UMFK News Releases

The University of Maine at Fort Kent’s eleventh annual Scholars’ Symposium will take place on Tuesday, April 26th and Wednesday, April 27th on the UMFK campus. The theme of this year’s event is, “Perspectives: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.”

“Our committee composed of faculty, students, and staff felt Perspectives was an important theme in recognition of the complexity of the diversity of perspectives and outlooks on our campus and globally,” said Dr. Kaisa Holloway Cripps, co-chair of the committee along with colleagues Dr. Michael Curran and Dr. Leo Trudel. “The theme provides a way for us to share our opinions and engage in collegial conversation to continue to build our positive campus and Fort Kent community.”

The two-day showcase of students’ academic achievements kicks-off on Tuesday evening with a talk by Acadian Archives/Archives Acadienne Director, Dr. Patrick Lacroix who will share perspectives on the Acadian and Franco communities of St. John Valley and beyond. The presentation will be held at 5:00 p.m. in Nadeau Hall.

Dr. Lacroix earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in history at institutions throughout Canada and New England. Dr. Lacroix has published several pieces in publications. He recently published in the American Review of Canadian Studies, Prelude to the “Great Hemorrhage”: French Canadians in the United States, 1775-1840.

Beginning at 7 p.m. in the Bengal’s Lair, the Student Activities department will host its annual Bengal Life Awards. The awards are presented each year to recognize individual students, faculty, and staff who demonstrate outstanding service and who make significant contributions to UMFK and to the Fort Kent community.

On Wednesday, the symposium will begin with a welcome from UMFK President Dr. Deb Hedeen at 8:30 a.m. in Fox Auditorium. She will be followed by the keynote speaker Honorable Troy Jackson, Maine State Senate president and UMFK alumnus from the class of 2001, who will speak to the UMFK campus community at 8:40 a.m.

Troy Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, Maine. Jackson serves in the Maine Senate from District 1, representing northern Aroostook County. In 2018, he was unanimously elected president of the Maine Senate and in 2020, Jackson was re-elected to that position.

According to his webpage, “In Augusta, Troy has emerged as a health care champion, spearheading legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, increase access to care and fund rural hospitals. He has fought for property tax relief so hardworking Mainers can afford to stay in their homes and communities. He has led the charge to protect workers’ rights and worked to promote good-paying jobs in rural Maine.”

At 9:10 a.m. in Fox Auditorium, undergraduate awards will be presented by Dr. Hedeen.

“Lightning Talks,” which are five-minute presentations that will focus on a single topic, example, idea, project, or technique will be presented by UMFK faculty and community members beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the auditorium.

The symposium will include a panel discussion by Dr. Paul Mayeswski and Dr. Alice (Pips) Veazey on “Maine and the Arctic: Perspectives on the Connections and Solutions.”

Dr. Mayewski is director and professor of the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine and Distinguished Professor in the Schools of Earth and Climate Sciences, Marine Sciences, Policy and International Affairs, and the Business School, and Law School. He is an internationally acclaimed glaciologist, climate scientist and polar explorer, leader of many expeditions.

Dr. Veazey is director of the UMaine Portland Gateway. She has led numerous teams of students, educators, scientists, decision makers and community partners to increase research competitiveness, promote economic development efforts and expand statewide workforce programs.

Question and answer sessions will follow presentations held in the auditorium and will be monitored by the UMFK Scholar Symposium committee chairs.

The afternoon will highlight students’ research with poster sessions, presentations, and demonstrations, and the students will answer questions about their methodologies and findings. These will be held simultaneously from 1:30 pm to 3:30 p.m. around the campus.

Students can earn an Undergraduate Research Scholar micro-credential through their research and are eligible to earn awards and certificates.

The symposium is free, and the public is welcome. Please check umfk.edu for requirements related to Covid-19.

UMFK Scholars’ Symposium fosters a community of engaged educators, researchers, and life-long learners who value academic excellence, scholarship, and intellectual curiosity. Two days of stimulating presentations and discourse focuses on issues relevant to the region and to the institution’s mission, which commits to experiential learning, responsible citizenship, and environmental stewardship in its Franco-American, rural setting.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is seeking nominations of individual student-athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators for induction into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 18, 2022. The induction ceremony will be held during UMFK’s Homecoming weekend in September.

The UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame was established to recognize the men and women who have distinguished themselves in the field of athletics by their performance on UMFK athletic teams, through their achievements after graduation from the University, or by their efforts on behalf of UMFK Athletics.

Nominations will be accepted in the following categories: athlete, team, coach/administrator, and special inductee.

Any alumni or friend of UMFK may submit a nomination for consideration by a 15-member selection committee, which consists of students, athletes, coaches, faculty, administrators and alumni of the University. Nominees must receive at least 70 percent of the vote of the selection committee to be eligible for induction into the UMFK Athletic Hall of Fame.

