University of Maine at Presque Isle - MSSM, UMPI sign agreement to provide college credit to high schoolers

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MSSM, UMPI sign agreement to provide college credit to high schoolers

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MSSM, UMPI sign agreement to provide college credit to high schoolers

The Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone and the University of Maine at Presque Isle signed a collaborative agreement on Friday, April 18, that will allow MSSM students to get a head start on college and get experience in a college setting while still in high school.

Walt Warner, Executive Director of MSSM, and UMPI President Don Zillman held a short press conference at the magnet school in Limestone and signed the agreement, which will give MSSM students the opportunity to complete at least one semester of college credit prior to graduation at MSSM. The agreement also will allow MSSM graduates with an academic average of B minus or higher to be automatically accepted at the University.

The agreement also will establish a reasonable fee to allow MSSM students access to Gentile Hall, the University's health and wellness center, as well as cultural events, lectures and other public events deemed by MSSM staff to be appropriate for high school students. UMPI and MSSM administration, faculty and staff also will meet regularly to consider other collaborative arrangements that will benefit both schools.

"This Memorandum of Understanding between the Maine School of Science & Mathematics and the University of Maine at Presque Isle signifies the strong commitment by both schools to work cooperatively to provide the best educational experiences possible for the students that attend our schools," said Walt Warner, Executive Director. "The administrations and faculties of both schools share a vision and passion for academic excellence that can best be accomplished by close collaboration. This Memorandum of Understanding is a clear indication of our shared commitment to that vision."

The Maine School of Science and Mathematics is a public residential magnet school chartered and funded by the Maine State Legislature. Opened in 1995, the MSSM has over 100 students from 81 towns and cities. The school challenges students to achieve their aspirations by fostering intellectual growth through a rigorous curriculum in advanced mathematics, science, and humanities. The residential experience encourages personal accountability and the development of skills in relationships, healthful living and social diversity. This mission is advanced through outreach programs including distance education, summer programs and workshops for students and teachers throughout the state. In 2007, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Maine School of Science and Mathematics the 35^th best in the nation, placing it in the top 100 public high schools.

"We're very pleased to be partnering with a local institution that has been nationally recognized as an elite public high school," President Zillman said. "MSSM is striving to educate some of the brightest young minds across the state and we at the University of Maine at Presque Isle are excited to be helping to further the education of those students and give them a taste of college life during their time in Limestone."

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is a small state university located in the heart of northern Maine. Established in 1903 as a state teacher's school, UMPI now offers a wide range of liberal arts and professional programs and a balanced curriculum that promotes a strong foundation in the arts and sciences. As one of seven autonomous campuses within the University of Maine System, UMPI serves about 1,500 traditional and non-traditional students. The University is committed to close student, faculty and staff interaction in support of intellectual growth and personal development, and public service that promotes the well-being of the people of Maine.

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University of Maine at Presque Isle
181 Main Street
Presque Isle, ME 04769
207.768.9400