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The University of Maine ranked as the top overall performer in attracting and retaining students that belong to traditionally disenfranchised groups, according a report published this month by The Education Trust, an organization dedicated to promoting academic achievement in marginalized populations.
Many of America’s flagship universities are losing sight of their mission, but UMaine is not one of them, according to a report titled “Opportunity Adrift.” The report scored 50 flagship universities in criteria such as low-income student access and graduation success among minority students.
The report says that for every minority student attending a high school in Maine, there are 1.39 minority students attending the university. Maine’s flagship public university is not only representing its own minority state residents, it is attracting minority students from other states. UMaine is one of only three universities to exceed 100 percent minority representation for their state populations.
Director of College Success Programs Alan Parks said, “Given that such a high percentage of UMaine is made up of in-state students and our representation is greater than that of high schools in Maine, we seem to be doing a first-class job.”
Parks attributes the scores to a university-wide commitment to helping marginalized students find success at UMaine. He points to programs such as Student Support Services, which assists low-income, first generation and disabled students in getting an education. Student Support Services has an 83 percent graduation rate, significantly higher than the overall graduation rate for the university. The service provides students with resources such as multiple tutors through the campus tutor program and grants for funding their education.
The service will distribute $80,000 in student grants during this year alone. The Office of Financial Aid matches the funds by 50 percent.
“That is a very serious commitment from the university, especially in these tough times,” Parks said.
“This is all part of a bigger statement the university is making – that Maine is a safe and welcoming place,” he said. He said it isn’t just one program but a combination of programs and services that sets the University of Maine apart and attracts students of all backgrounds.
One such piece of the puzzle is Onward, a UMaine program that assists nontraditional students age 25 and older. Many Onward students are Maine residents with a low income hoping to begin a more successful career.
Mark Brunton is in his first year of the Onward program and credits it with giving him opportunities he could not have found at another university. Onward has provided him with personalized help and useful seminars on topics such as applying for financial aid and scholarships.
“They’ve been there every step of the way, from the time I first walked in and applied to the present,” he said.
First-year computer science student Aryel Sanborn originally chose to attend UMaine because it will supplement her G.I. Bill with matching funds, but she has discovered other benefits for low-income students.
“The university has helped me with where to look and where to apply for financial aid,” she said. Sanborn also uses the university’s childcare facilities, which assist low-income students with children.
Director of University Relations Joe Carr believes the report has positive implications for UMaine.
“We can all be proud that equity and access are so fundamental to the UMaine philosophy, and it’s nice to see this commitment recognized through external assessment,” he stated in an e-mail.
UMaine will face the threat of budget cuts for years to come and Parks says that college success programs are already feeling the effects. Onward will be able to enroll only 35 students next year as opposed to its usual 50. There is no guarantee that the reductions will end there. These financial issues could be the factor that determines whether UMaine can continue to be a national leader in equitable education.
The report notes that the “populations from which [each state] draw the majority of their students” is a matter of contextual consequence. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maine is 96.4 percent Caucasian — tied with Vermont for first in terms of a lack of racial diversity. According to College Board, which administers the SAT and compiles data on more than 5,700 schools, 82 percent of first-year UMaine students are Caucasian.
Bangor Daily News