UMFK Introduces RURAL U Portfolio of Early College Education Programs

The University of Maine at Fort Kent has unveiled a major re-branding of its early college education programs for high school students living in rural areas of Maine.

The three, previously separate and distinct programs: Early College, Pleasant Street Academy, and Dual Enrollment now are known collectively as RURAL U.

The re-branding was introduced at a news conference Tuesday led by UMFK’s Dean of Community Education, Scott Voisine.

RURAL U has 22 high school partners across Maine from Fort Kent to as far away as Ellsworth, Vinalhaven, and Winslow.  During the past five years, the participation numbers have doubled, and the program now serves more than 125 students throughout rural Maine.

The portfolio of early college education programs, now under the RURAL U banner, consists of:

• EARLY COLLEGE -- Maine Aspirations is a program in which students take live or online classes for college credit and high school elective credit.

• PLEASANT STREET ACADEMY is Maine’s first early college high school model. Students enroll in Pleasant Street Academy as juniors and seniors and have the opportunity to earn one full year of college credit by graduation.  Classes count toward both core high school requirements and UMFK general education requirements.

• DUAL ENROLLMENT classes are courses taught at the partnered high school by teachers approved as adjunct faculty, or UMFK appointed faculty.  Students earn both high school credit and college credit.