Frequently-Asked Questions
About the Courses
Course Locations
Registering for Courses
Preparing for College
Paying for College
Exams and Papers
Grades
ABOUT THE COURSES
How are courses delivered?
Courses are delivered on-site, online, and via interactive television. On-site courses are traditional classes where the university instructor is in the classroom with the students. All eleven University College Centers offer a selection of on-site courses.
Online courses generally don't require classroom attendance (some online courses require occasional on-site attendance for meetings and proctored exams). These courses use computer conferencing (Blackboard, WebCT, FirstClass), e-mail and the World Wide Web for communication, research, and information resources. Students who don't have access to the Internet from home can participate in these courses from the computer lab at their local University College Center. Students taking courses at high school sites, should always schedule computer time first.
Interactive television (ITV) courses are broadcast live by faculty from the university campuses to University College Centers and sites across Maine. Students attending at these sites view the class on TV monitors and interact with the instructor and other students using a toll-free classroom telephone. Another form of ITV (videoconferencing), available at campuses and University College Centers allows two-way video interaction. Most ITV courses use computer conferencing to deliver course materials, hold discussions and encourage interaction.
ITV and online courses may use videotapes for part or all of the course material; others may include streaming video and/or audio technology, enabling students to view and/or listen to the class on a multimedia PC connected to the web. Check course descriptions carefully for special instructions.
Since many courses use computer conferencing as part of the course, take a moment to visit our Guide to Online Learning for more information and a self-survey that will help you decide if these courses are right for you. And to be sure you are well-prepared for your course, see our computer resources guide.
Do these courses carry college credit from an accredited institution?
All courses offered are from regionally accredited institutions within the University of Maine System or the Maine Community College System and carry college credit.
What do I need to take a course?
To take an online course a student should have a computer with Internet access. Some courses have specific additional requirements which are listed in the course description.
To take an ITV course a student must be able to travel weekly (at least) to a course location in Maine.
To take a videconference course a student must be able to travel weekly (at least) to a University of Maine System campus, a University College Center, University College of Bangor, the Hutchinson Center in Belfast, or Lewiston-Auburn College.
If I want to contact the instructor for more information regarding one of these courses, who do I call to receive that information?
Please call the Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice.
What does tape delay mean?
Some instructors allow their ITV courses to be taken "tape delay." If a student is unable to attend his/her ITV course during real class time, then they may have the option of viewing the tape at a University College Center or site when it is more convenient for them. To find out if an instructor allows tape delay, please call our Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail Teleservice.
If I take an ITV course tape delay, how do I get the tapes?
If you take an ITV course tape delay, then you would go to your place of registration to view the course. Students should call their course location to schedule a time to view the tape.
Can I take the ITV tapes home to watch them?
A few instructors allow ITV tapes to leave a University College Center or site. When an instructor does give permission for a tape to be taken home, staff reserve the right to deny the request if other students enrolled in the class need to view the same tape.
Why can I take an ITV tape home for one course but not another?
Many instructors use copyrighted material. Because of this, the course tape is not allowed to leave the course premises.
Do I need to make an appointment with my nearest University College Center or site to view a tape of a missed ITV class?
Most University College Centers and sites ask students to make arrangements before coming in to view tapes. For contact information, return to the locations page to search for your location's phone number.
COURSE LOCATIONS
What is the difference between a University College Center and a site?
A University College Center acts as an extension of a University of Maine System campus. Students can receive many of the same services they receive at a campus. Some services include: course registration, advising and student services, student activities, and a full computer lab equipped with Internet access for student use.
A site is a local high school or adult education program which contracts with the University of Maine System to serve as a receive site for courses. It is equipped with at least one computer equipped with Internet access for student use, and a site coordinator is on hand to proctor exams and to make sure correspondence between student and instructor is mailed and received.
How do I find out where my nearest University College Center or site is?
Visit our locations page.
REGISTERING FOR COURSES
Where do I meet with an advisor?
Each student matriculated into a degree program is assigned a campus faculty advisor. If you can't get to campus or you are not in a degree program, advisors are available at all University College Centers. Periodically, advisors also travel to sites. If you are unable to travel to the University College Center due to distance and you miss the date when the advisor visits your site, some advisors are always willing to conduct an advising session over the telephone.
What are course prerequisites?
If a course has "prerequisites" listed after the course description, do not register for the course unless you have satisfied these requirements. Prerequisites may only be waived with permission of faculty.
Do I need to be in a degree program to take ITV/online courses?
No. As long as the prerequisite has been met, you are welcome to take the course.
If I live out of state/country, can I take an online course?
Yes, however, some online courses require proctored exams. Call Teleservice at (207) 621-3408 or e-mail Teleservice to sign up for a test location.
How do I register for a course?
Students planning to attend classes at a University College Center, site or take an online class from their home should contact their local University College Center or call our Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail Teleservice for information and to register.
Now that I have registered for a course, what do I do?
