University of Southern Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of Southern Maine

Former names	Gorham Normal School (1878–1945) Portland University (1921–1933) Portland Junior College (1933–1957) Gorham State Teachers College (1945–1964) University of Maine at Portland (1957–1970) Gorham State College (1964–1970) University of Maine at Portland-Gorham (1970–1978)
Motto	The University of Everyone
Type	Public university
Established	1878; 147 years ago (1878)
Parent institution	University of Maine System
Academic affiliations	CUMU Space-grant
President	Jacqueline Edmondson
Students	7,996 (2021)
Undergraduates	5,956 (2021)
Postgraduates	1,778 (2021)
Location	Gorham, Maine and Portland, Maine , Maine , United States 43°39′45″N 70°16′34″W / 43.66250°N 70.27611°W / 43.66250; -70.27611
Campus	Urban, Suburban, 142 acres (57 ha)
Newspaper	The Free Press
Colors	Royal Blue      Gold
Nickname	Huskies
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III
Mascot	Champ the Husky

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a public university in Maine, USA. It has campuses in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston. USM is part of the University of Maine System.

It started as two separate schools: Gorham Normal School and Portland University. These schools later joined together in 1970. They became the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham. In 1978, the name changed to the University of Southern Maine. The Lewiston campus was added in 1988.

The Portland Campus has special centers like the Bio Sciences Research Institute. It also has the USM School of Business. The Gorham campus is more like a traditional college campus with dorms. It is home to the School of Education and Human Development and the School of Music.

A Look Back: USM's History

Robie Andrews Hall is one of the original Gorham State College buildings. It is now primarily a residence hall with some mixed academic usage on the first floor. Taken from a 1907 postcard.

USM began in 1878 as Gorham Normal School. This school trained teachers. Over time, it changed its name several times. In 1970, it merged with the University of Maine at Portland. This created the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham. The name became University of Southern Maine in 1978. The Lewiston-Auburn campus opened in 1988.

Who Leads USM?

The university has had many leaders over the years. The current president is Jacqueline Edmondson. She became the 14th president in July 2022.

Exploring the Campuses

USM has three main campuses. Each campus offers different programs and experiences.

Portland Campus: City Learning

The McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Services, left, the Bean Green, and the Portland Commons dorm.

The Portland campus is in the Oakdale neighborhood. It focuses on subjects like business, nursing, and science. You can also study history, English, and psychology here.

The campus has many important buildings. These include the Wishcamper Center and the Osher Map Library. The Southworth Planetarium is also on this campus.

In 2023, a new dorm called Portland Commons opened. It has 580 beds for students. It offers great views of the city. The dorm is open to USM students and others.

The McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success also opened in 2023. It has a dining hall and a career center. A large parking garage is nearby. It has many electric vehicle charging stations. These new buildings were built using green techniques.

The university is building a new arts center. It will have an art gallery and a performing arts center. This center will open in 2023.

The student radio station WMPG is on the Portland campus. So is the student newspaper, The Free Press. The campus is close to parks and stores.

Glickman Library: A Hub for Learning

USM Glickman Library at Portland

The Albert Brenner Glickman Family Library is the main library. It is located on the Portland campus. It includes the Osher Map Library. The library also has special collections. These include rare books.

Gorham Campus: Residential Life

Corthell Hall is located on the Gorham campus and is the School of Music's concert hall. Originally Corthell Hall was the sole classroom building on the Gorham Normal School campus.

The Gorham campus has most of the student dorms. It also has the sports facilities. Main subjects here include engineering, art, and music. You can also study theater and environmental sciences.

Historic buildings like McLellan House and the Academy Building are here. They were built in the 1700s and 1800s.

Many dorms are on the Gorham campus. These include Woodward Hall and Upton Hall. Robie Andrews Hall is named after a former Maine Governor. Upperclass Hall was completed in 2007.

