Bray, director of pub-

lic relations at the college.Health care ranks near the top of profes-

sions that offer plenty of job opportunitiesfor graduates. The Bureau of Labor saysseven of the 20 fastest growing occupationsare health care related with 3 million newjobs being generated between now and2016.

The demand for teachers continues at ahigh rate especially for educators in math,science, and bilingual education.

Specially designed by D’Youville areunique five-year programs that allow thestudent to earn both bachelors and master’sdegrees in just five years. These includedietetics, international business, physicianassistant, and occupational therapy.

D’Youville continued its innovative pro-gramming with the introduction of a newsix-year Doctor of Pharmacy program nowin its second year and housed in a new $20million building. D’Youville established adoctor of chiropractic program in 2004, thefirst standard accredited multi-disciplinarycollege in New York offering the program,and was the second in the U.S. to do so.

The academic majors in health care alsoinclude graduate programs in communityhealth nursing, family nurse practitioner,

nursing), early childhood education, child-hood education, adolescence education,special education, health services adminis-tration, international business, businessadministration MBA, occupational therapyand physical therapy.

There is also a special R.N.-B.S. /M.S.degree in nursing that is extremely popu-lar.

In keeping with its history, D’Youvillerequires a strong liberal arts core in allacademic majors.

In the past decade, D’Youville hasinvested more than $50 million in theircampus located in the heart of Buffalo. Anew library, gym, academic center, apart-ment style residence hall, snack bar, work-out room, and the new building have sig-nificantly added to the learning atmos-phere and comfort of D’Youville students.

D’Youville has worked to grow in theright direction and adapt to the changingneeds of a fast moving world economyand to the needs of today’s students whoknow a college degree is necessary andthat it has to be a degree that leads to ajob.

For more information visitwww.dyc.edu.

D’Youville College

www.dyc.edu.

In conjunction with the National ParkService, Unity College is now offering aseasonal law enforcement training pro-gram through its Conservation LawEnforcement major. The first class takesplace this fall at the Schoodic Educationand Research Center just outside WinterHarbor, Maine. Successful graduates ofthe program will be Level II lawenforcement officers, the requirement toattain a seasonal law enforcement rangerposition with the National Park Service.

“Individuals with this training will bequalified to hold a seasonal law enforce-ment position at Acadia National Park orany other national park in the United

States,” said Tim Peabody, AssociateProfessor of Conservation LawEnforcement, former Colonel of theMaine Warden Service, and a 1981alumnus of the college. Peabody helpedto plan the program with input from theFederal Law Enforcement TrainingCenter in Glynco, Georgia, and a varietyof Maine State law enforcement agenciesincluding the State Police.

Classes are open to 20 qualified appli-cants with preference given to studentsenrolled in a Unity College degree pro-gram. Peabody expects the majority ofparticipants will be Conservation LawEnforcement majors, though that is not a

requirement. This intensive 400-hour course con-

sists of law enforcement training in fed-eral criminal law and court procedures,pistol and shotgun qualifications, emer-gency response driving, patrol skills, anddefensive tactics. The course will run for10 weeks with participants training eighthours each day.

Conservation Law Enforcement hastraditionally been one of the largest andbest-known degree programs at UnityCollege, so forming the program madesense as a logical step forward, essen-tially creating an “in-house” opportunityfor Unity students who frequently pur-

sued this training elsewhere. In the past, students have been offered

federal jobs prior to graduation aftercompleting the seasonal law enforcementtraining program. “It’s a win for studentsbecause they get this advanced lawenforcement training and as a result havethe chance to take a summer positionwith the National Park Service,”Peabody stated. “Well-qualified studentswill be sought after.”

For more information, please visit theUnity College website www.unity.edu orcontact Tim Peabody, AssociateProfessor of Conservation LawEnforcement [email protected].


Unity College to offer seasonal lawenforcement training program

BY ERIN BALTES

Submitted by Thomas College

Sport Management major Shelby

Gilcott ‘13 really hustled this semester.

