Welcome to the Spring Semester
Thousands of returning and first-time students have arrived at Southern Maine Community College for the Spring Semester.
From extended Advising Office hours to an Involvement Fair, here are some things worth paying attention to during the semester:
- Extended Advising Office hours. The Advising Office will be open from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. hours during the first four days of the semester, January 14-17. Throughout the semester, the office will hold extended hours (7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.) every Tuesday and Thursday.
- Immunization clinic. If you don’t have a primary care doctor and still need immunizations, SMCC is hosting a walk-in immunization clinic from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, in the Campus Center’s Ortiz Atrium to provide the vaccinations you need. Questions? Contact the Advising Office in the Campus Center, at 741-5835 or advising@smccME.edu.
- Add/drop period. Students can change their schedules by adding or dropping courses during the add/drop period at the beginning of the semester. Students who officially drop a class by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, will receive a 100 percent refund of tuition and fees.
- Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). Looking to develop leadership skills that will serve you well through college and life? SMCC’s semester-long Emerging Leaders Program Spring Series begins Tuesday, Jan. 29. For more info and to register, visit the ELP webpage.
- Involvement Fair. Student Life will hold Winter Involvement Fairs in the Campus Center and in the Midcoast Campus Learning Commons from 12-2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23. Stop by for free pizza and to learn about student clubs, organizations and helpful resources.
- Student Activities. Keep an eye on student life activities throughout the semester, from Welcome Week events (Jan. 14-17) to Winter Carnival (Feb. 25-March 1) and Spring Fest (April 29-May 3).
February is financial awareness month
SMCC is putting the focus on financial awareness in February to educate students about managing their money so they can be one step ahead of the rest when they complete their education.
As part of financial awareness month, SMCC encourages students to file the 2019/2020 FAFSA, which allows them to potentially access free money in the form of grants and scholarships, low fixed-interest rate loans with flexible repayment options and other unexpected sources of aid.
The FAFSA can be filled out online by visiting www.FAFSA.gov. Students who fill out the FAFSA by February 28 will be entered to win 12 free credits.
The College also encourages students to sign up for IGrad, SMCC’s new financial literacy tool that assists with money management and has extensive helpful resources. To sign up for IGrad, students can visit www.Igrad.com/schools/smcc.
High school seniors ‘Spring Ahead’ into SMCC
Seniors from area high schools are taking classes and experiencing college life at SMCC this spring through a new program that allows students to get a jump on college while still in high school.
Thirteen students from Portland’s Deering High School, Falmouth High School and Greely High School in Cumberland are taking part in the inaugural Spring Ahead program, a Maine Community College System early college initiative. The program provides an opportunity for seniors to take four to five college courses and complete their high school education completely at SMCC.
Tuition and fees are waived for the first Spring Ahead group, and the college is providing each student a $500 book allowance.
An orientation session was held December, where students met staff, toured campus, received student IDs and parking permits, and learned about the ins and outs college life.
The program is aimed at independent and mature high school seniors looking to more fully explore the college experience while still in high school.
Silhouette Project raises awareness about veterans
A moving and powerful exhibit of life-sized cardboard cutouts will be on display in the Learning Commons to raise awareness about struggles faced by military veterans.
The SMCC Veterans Club is putting The Silhouette Project on display during the first week of the Spring Semester. The exhibit features 22 cardboard cutouts, each bearing the name, photo and military branch of a veteran lost to suicide. The Silhouette Project was developed by Linda Lajoie of Gardiner, who lost her son, an Afghanistan veteran, in 2014 to suicide.
The aim of the exhibit is to raise awareness about the suicide risk faced by veterans and to spread the word about resources available to veterans and their families.