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The University of Maine at Presque Isle will receive one of the largest grants in its history this month following the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that the University was selected for a 2019 Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant worth nearly $2.25 million over a five-year cycle. The grant will allow UMPI to expand access to two new career pathways—in Computer Science and Health Administration—and develop stronger career readiness and experiential learning offerings for students.

As part of its Homecoming celebrations, the University of Maine at Presque Isle marked the completion of its state-of-the-art, four-season Zillman Family Greenhouse with an official opening and dedication ceremony on Friday, Sept. 27. Work and learning in the new $935,000, 2,400-square-foot structure—which features a teaching classroom, two climate-controlled research labs, and a faculty office for the Dr. Robert Vinton Akeley Chair of Agricultural Science and Agribusiness—will begin immediately.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host Dr. Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.—author, UMPI alumnus, and Associate Professor and Director of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University in Oregon—as the first guest speaker in its 2019-2020 Libra Distinguished Lecture Series on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. The theme of this year’s LDLS series is Dirigo. During his talk, Matters of Place, Dr. Van Alst will discuss the importance of place and authority in voice and word, and read from his latest book Sacred Smokes.

After nearly two decades, the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Voices in the North Country writers symposium—designed for writers, literature lovers, and general enthusiasts—returns on Thursday, Sept. 26, with activities taking place from 1:30-4 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. in the Campus Center. All are invited to attend this free event.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will present Homecoming 2019: Alumni, Friends, and Family Weekend from Thursday to Sunday, Sept. 26-29, featuring entertainment and family-friendly activities. From a show by fan favorite Star City Syndicate to an explosive fireworks display to multiple games for students and the public, all are invited to join the University for its annual Homecoming weekend.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will celebrate the 232nd birthday of the signing of the U.S. Constitution with a new event this year. UMPI’s Student Activities Office will present an interactive forum, Decision 2020 featuring MTV’s Nick Brown, on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Noon in Campus Center.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle has been named one of the top 5 Most Innovative Schools for Regional Colleges in the North, along with four other top rankings, as part of the U.S. News and World Report 2020 Best Colleges list.

Los Angeles-based comedian Justin Rupple returns to the University of Maine at Presque Isle for an evening of comedy on Monday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Campus Center. This event is free for UMPI students with ID, and a $5 general admission fee.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Reed Art Gallery presents Letting the Objects Speak: Conversations with Found Objects by Sandra Huck, between Aug. 26 and Oct. 11, 2019. The public is invited to view the exhibition throughout the show’s run and attend the Gallery Reception on Friday, Sept. 6, from 5-7 p.m., which includes a talk with the artist at 5:30 p.m.; light refreshments will be served.

Children’s book lovers of all ages will have a brand new event to enjoy—complete with themed and decorated tables, crafts, and snacks—when The Literacy Tea takes place on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to Noon in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Campus Center.