The Office of Educational Outreach

UMF's Office of Educational Outreach (OEO) is at the center of the university's commitment to collaboration with teachers working in Maine's K-12 schools. This commitment finds life in programs that have a long history of quality (i.e., Summer Institutes), as well as new programs that develop each year in response to needs voiced by the K-12 community.

UMF offers several programs that serve K-12 teachers in western and central Maine (see list at left).

Assistant Building Administrator (Assistant Principal Cohorts)

Participants seeking the Assistant Building Administrator certification must hold a bachelor's degree, and must provide evidence of a minimum of three years' teaching experience. In addition to the "teaching exceptional children in the regular classroom" requirement for any teaching certificate in the state of Maine, those seeking the Assistant Building Administrator certificate must complete three additional courses:

• EDU 550 School Law for Administrators
• EDU 551 Organizational Behavior and Change
• EDU 552 Evaluation and Supervision of School Personnel

A fourth course, EDU 553 School Finance for Principals, has been added for individuals interested in Building Administrator certification (Principal). Participants should check the MODE website at http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm for additional non-course requirements for both Assistant Principal (Certificate 045: Assistant Building Administrator) and Principal (Certificate 040: Building Administrator) certification. (Click on Ch. 115, Part II.)

Courses leading to Certification as an Associate Behavior Analyst (ABA Course Series)

The University of Maine at Farmington will soon be accepting a third cohort of professionals wishing to complete 3 of the courses needed for certification as an Associate Behavior Analyst. Recognized by both the US Surgeon General and Maine’s own MADSEC, applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an effective strategy for improving the skills and independence of children with autism.

Off Campus Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Program

The University of Maine at Farmington provides a unique opportunity for working child care professionals to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education off-campus in southern Maine. Candidates eligible for this special field-based program are working professionals with an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or the equivalent. Courses are planned so participants can complete the Bachelor's Degree within 5 years by committing to taking two ECE courses per semester.

Courses began January 2006. UMF Early Childhood Education courses that form the foundation of a UMF B.S. in ECE will be taught by UMF faculty at sites in southern Maine, and general education courses required to complete the degree can be taken at campuses of the candidate's choice. Faculty advisors will work with candidates to develop their own individual plan for degree completion.

The program is designed for a cohort of students. To assure a space in this cohort, apply for admission early. Please call Heidi Atwood in the Early Childhood Department at 778-7152 for more information on this program.

Graduate Classes

In response to the growing need for graduate courses expressed by both teachers and superintendents in western and central Maine, UMF is now able to offer 500 level graduate courses to teachers with Bachelor's degrees working in pre-K-12 classrooms.

Regional Teacher Development Center

UMF was selected in 2003 as the first site in the state to host a new Regional Teacher Development Center (RTDC). A network of centers across the state now serve most regions of Maine thanks to initial funding from the Chancellor's Office of the University of Maine System and the Maine Department of Education.