Strategies and Resources for Student Success

Starting college represents the beginning of an incredible journey – filled with new discoveries and opportunities. Like any journey, college can also have its challenges. Whether adjusting to the academic rigor, managing time effectively, or settling into life away from home, the transition to college life takes time and effort. 

New students — and their families and friends — seeking support during this transition should keep these strategies and resources in mind.

Success Tips 

  • Check Your Email Regularly: Your @maine.edu email is where you will receive important updates from professors, financial aid, faculty and staff in your major, and more.
  • Stay Organized: Use the UMaine Academic Year Calendar to track official dates and deadlines. During the first week of classes, use an app or calendar — or whatever works for you — to record deadlines for major assignments in each of your courses.
  • Master Time Management: Dedicate time outside of the classroom every day to studying and working on assignments. The Office of Student Academic Success has great resources for study skills and time management strategies. 

Essential Resources

Asking for help can feel daunting, but at the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences at UMaine, we are dedicated to student success. We love helping students and hope that you will contact us any time you need help.

Here is a brief list of essential resources to support you on your journey.

Have questions about your schedule or have concerns about your classes? Start with your academic advisor. If you don’t know who your advisor is, visit our Academic Contacts page for a list of faculty and staff in your major.

Confused and don’t know where to go? Have an emergency or personal issue that is impacting your classes? Visit the ELH Academic Support Center! Our staff have years of experience on campus, so if we don’t know the answer to your question, we will connect you with someone who can.

Call 207.581.3206, email: elhacademics@maine.edu, or visit our office Monday – Friday 8-4:30, in 115 Deering Hall.

Students with a disability can contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to discuss academic accommodations they may need.  If you had an IEP or 504 plan in high school these plans are not transferred to college. Arranging accommodations before the semester starts is highly recommended, so that you are ready to go on the first day of the semester.

UMaine offers peer tutoring to students in a wide variety of courses through a free app called Knack. Can’t find the course you need assistance with?  Contact the Office of Student Academic Success to request that they add the course to their recruitment list. 

TRIO Student Support Services provides coaching and tutoring resources for first-generation students, income-eligible, and students with a disability.

Everyone has problems sometimes. The Counseling Center is a free resource for students at the University of Maine. Working with a counselor will give you the chance to talk it through, explore your options, and grow. To schedule an appointment call 207.581.1392 or visit them at 5721 Cutler Health Center, room 125.

For a complete list of campus resources, visit the Student Success Hub, a comprehensive digital resource to help you thrive at UMaine.