FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington unveiled a new initiative Thursday, one that provides a free dorm room for two semesters to Mt. Blue High School seniors who attend college there next fall.

President Kathryn Foster along with UMF admission representatives and Mt. Blue alumni now attending UMF presented a panel presentation to the students after treating them to lunch at the high school Thursday, said Roberto Noya, vice president for enrollment management and marketing.

“The initiative, Be at Home at UMF, is an effort to improve good relations with another education presence in Farmington,” Noya said. “It’s a show of appreciation.”

While many from the high school already choose to attend UMF, the offer provides an opportunity for the college to see if the number of students enrolled increases. For those who do come attend, it offers them an opportunity to experience the full benefit of what is primarily a residential college, he said.

Under the new initiative, current Mt. Blue seniors who enroll at UMF will be given a free room in a double dorm room for two semesters with the university absorbing the cost, he said. The cost for meals is not included.

The plan is expected to increase the number of students living on campus while maximizing opportunities that campus life can offer the students, he said.

For this first year, the initiative is extended to Mt. Blue students only but there is talk of expanding it and reaching out to other schools.

The program has another aspect called “Come Home to UMF” and targets local students who choose to attend colleges away from Farmington.

“Ideally we hope everyone finds a good match and ends up in the right place,” he said. “But some students go away for a bit and realize what they are looking for could be found at home.”

This portion of the initiative includes two groups: students who applied to UMF as seniors, some even offered merit scholarships, but chose to go elsewhere and those who decided on other schools from the start.

If students, who applied and were accepted to UMF but chose another college, decide to come back and attend UMF within one year, the college will provide the two semesters of free rooming and also give them their merit award, he said.

The other group, students who chose another college and then decide within the year they would like to transfer to UMF, will also have an opportunity for a free room but they are no longer eligible for merit scholarships.

The college already works well with the guidance office at Mt. Blue and many students choose UMF. The schools realize some students need to go away from home. It can be difficult for some to stay in this area for college and they have good reasons to go away, he said.

Once away though, they may realize UMF can provide what they were offered elsewhere at a higher price than UMF.

 abryant@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link