LEWISTON – An open house on the teacher education program at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College will be held Tuesday, March 27.

USM offers an undergraduate program on its Lewiston-Auburn campus called Collaborative Learning and School Success (CLASS) to prepare students for careers in the classroom.

The rigorous, non-traditional program consists of four and a half years of academic work and professional teacher preparation. Students are placed in local partner schools immediately and partnered with a mentor teacher. That enables them to begin understanding the everyday experiences of teachers and students.

Upon completion of the CLASS program, students earn their bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts field, state certification to teach kindergarten through eight, and more than 30 credits toward a graduate degree.

The CLASS Professional Development School program provides all of the education courses and experiences required to become a qualified, state certified candidate for elementary and middle school teaching positions in the state. The education courses, field experiences and seminars occur on-site in local schools, currently Sherwood Heights Elementary School and Auburn Middle School.

An informational meeting and open house will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27. The informal open house will include a brief presentation about the program and provide a forum for questions and answers. Information about admissions and financial aid will also be available.

The session, free and open to the public, will be held in the upstairs lounge at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, 51 Westminster St. Light refreshments will be served.

Those who wish to attend are asked to call 753-6618 or e-mail [email protected]. Advance registration is encouraged. More information about the program and the open house may be found online at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/class/openhouse.