She couldn’t afford not to pick up the

pace; she had a fantastic opportunity to

intern with the Maine Red Claws,

Portland’s NBA Development League,

and she could not let it pass her by.

“I didn’t plan on this internship,”

Shelby says. “I went to Portland with my

parents because [Boston Celtics legend]

Tommy Heinsohn was signing books at

the Expo. It turns out that Red Claws

management was there.” Meet Gilcott

and you’ll see why one thing soon led to

another: the outgoing, bubbly young

lady was quickly talking to Red Claws

Manager Jon Jennings and Public

Relations Director Jana Spaulding.

Before she knew it, she was in touch

with Operations Manager Cam Twiss,

who gave Gilcott his business card. “I

told Cam that my ultimate professional

dreams are to work for the Celtics and

write for Sports Illustrated, and he invit-

ed me right away to do an internship

with the Red Claws. He said, ‘Show up

on Monday,’ and I was freaking out!”

Gilcott was made a public relations

and community relations coordinator for

the team, working closely with

Spaulding in the world of media and

events. “It’s been a huge learning oppor-

tunity,” she says. “After games, I write

press releases. I give stat sheets to fan

and the media. But the bulk of the work

takes place before the game. I set up the

media table and press passes, coordinate

the ball kids, and assist where I’m need-

ed. Things move quickly, so it keeps me

on my toes!”

Her favorite part of the internship?

The people she has met. “I was at the

media table one day when a man came

to me and said he wasn’t sure where he

was supposed to be,” she recalls. “It

turns out he was the assistant general

manager for the Celtics. I was excited,

but had to remember to be a professional

too. I set him up with his media creden-

tials, took him to his seat, and made sure

he was all set.”

Like other interns, Gilcott finds her

work for the Red Claws pays off in

building her skill set, but that her course

work at Thomas really helped set the

stage for her success. She notes that

classes with instructor Greg King taught

her the right way to compose a press

release, and though the Red Claws’ tech-

nique has been a little different, she has

realized that there are a variety of

approaches. Plus, she enrolled in a pub-

lic speaking course, which she credits as

being crucial to where she is as a student

and worker today. “I have anxiety chal-

lenges, so it’s been helpful. Today I

spoke in front of 300 people… I never

would’ve guessed that I could do that!

I’ve really learned what I can accom-

plish.”

Red Claws President and General

Manager Jon Jennings knows firsthand

how valuable the internship experience

is for students like Shelby. “My own

internships with the Indiana Pacers

meant everything to my career,” he says

just before a game one day this spring.

“It led to a full-time job with the Celtics,

and later, I had the chance to work at the

White House. Now, I’ve had this great

opportunity to get back to sports and put

together this terrific team. I’m a huge

believer in quality internship programs.”

Adds Bill Ryan, Jr., chairman of the

Red Claws and trustee at Thomas

College, “Our student interns are great

assets, as they bring passion and energy

to our operations. Interns get an insider’s

view of what it’s really like working for

a team.” Ryan, too, points to Thomas

students like Gilcott as part of the reason

he joined the college’s board of trustees

earlier this academic year. “The sport

management program gives Thomas stu-

dents a solid background in the sports

business, and certainly gives them a leg

up on others looking for a job in the

sports world. I had the opportunity to

meet with the staff of the program, and

was very impressed with what they were

teaching students. I’ve also been

impressed by the Thomas graduates I

have met, and I love the college’s com-

mitment to Maine.”

When asked what her long-term plans

are, Gilcott, whose mom Cynthia is a

member of Thomas’s Class of 1984,

acknowledges that she is aiming for that

career in public relations and sport jour-

nalism, but isn’t ready to limit her goals.

“I want to work with people, and I love

dealing with kids. I write down my

dreams and goals because I have a lot of

them. I would love to write a book, and I

believe my positive attitude can make a

difference.”

