Student Success and Advising Center

Maine College of Engineering and Computing

All MCEC first and second year students are advised by the Student Success and Advising Center. This centralized location is designed to be a key asset during your educational journey. Each major has a Student Success Advocate available to help with student needs. After the second year, students will be assigned a faculty advisor from their program.

Upcoming Important Dates

Meet the team

Arieana Mangra

Majors Supported
Civil & Environmental Engineering

Schedule Appointment

Email: arieana.mangra@maine.edu

Welcome to MCEC! I’m thrilled to support you on your academic journey during your first two years. Together with your faculty mentor, we’ll work towards your goals and ensure you have a rewarding experience. With a diverse background in hospitality, mental health, and higher education, I’m passionate about helping individuals grow and succeed. I’m dedicated to both personal and professional development and believe in making a positive impact on everyone I work with. Let’s embark on this exciting journey together!

Isaac Cortez

Majors Supported
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Physics

Schedule Appointment

Email: isaac.cortez@maine.edu

Welcome to the Maine College of Engineering and Computing! My name is Isaac Cortez, and I’m your Student Success Advocate. With a background in HR and career development, I bring a wealth of experience in helping individuals achieve their goals. I’m here to support you through your first two years at UMaine by providing personalized academic advising, connecting you with university resources, and ensuring you’re on track to meet your academic and career aspirations.

In my free time, I enjoy swimming, volunteering, and kayaking, and I’m excited to be a part of your journey here at UMaine. Let’s make your college experience as fulfilling and successful as possible!

Elizabeth Bushnell

Majors Supported
Chemical Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering

Schedule Appointment

Email: elizabeth.bushnell@maine.edu

Elizabeth is a Student Success Advocate in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. In her role, she supports and advises first and second year students in Electrical, Computer, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering programs.

Elizabeth has a diverse background in youth development, coaching, recruiting, hiring and training, communication, volunteer coordination, and advocacy. As a lifelong learner and passionately curious person she likes to find out what makes people tick, and support them to find their own unique avenues to success.

Elizabeth lives in Bangor, where she attempts to spend time with her teenage kids, gets outside as much as she can, reads, bakes and dreams about her next travel destination.

Laurie Fullerton

Majors Supported
Undeclared

Schedule Appointment

Email: laurief@maine.edu

Laurie has been a dedicated member of the college community for over 35 years, providing unwavering support to countless students through both minor and major challenges. Her warmth, empathy, and dedication have earned her the affectionate title of “College Mom.” Known for her nurturing presence, Laurie has become a beloved figure on campus.

Outside of her role, she enjoys herself by going to craft fairs, spending time with her husband and cat, and enthusiastically decorating for the holidays.

Advising is a partnership, reach your educational goals by working with your
Professional Academic Advisor/Advocate and Faculty Mentor/Advisor

First Year & Sophomore Courses

Professional Academic Advisor

Role: Your primary advisor until enrolling in Junior-level classes.
Support: Addresses personal, social, and academic questions, and connects you with UMaine resources.

Faculty Mentor

Role: An expert within your major who has knowledge of the industry, research opportunities, and career paths.
Support: Offers career advice, industry connections, and mentorship.

Junior & Senior Courses

Faculty Advisor

Role: Your primary advisor who provides academic and professional guidance, ensuring you meet degree requirements.
Support: Offers specialized advice on course selection, research opportunities, and career paths within your field of study.

Student Success Advocate

Role: Connects you with campus resources and support services.
Support: Provides guidance on accessing tutoring, mental health services, and other UMaine resources.

As a student, you play a crucial role in your own success.
Here’s how you can take charge of your educational journey:

Be Proactive

Use EAB Navigate to schedule meetings with your professional academic advisor.

Share your interests and goals.

Prepare & Plan

Bring questions, ideas about courses, and a course Wish List/Shopping Cart in MaineStreet to advising meetings.

Look into minors, concentrations, or certificates.

Map out your plan for timely graduation.

Stay Informed

Understand your major and degree requirements.

Seek support for academics, community building, and wellness.

Learn the academic policies in the catalog for your starting semester.

Stay Connected

Check your UMaine email, text alerts, and MaineStreet messages regularly.

Refer to the Academic and Advising Calendars for key dates and deadlines.

The Four Seasons of Advising

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER

1st Week: As needed, “Add Course” meeting with advisor before the deadline. “Drop Course” meeting before the deadline.
September & October: First individual advising meeting to discuss next semester.
October: Spring and Winter session schedules posted on MaineStreet.
October & November: Meet with your Professional Academic Advisor if you are taking First or Second Year courses. Meet with your Faculty Advisor if you are taking Third or Fourth Year courses.
November: Enroll in Winter session and/or Spring classes.

November to December: Individual meetings as needed and final exams.

DECEMBER – JANUARY

Optional 4-week session connected to your spring financial aid package.
You can take up to 4 credits.
Online only.

JANUARY – MAY

Add/Drop deadlines are the first three days of the session.
1st Week: As needed, “Add Course” meeting with advisor before the deadline. “Drop Course” meeting before the deadline.
January & February: Individual meetings to discuss requirements and major exploration.
March: Summer and fall schedules posted on MaineStreet.
March & April: Meet with your Professional Academic Advisor if you are taking First or Second Year courses. Meet with your Faculty Advisor if you are taking Third or Fourth Year courses.
April: Summer and/or fall course registration.

March to May: Individual meetings as needed and final exams.

JUNE – AUGUST

Individual meetings as needed.
May Term: 4- or 7-week options. See MaineStreet for add/drop.
July Term: 4- or 7-week options. See MaineStreet for add/drop.

14-week sessions: See MaineStreet for add/drop.

The Student Success and Advising Center at our college plays a crucial role in supporting students throughout their academic journey. It offers personalized academic advising, tutoring services, and workshops on study skills and career development. Beyond academics, the center fosters a sense of community through events that encourage collaboration among peers. By providing these resources and opportunities, the Student Success Center helps students navigate challenges and achieve their goals in college and beyond.

Arieana Mangra, Student Success Coordinator

Download the Navigate Student App Today!

The Navigate App is a great resource for personalized updates, reminders of important deadlines, campus resources, and access to your class schedule right there in your phone.

No app? No worries! Access online at https://umaine.guide.eab.com/.

MCEC Tutoring Center

UMaine students can now access FREE tutoring through Knack, a digital platform that facilitates requests, communication, and scheduling with peer tutors. The platform offers flexible scheduling and a broader range of courses. The Engineering Tutoring Center and University Tutoring program are partnering to expand these services for Engineering students.

To get started, create a Knack account and download the app for Android or iOS at Knack using your MaineStreet credentials. For more details, check out the FAQ section on our website. Interested in tutoring? Visit our “Become a Tutor” page for opportunities.