Welcome to the Spring Semester
Thousands of returning and first-time students have arrived at Southern Maine Community College for the start of the Spring Semester.
The semester runs from Tuesday, Jan. 16, through May 12.
Here are some things worth paying attention to during the semester:
- Immunization clinic. If you don’t have a primary care doctor and still need immunizations, SMCC is here to help. The College is hosting a walk-in immunization clinic from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, 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 during the add/drop period (between Tuesday, Jan. 16 and 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23) will receive a full 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. 23. For more info and to register, visit the ELP webpage.
- Student activities. Keep an eye on student life activities throughout the semester, from sporting events to Winter Carnival (week of Feb. 26-March 2) and Spring Fest (Thursday, May 3).
Developing leadership skills
Leadership skills will serve you well through college and life. To help you develop those skills, check out SMCC’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP).
The ELP’s Spring Series, put on by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CeSIL), begins Tuesday, Jan. 23. The program welcomes all students who are interested in enhancing leadership through self-exploration and skill development.
On the South Portland Campus, the program will be held on Tuesdays, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Howe Hall seminar room. The Midcoast Campus program is scheduled for Thursdays, from 10-11:30 a.m. in room 105 of the L.L.Bean Learning Commons.
Upon completion, students will receive a Certificate of Completion, an ELP sweatshirt and a record of completion on their co-curricular transcript.
For more information, visit the ELP webpage.
Opportunities galore to get involved
Interested in learning how to get involved on SMCC’s campuses? Stop by the Involvement Fair on Thursday, January 18.
The Center for Student Involvement and Engagement (CeSIL) will put on a fair on both the South Portland Campus and the Midcoast Campus from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 18.
Student organizations will have tables in the Ortiz Atrium in the South Portland Campus Center, and in the L.L.Bean Learning Commons on the Midcoast Campus, to provide information and answer questions.
Jason Saucier, SMCC Director of Residential Life and Student Involvement, said the fairs will allow students to learn about the wide variety of student clubs they can participate in, while giving student club leaders a chance to spread the word about what they have to offer.
“The goal is to get more students involved in college life,” Saucier said. “We know the more involved students are, the better they do academically.”
The list of SMCC student clubs and organizations includes:
- ACE (Association of Cosmic Explorers)
- Alpha Omega
- Art Cub
- The Beacon student newspaper
- Business Club
- Captain’s Cupboard
- Cosplay
- Fire Science Club
- Gaming Club
- Midcoast Computer Club
- Midcoast Gaming Club
- Midcoast Rainbow Club
- Midcoast Theater Club
- Northern Horde Boffing Club
- Philosophy Club
- Phi Theta Kappa (honor society)
- Rainbow League
- Southern Poverty Law Center Student Group
- Veterans Club
Students continue gingerbread house tradition
Culinary and Hospitality students brought smiles to children at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital by continuing the decades-long tradition of delivering gingerbread houses during the holiday season.
Students baked and assembled 30 gingerbread houses at SMCC last month and then brought them to the hospital in Portland a few days later for the kids to decorate.
Students were joined by Culinary Instructor Meg Broderick and other chefs who are members of the American Culinary Federation.
The event is organized by the ACF and has been taking place for more than 25 years.
Students (along with others who are interested) bake, cut and assemble the gingerbread houses at the Culinary Arts Center. Students and ACF members then deliver the assembled houses to patients at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and work one-on-one with the patients to decorate the houses.
Photo caption: Students (in red) Melissa McDonald, Kayla Wentworth, Nancy Piche, Rachel Guidon and Molly Morrison helped deliver 30 gingerbread houses to children at the Barbara Bush Hospital on Dec. 11. They’re shown here with American Culinary Federation members from the Portland area, including SMCC Culinary Professor Meg Broderick (second from left) and former longtime SMCC Culinary Professor and Chair Wil Beriau (second from right).