Having a Ball: sophomore Shelby Gilcottinterns with the Maine Red Claws

“Thomas was my absolute first choice. My mom is an alumna, so Icame for a tour as a junior in high school. There was nothing I didn’tlike! Now, as a student, I can see my truck from my classroom win-dow. Things like that make me feel at home. And I know all my pro-fessors personally. I can talk to them so easily.”

SHELBY GILCOTT ‘1


180 West River Road, Waterville, Maine 04901 (207) 859-1102 • (888) 299-6832

[email protected] • thomas.edu/grad

Stay ahead of the competition!

Thomas College’s Graduate & Continuing

Education Division offers:

• Flexible course options • Competitive tuition rates

NEW!

Accelerated MBA

Contributedphoto

AssociateProfessor TimPeabody ’81(right facing)guides stu-dents in a fin-ger-printing labat UnityCollege.


FAIRFIELD – The Aspen Institute in 2011 recog-nized Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) asone of the best two-year colleges in America based onstudent success rates.

KVCC was one of 120 community colleges rankedin the top 10 percent of the nation’s two-year collegesby the Institute in April, and the ranking has putKVCC in line to compete for the Aspen Prize forCommunity College Excellence, potentially a $1 mil-lion prize that will be awarded in December of thisyear.

“Kennebec Valley Community College was delightedto receive this national recognition of the hard work byour faculty and staff to achieve strong student retentionand graduation rates,” KVCC President BarbaraWoodlee, said. “We measure our success here by thesuccess of our students, and this ranking reflects theresults that philosophy has produced.”

Colleges did not apply for the recognition, but werechosen based on independent evaluation of publiclyavailable data that measured their performance in thefollowing three areas:

• Student success in persistence and completion.• Consistent improvement in outcomes over time.

• Equity in outcomes for students of all racial, eth-nic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The top-tier ranking of KVCC is a reminder of thegrowing importance of the College in Maine’s highereducation market, and its ability to meet the needs of anincreasingly wide range of students.

The reasons for KVCC’s expanding role are simpleand practical:

• Affordability – KVCC offers the lowest tuitionavailable in Maine, at $86 per credit hour for in-statestudents, making a full-time, 30-hour course load$2,580.

• Flexibility – The College offers everything fromstandard in-classroom instruction to online courses,night and weekend schedules, and off-campus classes.

• Transfer – A growing number of students are usingKVCC as a stepping-stone to advanced degrees thanksto credit-transfer agreements with the University ofMaine system and other four-year schools, taking advan-tage of the strong student support services and theaffordable tuition at KVCC to start their college experi-ence.

• Jobs – With more than 95 percent of KVCC gradu-ates consistently finding jobs or continuing their educa-

tion within six months of graduation, the vast majorityof students find a KVCC education quickly pays off.

The college’s 69-acre main campus is located threemiles north of Waterville, just off I-95. It includes fiveclassroom buildings, a library, multi-purposeroom/gymnasium, café, and computer labs. A com-muter college, KVCC offers students assistance withcar pooling and child care options.

The college offers more than 30 programs of studyranging from two-year associate degrees to certificateand diploma programs, as well as a comprehensiveschedule of continuing education courses and businessand industry outreach programs. The availability of anassociate in arts degree in liberal studies has greatlyexpanded the educational options available to studentswho may wish to pursue advanced degrees.

Enrollment at the college has grown steadily inrecent years and exceeded 2,500 students for the fall2010 semester.

For more information on the Aspen Prize and theprocess used to select competitors for it, go towww.AspenCCPrize.org.

For more information on KVCC go towww.kvcc.me.edu.

KVCC recognized by Aspen Institute as one ofthe top community colleges in the nation for 2011


Choosing a major is often met with trepi-dation. College students may feel pressuredto choose a major when they are less thancertain about what they want to study.Majors aren’t set in stone and students havethe opportunity to switch concentrations iftheir original choice isn’t the right fit.