A complete list of the eligibility requirements and selection process for inclusion in the Athletic Hall of Fame and an online official form located on UMFK website at https://athletics.umfk.edu/hof/

Nomination forms may be obtained on the UMFK campus at the Athletics Department (Sports Center).

For more information, please contact the Athletic Department at 207-834-8637.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent and the University of Maine School of Law (Maine Law) have announced a collaborative academic degree program, a 3+3 program, that facilitates the completion of a bachelor’s and J.D. degree in six years instead of seven.

“In this pathway program, UMFK’s business and environmental studies students can study at UMFK for three years and then, if accepted into Maine Law, they can finish their final year of UMFK at Maine Law while simultaneously working on their law degree,” said UMFK’s President, Dr. Deb Hedeen. “Maine has a need for attorneys in rural areas, so we’re hopeful this will help fill that need.”

This pathway program allows students to accelerate their studies, saving time and tuition. Students will still be required to take the LSAT exam and meet Maine Law’s admission standards. Maine Law will mentor and guide UMFK 3+3 students they move through the program.

“Our 3+3 program offers highly motivated students the opportunity to expand their academic horizons and jumpstart their careers,” Maine Law Dean Leigh Saufley said. “We are excited to welcome more UMFK students to Maine Law and with them their passions and diverse experiences.”

“An exciting pathway 3+3 students can take is to incorporate our new Arctic Studies minor into their degree plan,” said Dr. Kaisa Holloway Cripps, Assistant Professor of Business at UMFK. “Law is important to the dynamic Arctic landscape as governance adapts to environmental changes in the polar regions. Students will have the opportunity at Maine Law to apply, for example, for the Arctic Law Fellowship and travel to the Arctic to expand their learning and scholarship.”

For more information on this accelerated law degree opportunity, please contact UMFK’s Admissions office at 207-834-7600 or umfklife@maine.edu or Maine Law at 207-780-4341 or lawadmissions@maine.edu.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is proud to announce its Dean’s List for the fall 2021 semester. This list includes full-time and part-time students.

“Congratulations to the students who have made the UMFK Dean’s & Academic Recognition Lists,” said UMFK’s President Deb Hedeen. “The Dean’s List includes full-time students who have earned a 3.2 grade-point average, while the Academic Recognition List acknowledges our part-time students who have also earned a 3.2 GPA. These students have demonstrated a level of resilience and academic excellence during the pandemic. Their accomplishments are to be acknowledged and celebrated. We are incredibly proud to have these talented students as members of the UMFK community.”

UMFK, situated at the center of Acadian history and culture in Maine, is a vital resource to the St. John Valley communities. The regional baccalaureate university within the University of Maine System serves more than 1,300 students.

The community of Fort Kent has a population of more than 4,000 and is situated in the St. John River Valley. The people of the valley are largely descended from the French-Acadians and French-Canadians.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is pleased to announce that former interim UMFK President and Provost, Dr. Tex Boggs will be the keynote speaker for the 140^th commencement ceremony held on May 7, 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Boggs speak at our celebration,” said UMFK President and Provost, Dr. Deb Hedeen. “His insight, as well as civic contributions, will be poignant for our students.”

Dr. Tex Boggs joined the University of Maine at Fort Kent on July 1, 2018, as an interim Provost. After the retirement of Dr. Short in 2019, Dr. Boggs was asked to stay on as the President & Provost of UMFK by the previous University of Maine System Chancellor, Dr. James Page, until July 2020.

Dr. Boggs has more than twenty-five years of presidential experience. He led Western Wyoming Community College for twenty years as well as five years at Antioch University in California. Prior to those roles he was a Wyoming State Senator for eight years.

“Dr. Boggs served UMFK with a tireless work ethic and a thoughtful approach to leadership which truly lead by example,” said UMFK’s Chief Business Officer, Pam Ashby, CPA. “He provided consistent and steady guidance throughout the planning stages of the Enrollment and Advancement Center.”

Since Dr. Boggs left UMFK, he has been enjoying time with family and the beautiful weather of California. He is currently undergoing the rigorous application process to become a member of the Orange County Civil Grand Jury.

“For his many contributions to campus in such a short amount of time, we are awarding Dr. Boggs an honorary degree from the University of Maine System,” said President Hedeen.

For more information about UMFK’s commencement, go to www.umfk.edu/commencement/ [link no longer active] or call 834-7500.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is pleased to announce that Dr. Patrick Lacroix, Director of the Acadian Archives acadiennes, was recently published in the American Review of Canadian Studies.

His piece, Prelude to the “Great Hemorrhage”: French Canadians in the United States, 1775-1840, establishes the context in which French Canadians left the St. Lawrence River valley to settle in the Midwest, in New England, and in our borderland region. It shows that their migrations did not begin in the second half of the nineteenth century, but much earlier. The French Canadians who moved east from the 1820s onward joined the pioneering Acadian families and intermarried.