Lewiston-Auburn Campus: Newest Addition

44°4′35″N 70°10′20″W / 44.07639°N 70.17222°W / 44.07639; -70.17222 (Lewiston-Auburn campus, University of Southern Maine)

USM's Lewiston-Auburn campus, Front entrance. This campus was established in 1988

The Lewiston-Auburn campus is the newest of the three. It opened in 1988. This campus focuses on interdisciplinary education. This means combining different subjects.

It offers degrees in Arts and Humanities and Leadership. You can also study Natural and Applied Sciences. Master's degrees in Leadership and Occupational Therapy are offered here. The Nursing program is also available.

What Can You Study at USM?

USM offers many different degree programs. You can earn bachelor's, master's, and even doctoral degrees.

Undergraduate students can choose from about 115 areas of study. These include Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees. Graduate studies are available in many schools. These include the School of Business and the School of Music.

The Department of Educational and School Psychology offers advanced degrees. These degrees can help you become a school psychologist.

The Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing is a special program. Students learn to write fiction, poetry, and more.

USM's School of Business is highly recognized. It is accredited by AACSB. USM also offers an ABET accredited Computer Science degree. This is one of only two in Maine.

Students from Southern Maine Community College can easily transfer to USM. They can continue their studies in many fields.

Maine-Greenland Collaboration

This project studies challenges in coastal areas. It looks at environmental and cultural issues. Researchers and students work together on this.

Reykjavik University Partnership

USM works with Reykjavik University in Iceland. This partnership allows students and teachers to exchange places. It helps them learn from each other.

Maine Teacher Residency Program

This program helps future teachers. Students work in Maine classrooms while finishing their degrees. It helps make sure there are enough teachers in Maine.

Muskie School of Public Service

The Muskie School is on the Portland campus. It includes public health and tourism studies. It also has a graduate school for policy and planning.

Quality Control Collaboratory (QC2)

QC2 works with Maine's craft beverage industry. It provides lab testing and analysis. This gives USM students research chances.

Boyne Family Simulation Center

This is a modern lab for nursing students. It helps them practice their skills. It is located in the Science Building.

Maine Regulatory Training & Ethics Center

This center offers training in rules and ethics. It helps people make good decisions. It works with businesses and the community.

Charles Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education

This center teaches workers about their rights. It helps them understand labor laws. It opened in Fall 2023.

Student Numbers

The University of Southern Maine is the second largest university in the University of Maine System. In 2023-2024, it had 5,407 students. In 2022, more female students attended than male students. The student-faculty ratio is 13:3. This means there are 13 students for every 3 teachers.

Student Life at USM

Dining and Food

Sodexo manages the dining halls at USM. In 2022, they added delivery robots. These robots, called Kiwibots, bring food to students. They can even work in the snow! Students use an app to order.

The Brooks Dining Hall on the Gorham campus was updated in 2019. It now has more vegetarian and gluten-free options. The McGoldrick Center on the Portland campus also has a large dining hall.

The Free Press: Student Newspaper

The Free Press is the student newspaper. Students run and fund it. It started in 1972. The paper prints weekly during the school year. It has a circulation of 3,000 copies.

WMPG: Campus Radio

WMPG is a community radio station. It is on the Portland Campus. USM students and volunteers create the programs. It started broadcasting in 1973.

Husky Line: Campus Bus Service

The Husky Line is a bus service. It connects the Portland and Gorham campuses. Buses arrive every 30 minutes on weekdays. USM students and staff ride for free. They just show their ID. The buses have Wi-Fi too!

Sports and Teams

The University of Southern Maine teams are called the Huskies.

College Sports

The athletic program began in 1922. It started with men’s and women's basketball. USM now has 23 sports teams. They compete in NCAA Division III. Most teams play in the Little East Conference.

Club Sports

USM also has six club sports teams. These include ice hockey, rugby, and volleyball. The largest club is the USM Esports team. This team plays competitive video games. In 2024, a new Esports Arena was created on the Gorham campus.

Famous People Who Attended USM

Many notable people have attended the University of Southern Maine.