Perhaps now more than ever, there ispressure on students to pick the right col-lege major. In this weak economy, expertsare touting advice on choosing a major thatgives students the best chance of finding ajob after graduation. The National Centerfor Education Statistics says that in 2007-2008, the most popular majors were busi-ness, social sciences, history, and educa-tion. According to Capital University, stu-dents usually have so many interests thatthey have difficulty narrowing their choic-es. Their first inclination is not to declare amajor and wait to see if they find theirniche.

In general, two out of every three univer-sity students change majors at least once.This should give hope to students who feelthey need a chance. Here are some tips thatshould help with the process.

• Wait to declare. Many educatorsadvise waiting a semester or two beforedeclaring a major. Take a variety of electivecourses and general education classes thatwill fit degree requirements regardless ofmajor. A guidance counselor or adviser canundecided students choose courses thatmight help them find an area of study.

• Take an assessment test. The career orguidance office may offer some of the stan-dardized tools to help students find an areaof concentration. The Myers-Briggs TypeIndicator (MBTI) and the Campbell Interestand Skill Survey are two resources studentsuse to identify strengths and potential pathsof study.

• Do your research. If you’re consider-ing a new major, talk to your advisor aboutwhat will be required of that new major,including classes and other coursework.You can also talk to students currentlystudying under that major. Knowing whatto expect beforehand can make the deci-sion-making process a little easier.

• Talk to the dean. Many colleges anduniversities have deans or advisors incharge of students in certain majors. Theywill know the courses required for adegree. Switching majors may involve tak-ing or re-taking some courses that will fitwith the new major. It may also mean thatsome courses that were taken cannot beapplied to the new major. This can result in

having to take more classes one semester ortaking an extra semester to graduate.

• Consider finances. Taking differentclasses or stretching out your college careeran additional semester might cost moremoney. Be sure that the finances are there,whether personally provided or fundedthrough financial aid.

• Assess whether your major trulymatters. Many liberal arts or general stud-ies majors are applicable in many fields.Therefore, switching majors may not evenbe necessary. Think about continuing witha current major and then concentrate orminor in something more specific.

• Determine if you really need toswitch majors. Sometimes the decision toswitch majors is made for you. If you arehaving difficulty keeping up in class or findthe courses really do not interest you, itmay be time to change. Failing grades canimpact grade point average. Dropping aclass — or a major — is a way to redeemyourself.

• Consider a double major. Studentswho ultimately cannot decide can choose tostudy for a double major. This may lookgood on a resume and show potentialemployers that you are not afraid of work.It also enables you to study two differentsubjects in detail. Keep in mind that doublemajors will mean a lot of extra work andmay delay graduation so that you can getall the credits needed.

Choosing a major is seldom an easydecision. Rest assured that if the firstchoice isn’t ideal, students can switchmajors successfully with few obstacles.

How to switch majors successfully

At the beginning of the 2011 academicyear, University of Southern MainePresident Selma Botman said, “USM is ded-icated to making sure that Maine studentsleave here with the knowledge and experi-ences they need to be competitive in theworkplace and prepared for the fields oftomorrow.”

The experiences of the following studentsand a recent graduate demonstrate howready for the workplace USM students are.

Summer Job with a TwistThey could have found routine summer

jobs but instead business majors Ry Russellof Scarborough, Patric Brophy ofFarmington and Tyler Wells of Holden,Mass. found investors and decided to leaseand manage the iconic Saco Drive-In. Thedrive-in, which is believed to be one of theoldest in the country, was scheduled to closebut cars were lined up to enter the 72-year-old theatre, thanks in large part to the stu-dents’ successful Facebook campaign. “Welearn so much at USM, and we wanted thechance to apply it and build our resumes,”said Brophy. At the end of the summer,these successful undergraduate entrepre-neurs were able to pay back their investors.

