University History
The University of Maine was
established as the Maine College of Agriculture and the Mechanic
Arts under the provisions of the Morrill Act, approved by
President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. In 1897 the original name
changed to the University of Maine. The institution opened
September 21, 1868 with twelve students and two faculty members.
By 1871, curricula had been organized in Agriculture, Civil
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and electives. From these
courses of study there gradually developed the Colleges of Life
Sciences and Agriculture (later to include the School of Forest
Resources and the School of Human Development), Engineering and
Science, and Arts and Sciences. The School of Education was
established in 1930 and received college status in 1958. The
School of Business Administration was formed in 1958 and was
granted college status in 1965. Women have been admitted into all
curricula since 1872.
The Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station was
founded as a division of the University in 1887. In 1912 the Maine
Cooperative Extension, which offers field educational programs for
both adults and youths, was initiated. .The first master's degree
was conferred in 1881; the first doctor's degree in 1960. Since
1923 there has been a separate graduate school. The Summer Session
as a separate entity dates from 1902. The Winter Session began in
the 1997-98 academic year. A Continuing Education Division offers
evening and Saturday courses from the several curricula.
Non-credit courses of general adult interest are also made
available from the University of Maine.
In 1980 the University of Maine was given Sea Grant College
status by the Federal Government under provisions of the National
Sea Grant College Program Act.
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