University of Maine at Augusta

11/10/2026

On October 19, the UMA Nursing Program welcomed 56 new students with an induction ceremony in the Fireside Lounge.

Dr. Shannon Gauvin shared words of wisdom, and recent UMA graduate Erin Bennett returned to offer advice and encouragement, a reminder of where this path can lead. The ceremony brought students and faculty together to celebrate the beginning of the students' nursing education and the start of a journey they won't take alone.

Congratulations to our newest nursing students! As they begin their studies, they join a long line of UMA nurses who care for patients and strengthen health care in communities across Maine.

11/09/2026

Vet Tech Program Collects Pet Food and Supplies for Community Wellness Clinic

On October 10, Dr. Jennifer Freese, coordinator of UMA's Veterinary Technology Program, and several Vet Tech students volunteered at a wellness clinic in the Bangor area for the pets of community members experiencing homelessness. The clinic was hosted by Broadway Veterinary Clinic and Needlepoint Sanctuary, a local nonprofit organization.

Students assisted with physical examinations, putting their classroom skills to work in a real clinical setting. Ahead of the event, the Vet Tech Program organized a pet food and supplies drive. Thanks to everyone who donated, each pet owner went home with a bag of food for every pet, along with treats and other goodies.

It was a rewarding day of caring for our community and the animals who are part of it. Experiences like this reflect what UMA is all about: hands-on learning that prepares students for meaningful careers while making a real difference close to home.

11/06/2026

Small items can make a big difference. A granola bar between classes, a juice box on a long day, or a bottle of shampoo can help a student keep going.

UMA’s food drive is collecting donations for the Community Cupboard, our campus food pantry in Augusta. The pantry especially needs quick snacks, single-serving drinks, and personal care essentials. Everything is welcome, and anything the pantry can’t use will go to local food banks.

You’ll find drop-off locations across the Augusta campus, including Jewett Hall, the Katz Building, Randall Student Center, and the Capital Center.

Questions? Contact Nora Tyeklar at [email protected].

11/05/2026

Join us today at 4:00 pm for the opening reception of the Architecture Student Show "Building Community" in the Charles Danforth Gallery. The reception is open to the public.

The student show will be on display in the gallery from November 5 - December 10, 2026.

This exhibition presents examples of student investigations spanning all five years of the degree program. In the work shown, gallery visitors can observe growth in various aspects of architecture, from representation and construction to research and design. By scaffolding Architecture students’ education, the program helps them systematically develop their skills in tandem with the increasing complexity of their projects.

UMA’s Bachelor of Architecture program teaches architecture through active engagement. Starting with fundamental design and technical skills, each student progresses to the more complex task of “designing with intention.” The program promotes making and drawing ideas so students gain a clear understanding of what they are proposing. This helps even visionary thinkers realize their concepts in a creative yet practical way.

11/03/2026

Two causes, one community. 🦷💗

October was Dental Hygiene Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene students came together to celebrate the people who care for us!

Here’s to looking out for ourselves and one another. 💕

10/30/2026

We’re honored to be named a finalist for Nonprofit of the Year at the Kenney Awards! Thank you to the Kennebec Valley Chamber for this recognition, and congratulations to our fellow finalists. 👏

Nonprofit of the Year Award Finalist – University of Maine at Augusta

10/29/2026

From UMA Counseling and Wellness:

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close, thank you for learning with us this October. Support for survivors doesn’t end when the month does, and neither does our role in providing it. For our final post, we’re focusing on one of the most important things any of us can do: showing up for someone who is experiencing abuse.

Watching someone endure an abusive situation can be difficult under any circumstances. Your instinct may be to “save them” from the relationship, but abuse is never that simple. The experience of surviving relationship abuse is traumatic, and people in any stage of an abusive relationship should be able to depend on others for support as they process complex emotions and navigate next steps. Depending on the situation, a survivor may be financially dependent on an abusive partner or otherwise lacking access to material resources. One of the most immediate ways you can support someone experiencing relationship abuse is by helping them with their material needs.

You can provide essential emotional support by:

-Acknowledging that their situation is difficult, scary, and brave of them to regain control from.

-Not judging their decisions and refusing to criticize them or guilt them over a choice they make.

-Remembering that you cannot “rescue them,” and that decisions about their lives are up to them to make.

-Not speaking poorly of the abusive partner.

-Helping them create a safety plan.

-Continuing to be supportive of them if they do end the relationship and are understandably lonely, upset, or return to their abusive partner.

-Offering to go with them to any service provider or legal setting for moral support.

Click the link to learn more about how to help someone who is experiencing domestic violence:
https://www.thehotline.org/support-others/ways-to-support-a-domestic-violence-survivor/

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Title IX violations: https://www.uma.edu/compliance/equal-opportunity/title-ix/

UMA Counseling Services: (207) 621-3344

10/29/2026

What a great day at our Brunswick Center’s Hangar 6!

10/28/2026

If you're thinking about, or in the early start-up phase of, a new business, our professional staff will help you assess the feasibility, desirability, and viability of your business idea and get you started with your business plan in this free online class.

📌 Business Basics
📅 Tuesdays: November 3, 10 & 17
🕒 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Online

In three class meetings, Business Basics covers what it takes to be a business owner, business plan outline, mission statement, marketing and pricing, recordkeeping, and cash planning.



New Ventures Maine is a statewide program of the University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine System.

10/28/2026

From UMA Counseling and Wellness:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Behaviors within a relationship of any kind exist on a continuum of healthy to problematic to abusive. Today, we will look at one aspect of healthy relationships: boundaries.

Boundaries are parameters that define what behaviors are acceptable for a person. Boundaries can be physical, emotional, intellectual, sexual, time-based, and material. They are also fluid, and can change based on your comfort level, time, and context. To learn more about the different types of boundaries visit: https://www.pesi.com/blogs/understanding-the-six-types-of-boundaries/

Knowing what our personal boundaries are is an important first step to recognizing what a healthy relationship looks like to us. The next step is being able to communicate our boundaries to others. Below are some tips to start setting boundaries in your relationships:

Show self-compassion by reminding yourself that your needs are important and deserve to be met.

Be as clear and straightforward in what you are asking for as possible.

Use open body language and make eye contact. Open and confident body language shows that you are direct but not rude and is likely to be met with a more positive response.

Do not raise your voice. It’s okay to be stern, direct, and firm in setting boundaries, but raising your voice or using an angry tone can lead to the other person becoming defensive and less likely to hear you out.

State your need or request in terms of what you’d like rather than what you don’t like. For example, “please ask me when you want to borrow something of mine” is going to be better received than “don’t take my things without asking me first.”

Start small. Practicing communicating boundaries is going to make you more confident and comfortable. Choose a low risk boundary to set with a trusted person in your life.

Finally, remember that you are responsible for your words, actions, and reactions — and you are not responsible for anyone else’s. Some people may not respond positively to you setting boundaries and/or will continue to violate your boundaries. Their reactions are not your responsibility. Lean on trusted supports for help in how to address when others don’t respect your boundaries. Seek out friends, family, and mental health professionals to help explore how you wish to proceed when someone does not respect your boundaries.

Boundaries expert Nedra Glover Tawwab shares six types of boundary setting so your clients can learn what violations can look like and how they can protect their peace.