A Triumphant Return HomeAshley Emerson returned to Portland this

summer as a rising star in the opera world.The 2006 graduate of the USM School ofMusic and native of Bangor, who has mademore than 50 appearances at theMetropolitan Opera in New York, was hereto sing the lead in PORTopera’s productionof “The Daughter of the Regiment.”

Emerson shared the stage with her formerUSM voice professor and mentor, EllenChickering, who is credited with playing amajor role in Emerson’s success.Chickering, a talented singer in her ownright, has taught and mentored countless stu-

dents over the years who have gone on tobecome performers and teachers.

Serious Sailing in the Gulf of MexicoUSM researcher John Wise and a team of

USM students and staff returned to the Gulfof Mexico this summer to research the toxi-cological impact of the 2010 BP oil disasteron the health of the Gulf’s whales and otherwildlife.

Wise posted on his voyage blog, “…thatthe expedition received confirmation fromthe National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration that we are indeed the onlygroup studying the toxicology of chemicalsin these Gulf whales.”

The crew aboard the 93-foot OceanAlliance vessel “Odyssey” uses non-invasivetechniques to collect skin samples of whales,and grow cell cultures in an onboard lab.Further analysis will be conducted through-out the year at USM’s Wise Laboratory ofEnvironmental and Genetic Toxicology inPortland.

This summer, 15 students participated inthe research expedition, among them

Oquossoc, Maine’s Shanelle Dugan, a seniornursing student. She wrote, “It is a wonder-ful feeling to be part of something great ... Ihope that the findings discovered by the“Odyssey” and her crew are able to makethe changes necessary for the survival of ourenvironment and those who share it withus.”

Earlier this summer, the Princeton Reviewnamed USM one of its best colleges in theNortheast, based on information from insti-tutional data, school visits, plus feedbackfrom current students.

To schedule a campus visit, please call207-780-5670, or visithttp://www.usm.maine.edu/admit/visit-usm


Attend USM today and be ready for the career of tomorrow

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Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Auburn, Central Maine Community College(CMCC) boasts a vibrant campus community that is committed to preparing students forchallenging careers, transfer to four-year colleges, and lifelong learning. We offer morethan 24 program areas leading to technical, business, and health careers. With hands-onprograms utilizing cutting edge technology, strong academic resources, on-campus hous-ing, athletics, and student organizations, CMCC offers a complete college experience . . .all this with the lowest tuition rates in Maine.

Our 135-acre campus stretches along the shores of Lake Auburn, in the twin cities ofLewiston and Auburn - Maine’s second largest urban center. Sandy beaches, challengingski slopes, and scenic wilderness areas are all within an easy drive. Fine restaurants,movie theaters, and shopping centers are also nearby.

In addition to associate degrees and certificates in popular career and technical fieldssuch as business, computer technology, criminal justice, medical assisting, early child-hood education and automotive, electromechanical, and precision machining technology,the college offers associate in arts degrees in general studies or liberal studies, programsdesigned for transfer to a four-year college or university. Through our popularAdvantageU program, liberal studies graduates can receive admission to any of Maine’spublic universities and experience a simplified transfer process. We even have a transferadvisor to show you the way.

At CMCC we believe learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom.Student activities include intramural and intercollegiate athletic teams, outdoor club, stu-dent senate, honor society, drama club, literary magazine, and other special interestgroups. A new campus fitness center including cardio and strength training equipment isavailable to all students. In addition, students can receive membership benefits at the LostValley Ski Area, which is located just minutes from the campus.

The CMCC Mustangs participate nationally in the USCAA (United States CollegiateAthletic Association) and locally in the Yankee Small College Conference. We offer base-ball, softball, and men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, cheering, and bowling. Severalteams have advanced to conference playoffs and tournament appearances over the years.The men’s basketball team holds the distinction of the only college team in Maine to everwin a national basketball championship.

