School news

Maine Maritime Academy

CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy will welcome the Class of 2011 to campus on Saturday, Aug. 25, and will launch the college’s 66th academic year with a solid undergraduate enrollment, continuing the college’s recent multi-year trend of maximum enrollment. The college expects to welcome some 850 undergraduates to classes on Monday, Sept. 3.

Through normal requests for leaves of absence and student changes of plans, that figure enables the college to meet the strategic goal for a total undergraduate enrollment of 800 students. The Class of 2011, with an anticipated enrollment of 290, continues an ongoing trend in large incoming classes over the last eight years.

The incoming class will participate in orientation, a weeklong introduction to college life to familiarize new students with the campus and services. The theme of orientation, Charting Your Course, highlights MMA’s small college atmosphere.

This year’s Student Services team has developed a series of opportunities to encourage MMA staff and faculty to welcome new students to campus. Organizers hope that the interactive events, following a theme of “We’ve Been Waiting for You,” will help new students and their families experience first-hand the strong sense of community and support offered by a small college. Organizers have invited the entire college community to participate in opening day events, including checking in students and helping to carry boxes to dormitory rooms, a family-oriented community social, sports and games and social networking activities. Staff and faculty will accompany students on community services projects and are encouraged to offer their support and encouragement at the annual Regimental Field Day and ship jump events.

The program includes study skills and water safety workshops, sessions on medical and counseling services, campus safety and the college’s academic, computing and financial aid programs. The new students will tour the college’s waterfront facilities and upper campus and complete a confidence course on campus. This year’s program includes modules on celebrating diversity and community involvement.

Integrated into orientation is a five-day Regimental Preparatory Training program for those seeking an officer’s license in the U.S. Merchant Marine. The program emphasizes traditions of the MMA Regiment of Midshipmen, military drill, aquatic training and ship familiarization.

The program concludes with an athletic field day, encouraging friendly competition between the four student companies. Activities include relay races, tug of war and strength competitions. The field day, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, will take place on Ritchie Field, the college’s all-weather synthetic turf field. In the event of rain, the field day will be held in the field house. Spectators are welcome.

Students choosing a traditional college lifestyle participate in local community service projects. Volunteer groups will conduct improvement projects throughout the state. Projects are scheduled at Girl Scouts of America Camp Natarswi and Baxter State Park, Millinocket; Boy Scouts of America Camp Roosevelt, Holden; and Acadia National Park’s Schoodic Point, Winter Harbor.

Continuing an MMA seafaring tradition, groups join in a “confidence jump” from the side of the training vessel, State of Maine. The jump, born out of practical training needs for students entering seagoing careers, also serves as a class unification activity and is symbolic of a willingness to embrace the numerous adventures and challenges typical of a Maine Maritime Academy education. This year’s jump is set for 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, with a rain date set for 1 p.m. Sept. 2. Community spectators are encouraged to attend.

Students will notice several campus upgrades upon their return. Freshly paved delivery and pedestrian pathways are now open to the public for improved access to the lower level of the Harold Alfond Student Center. Twelve dormitory rooms have been added to the college’s Curtis Hall residential complex.

Health Services will continue to offer counseling and medical services to students from a newly renovated clinical space located in a more traveled area of the residence hall complex.

Students also will notice a fresh coat of paint on the training ship, State of Maine, a result of dry-docking and maintenance in July and August. The routine dry-docking ensures the ship’s compliance with regulations of the American Bureau of Shipping and the U.S. Coast Guard. The ship was sailed to dry-dock by its regular professional crew and attended by them throughout maintenance. The State of Maine returned to Castine Harbor on Aug. 25.

Fall semester highlights include Homecoming, Sept. 28-30; and Family and Friends Weekend, Oct. 5-7.