“Most people of French heritage in the Madawaska region today can trace family lines both to colonial Acadia and to Quebec, which our extensive collection of Quebec genealogies reflects,” said Dr. Lacroix. “My article lays out the social and economic circumstances for the creation of French-Canadian settlements outside of Quebec and the rise of a hybrid French culture.”

The research Dr. Lacroix conducts is deeply connected to the mission of the Acadian Archives, which is centered on the history and culture not only of Acadians, but of all French-heritage peoples in St. John River valley. Our region drew farm laborers and lumberjacks from the Lower St. Lawrence; religious orders from the Diocese of Quebec taught in local schools. People moved back and forth. New research on the 1820s and 1830s, like the work of Beatrice Craig and other scholars, helps trace the circumstances that created this cultural exchange and the distinct society we find in the Upper St. John Valley. The collections of the Acadian Archives, like Dr. Lacroix’s research, can provide guidance and insights for community members who wish to learn more about these migrations.

For more information on the Acadian Archives, please go to the Acadian Archives webpage or call (207) 834-7536.

Dr. Patrick Lacroix, director of the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, as well as a number of invited scholars, will teach a special six-week course, titled Acadian History: From Colonization to Reinvention starting on March 3rd and meeting on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. until April 14, 2022 (except for March 17th). Class participants have a choice of attending the class in-person on the UMFK campus or via Zoom.

This course is of special interest to anyone who wants a better understanding of Acadian history. Topics in the course include the challenges faced by French settlers in present day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; the relationship between Acadians and the First Nations of the Northeast; the factors that led to the Acadian Deportation, the economic mobility that helped shape the St. John Valley; the distinct experiences of Acadians in Northern Maine, and the transformation of Acadian ideology from survival to affirmation.

“Acadians and French Canadians have left an indelible mark, culturally, economically, and politically, on the development of Eastern Canada and Maine,” states Lacroix, “But this story remains little known to the wider public and is often misunderstood. With the help of prominent historians, we’ll navigate that rich, complex history and confront well-entrenched myths.”

Students may take the course as a non-credit class or choose to earn one CEU – Continuing Education Unit for the class. This class will provide guidance and support for teachers who wish to include Acadian History in their curriculum. The class and the free class materials for students is presented by the UMFK Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes and made possible by a grant from the Maine Acadian Heritage Council.

Those interested in registering for the course and/or the CEU should go to https://www.umfk.edu/archives/acadian-history/ [link no longer active]. An opportunity to pay online for the course and a CEU is also located at the web address. The cost for the course is $25, and those interested in earning a CEU will be charged an additional $50 CEU fee.

For more information, contact the UMFK Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes at 207-824-7536.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is pleased to announce the creation of new Master of Science in Nursing and Doctorate of Nursing Practice programs. These graduate-level programs will be offered fully online.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctorate of Nursing Practice are UMFK’s first graduate-level programs. While UMFK has several graduate-level pathways with other University of Maine System institutions, these will be their first solo programs.

“Nursing is UMFK’s signature program,” said UMFK’s President Dr. Deb Hedeen. “With a robust group of highly qualified doctorate-level faculty, creating doctoral and master’s programs is an obvious fit and our State has a demonstrated need for individuals with graduate-level nursing education.”

“We have researched the health needs of the State and after considering the graduate-level nursing programs that the University of Maine System already offered, we determined that providing specialty tracks in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP), Acute Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Acute PMHNP), Primary Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Primary PMHNP), and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) were of the most value to the residents of Maine,” said UMFK’s Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Dean of Nursing Dr. Erin Soucy.

The online, accelerated program will have several start dates to allow for greater access for students. UMFK will begin admission into the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) program for a summer 2022 start. The remaining specialty tracks will launch in summer 2023 and summer 2024. The Doctorate of Nursing Practice has an expected start of 2024.

“Expanding capacity to produce more registered nurses is not enough to help our State,” said President Hedeen. “We must prepare more nursing faculty and advance nurse practitioners to handle the upcoming retirements in the next five to ten years.”

The staggered roll-out of the specialty tracks is to accommodate not only the expected enrollment bump, but also the need for additional faculty. Delaying the start of several of the specialties allows the university time to conduct a national search for appropriate faculty.

“Our national accrediting agency, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), sets forth graduate program accreditation standards that we follow,” said Dr. Soucy. “Our program curriculum and evaluation plan align with CCNE and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) standards for quality graduate education and program evaluation.”

“Maine needs comprehensive strategies for our most dire workforce challenges,” said University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy. “UMFK has long been a leader in nursing education. I appreciate their innovation and their commitment to investing in educational programs that expand our overall capacity to prepare more people for careers as Maine healthcare providers and educators.”

UMFK will begin marketing these programs nationwide this spring in order to correspond to the staggered programmatic rollout. The marketing is done in conjunction with a national entity called Academic Partnerships (AP) who enables a wider reach for UMFK’s messaging.

“Nursing is a vast field of study, and we are thrilled to be able to offer prospective students multiple pathways for nursing education at UMFK,” said President Hedeen.

For more information, please call (207) 834-7600 or go to the Nursing program webpage.