The college offers three living options for full-time students: Rancourt Hall, a four-floor residence hall overlooking Lake Auburn; Fortin Hall, which includes a recently ren-ovated game room and lounge; and a two-building apartment complex. All offer on-cam-pus convenience and the benefit of living within a community of students who share com-mon goals of academic and personal success. In addition to the benefits of being close toclasses and campus activities, students feel at home on our safe, well-lit campus.

At Central Maine Community College, you'll receive a quality education at affordableprices, one that prepares you for interesting and rewarding work . . . right here in Maine.

Central Maine Community College

http://www.cmcc.edu/about_cmcc/


College is a period of firsts. It’s the first time many studentsare away from home for an extended period of time; it’s the firsttime students get to choose their own coursework; and it’s thefirst time many are left to their own devices with respect to tak-ing care of themselves.

College is also the first time many apply for a credit card.Although at this point in life, it’s important for people to beginbuilding their credit histories, it’s just as important for them tocarefully consider the variety of credit card options before com-mitting to a card. All cards are definitely not equal, and collegestudents should look for cards that will help them start building asolid credit foundation.

So how can college kids find a card that’s fit for them?Consider the following tips.

• Steer clear of cards with annual fees. Some credit cardscharge annual fees, regardless of whether or not a consumer evermakes a single purchase. Since many cards’ interest rates aresimilar, try to find one that doesn’t charge annual fees.

• Find the best annual percentage rate. While interest rates areoften similar, some cards have a better annual percentage rate, orAPR. As attractive as low interest rates can be, be especially cau-tious with cards that promise zero percent interest for the first sixor 12 months after signing. That’s because such cards typicallyhave very high APRs. This isn’t a monthly fee, but rather afinance charge referred to as an annual rate. For college kids,whom history suggests struggle to pay their balances in full eachmonth, a high APR could add considerably to the cost of havinga credit card.

• Don’t overdo it with credit cards. A 2009 report from SallieMae titled “How Undergraduate Students Use Credit Cards”found that half of college undergraduates had four or more creditcards in 2008. No college student needs that many credit cards. Ifat all possible, college kids should stick to one card and one cardonly. The card should only be used to help build a credit historyand in the case of an emergency. Students who need four cardsare either finding themselves in far too many emergency situa-tions or harming themselves by charging too many purchases toplastic.

• Be skeptical of reward cards. In theory, reward cards areexcellent. The more a consumer purchases, the more rewardspoints they accrue. Those reward points can then be used towarda host of things, including airline miles. However, college kidstypically do not make much money, and reward cards are reallyonly beneficial to people who charge a lot of their purchases.Such people can typically afford to do so, whereas the averagecollege kid cannot. Reward cards are better suited for men andwomen with full-time jobs and not so ideal for college kids with-out steady streams of income.

• Don’t be late. If payments are not made online, they shouldbe mailed at least a week in advance of the due date. A history oflate payments can quickly mar a credit report. Even if only theminimum payment is possible, make sure that payment is madeon time.

• Borrow from Mom and Dad, not the credit card company.Credit card companies will lend cash to their customers. Theseloans are called cash advances. But unlike borrowing from Momand Dad, accepting a cash advance from a credit card companytypically comes with a heavy interest rate, making it much moreworthwhile to call home instead of taking a cash advance.

Getting a credit card is an important step for young people.Students should just be careful the credit card ends up building asolid credit foundation instead of digging a significant financialhole.

Credit card pointers for today’s college kids

Here’s the truth…. filing the FAFSA iseasier than ever.

The Free Application for Federal StudentAid (FAFSA) is the primary application forfederal financial aid, regardless of the schoola student is attending. If you are even consid-ering college for the upcoming year, youshould file the FAFSA. It’s FREE andrequired in order to be considered for anyfederal education grants or low-interest feder-al student loans. Completing the FAFSAshould be on the annual “to do” list of everypotential and current college student.