IF you are new to distance learning, attend an Orientation session. Please call your local University College Center, site or Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice for more information.
Buy books and course materials. These are available at the UMA Bookstore. Call 1-800-621-0083 or (207) 621-3128 (outside Maine) or order online.
Order a library card by calling 1-800-339-READ or (207) 621-3345 or complete the online library card form.
Obtain an e-mail address by calling our Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice.
If your course requires computer conferencing (Blackboard, WebCT, FirstClass), establish a logon and password by contacting Technical Support at 1-800-696-4357 or e-mail techsupport.
If you will receive financial aid this semester, confirm that all is in order with your campus's financial aid office.
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE
How/where do I apply for admission to a degree program offered in part or in full at a distance?
If you want to earn a degree at a distance, apply to the University of Maine System campus granting the degree. Please call our Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice if you have any questions regarding which campus offers which degree and how to contact them.
I live in Michigan (or Colorado or Australia or Japan, etc.). Can I earn a degree online?
The degree programs currently available outside the state of Maine are: UMA's Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science in Library and Information Services--for admission information, contact Program Coordinator (1-800-850-5377); and UM's Master of Science in Computer Engineering and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering--for more information, contact the Department (ECE 207-581-2223 or http://www.eece.maine.edu).
What is a placement exam and why do I need to take one?
A placement exam is an un-timed exam which estimates through a sample of questions your preparedness for college level work in reading, writing, and math. The exams determine at which level you should start in each of these courses.
Can I take my placement exams at my nearest University College Center or site?
You can take placement exams at your nearest University College Center. Some sites do offer placement exams. Please call your local University College Center for information regarding placement exam availability near you.
Will the degree granting institution accept my SAT test scores?
Yes, it depends upon the degree program how much weight SAT score grades will carry toward acceptance.
PAYING FOR COLLEGE
How much do courses cost?
The rate of tuition students pay is determined by the university offering your course. You can tell which of Maine's public universities is offering the course by looking at the fourth letter in the course number. For example, ANTA 102 = the fourth letter is A, for UMA. For more information and to see current tuition rates, click here.
Does financial aid cover ITV and online courses?
In-state students: Yes. However, you must be enrolled in a degree program within the University of Maine System and the course must transfer into your degree. If you are taking a course that is not originating from your home campus, you must contact your financial aid office to fill out any paperwork that may be required to transfer financial aid. If you are enrolled in a degree program from an institution other than the University of Maine System, you should talk with your financial aid office about the possibilities of your financial aid covering these courses.
Is there a charge for online courses and if so how much?
Yes. You are charged the tuition rate of the campus from which the course is originating. Various fees also apply, as well as cost of textbooks and/or study guide. With the exception of the LIB courses from UMA, students taking online courses who are not residents of Maine will be charged out-of-state tuition rates. If you have any questions regarding the cost of a course, please call our Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice.
Where does the billing come from?
You will receive a separate bill from each campus at which you are enrolled. Note: if you choose to enroll in your home campus' payment plan, you can pay for all UMS tuition and fee expenses through that plan. If your employer is paying for your tuition, and you are enrolled in courses from more than one campus, you will need a letter from your employer to each campus.
Where do I pay my bill?
Tuition may be paid in person, mailed to the appropriate University of Maine System campus, or paid over the phone with a credit card at any University College Center or the Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408. VISA, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
EXAMS AND PAPERS
Where do I take my course exams?
Unless otherwise noted, exams are taken at your nearest University College Center or site.
How are exams for online courses taken?
Some online courses require students to be present at a University College Center or site to take proctored exams. However, most of the online courses are offering take-home exams to accommodate busy students. It is important for out-of-state students to ask if take-home exams are given before registering for a course. Call the Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice.
If I take an exam at a University College Center or site, will it be proctored?
If the exam requires one, a proctor will be present.
How are my exams/papers returned to me?
Corrected papers are returned to the University College Center or site where you are registered.
If an exam/paper is missing, how is it tracked?
Students should always save a copy of their work just in case a paper is misplaced. If you are concerned that a paper is missing, please alert your site coordinator or a University College Center staff person. They will do their best to track down the missing paper for you.
How are my exams/papers sent to my instructor?
Papers handed in at a site or University College Center will be sent to the instructor by staff through the Academic Logistics Department in Augusta.
GRADES
Will these credits transfer to another institution?
It is always up to the institution that you are matriculated with whether or not they will accept credits from another school into your degree program. However, since courses are from regionally accredited institutions, they should transfer at a minimum as electives or, with prior understanding, as a program requirement. Students who need transcripts sent to other colleges must request them in writing. Please call your local University College Center, campus or Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice for information.
At the end of the semester, you will be responsible for ensuring that transcripts of the courses you took from all other UMS campuses are sent to your home campus. Transcript request forms are available online for most campuses.
IF your question has not been answered here, please call our Teleservice Center at 1-800-868-7000 or (207) 621-3408 or e-mail teleservice.