The FAFSA becomes available for theupcoming school year on January 1. Manyschools have a priority deadline by which theFAFSA must be filed; so be sure you knowand meet the deadline for any school you areconsidering. Even if a school doesn’t have adeadline, it is important to complete theFAFSA as soon as possible since many finan-cial aid funds are limited. The FAFSA doesrequire some prior year income informationand as a result people often think that it isnecessary to wait until taxes are filed beforecompleting the FAFSA. This is NOT true.The FAFSA can be filed using estimatedincome and then the information can easilybe updated after taxes are filed. Never riskyour chance to receive funds; file the FAFSAas early as you can.

The good news is that the process to filethe FAFSA has been greatly simplified.Students can now complete the processonline at www.fafsa.gov. Bookmark the sitenow on your computer (and be sure it is thedot “gov” site, not the dot “com” site). Filingthe FAFSA online is the best and fastest wayto complete the application. The FAFSA nowhas “skip logic” which means you automati-cally skip questions that do not apply to you,greatly reducing, in some cases, the numberof questions asked. The FAFSA also has builtin “help” which provides information toassist in understanding the questions. Thishelp feature is found next to each question.There are also edits that help minimize fre-quently made mistakes. The website is VERYuser friendly.

To make filing the FAFFA as easy as pos-sible, gather all of the necessary informationyou may need ahead of time. The followinglink to the FAFSA website has a list of docu-ments needed to complete the FAFSA:www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/before003.htm.Having the necessary documents at your fin-gertips will make the process easier than youmay imagine. You can even sign your FAFSAelectronically using a PIN that you create andactivate as part of the FAFSA application.

Don’t let filing the FAFSA stand betweenyou and thousands of dollars of financial aid.

It is easy, but if you need assistance, call theFinance Authority of Maine (1-800-228-3734), contact your high school guidancecounselor or a Financial Aid Office. Free help

is available. There is no need to pay for anyservices related to completion of the FAFSA.Good luck. Filing the FAFSA will be timewell spent.


Filing the FAFSA is Easy

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm

Maine residents, who find that their chosen degree pro-gram is not offered by a Maine public college or universi-ty, may be eligible for a discount on out-of-state tuitionthrough the New England Board of Higher Education’s(NEBHE) Tuition Break, the Regional Student Program(RSP).

Maine residents pay in-state tuition when they attend a

Maine public college or university – including the sevenUniversity of Maine campuses, Maine Maritime Academyand the seven Maine community colleges.

Leaving Maine to attend another state’s public collegeor university usually means paying much higher, out-of-state tuition. However, Maine residents who pursue adegree program offered under the RSP Tuition Break couldsave on average about $7,000 on their annual tuition bills.

Maine residents are eligible for the RSP Tuition Breakfor specific programs offered by public colleges and uni-versities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,Rhode Island and Vermont.

Examples of Tuition Break degree programs available toMaine residents include: • Asian Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston; • Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticutand University of Rhode Island; • Electronic Journalism Arts at Lyndon State College, Vt.; • Environmental Health at the University of MassachusettsLowell; • Hospitality Management at the University of NewHampshire;

• Meteorology at Western Connecticut State University,University of Massachusetts Lowell, Plymouth StateUniversity, NH, and Lyndon State College, Vt.; • Outdoor Education at the University of New Hampshireand Johnson State College, Vt.; • Physiology and Neurobiology at the University ofConnecticut; • Public Health Sciences at the University ofMassachusetts Amherst.

Visit www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreak for detailed informa-tion and a list of currently offered degree programs.Contact the NEBHE offices at 617-357-9620 or [email protected].

For more than 50 years, the RSP Tuition Break hashelped thousands of Maine residents to afford their collegeeducation. In academic year 2010-11, nearly 600 Maineresidents participated and saved a total of $3.6 million ontheir tuition bills. A full-time student saved an average of$7,000.

For additional information on NEBHE’s Tuition BreakProgram visit www.nebhe.org or contact NEBHE at 617-357-9620 or [email protected].


New England Board of Higher Education’sTuition Break helps Maine residents looking

out of state for their college program

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