New research and education facilities are open. Major athletics construction is taking shape. More parking spaces have been added, and new sidewalks, roads, landscaping and lighting are changing how people move through campus.

Here are 10 of the biggest changes you’ll notice:

1. GEM is opening

91����’s new 47,000-square-foot GEM facility is opening soon. Home to the Factory of the Future, it combines AI-enabled 3D printing, advanced manufacturing, research, industry collaboration and hands-on student learning opportunities statewide.

2. SAWIC is opening

The new 14,200-square-foot Sustainable Aquaculture Workforce Innovation Center is also opening soon. Students will train with commercial-scale aquaculture systems while supporting applied research in fish health, nutrition, new species and sustainable production practices.

3. More than 236 new parking spaces

A total of 236 parking spaces have been added since commencement. Expanded parking near Dunn and Corbett halls, Wells and the CCA area includes additional visitor and ADA spaces across campus. .

4. Better pedestrian pathways

Getting around campus is easier. New and repaved sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian routes create direct connections, separate pedestrians from vehicles and improve ADA access near Dunn and Corbett halls, Wells Common and Memorial Gym.

5. More green space

Parts of campus once dominated by pavement are getting greener. New grass, trees and landscaping create more open space, improve campus appearance and provide buffers between roads, sidewalks and buildings.

6. Long Road has a new look

Long Road has been rerouted and redesigned with new sidewalks, curbing, landscaping, clearer entrances and better sightlines toward The Mall. A ride-share and short-term drop-off area is also being added.

7. Morse Arena rising

Steel is rising on the future home of Maine Basketball. Morse Arena will feature 2,600-plus seats, a full concourse, club section, video boards, improved amenities and a new student-section experience.

8. Refreshed north campus gateway

91���� sign has been relocated, with improved landscaping and clearer views toward the Maine “M.” The parking lot next to Bennett Hall is also being repaved.

9. Campus landmarks getting a refresh

A fraternity monument displaced by construction has been recreated nearby, and five EV charging stations are planned. Later this fall, the Maine bear monument will get a new granite base and updated plaque. 

10. Campus brighter after dark

New lighting is being installed in parking and pedestrian areas across north campus. The upgrades illuminate routes after dark while directional fixtures reduce light spill and impacts on nocturnal wildlife.

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu.

which has not yet been detected in Maine, is a microscopic parasite that can infect people when they consume food or water contaminated through human fecal matter. The parasite causes , an intestinal illness that can cause watery diarrhea, explosive bowel movements, fatigue, fever and .��

University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Gulsun Akdemir Evrendilek said the outbreak in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia “is an extreme case” of widespread foodborne illness. Evrendilek said the parasite has previously been found in lettuce, raspberries, cabbage, basil, parsley, broccoli, snow and sugar snap peas.

Despite the prevalence of the parasite and the disease it causes, Evrendilek said there are many steps people can take to simultaneously prevent cyclospora infections and other foodborne pathogens.

“Many of the fundamental food safety practices used to prevent contamination by Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria, including good hygiene, sanitation and prevention of cross-contamination, also help reduce the risk of other foodborne pathogens and parasites, including Cyclospora,” said Evrendilek, associate Extension professor and seafood technology and food safety specialist with 91���� Extension. 

Ignoring ‘prewash’ label and other tactics for home 

Just because some produce may have “prewash” labels on them doesn’t mean people can be complacent. Evrendilek said consumers should wash their products at home. 

“Don’t rely on the ‘prewash’ label right now,” she said. “Washing is the best practice, since cyclospora is tightly attached to the surface of leafy greens.” 

That includes using fruit and vegetable cleaning sprays that can be bought from grocery stores and also washing them with water. For leafy greens, dispose of the outer layer — the most likely home for cyclospora — and wash every leaf, Evrendilek said. 

When preparing meals, Evrendilek said consumers should also wash knives and cutting boards used for ingredients and utensils before re-using them for the next. 

“They should avoid cross contamination,” she said. “One product may be contaminated, and when you don’t wash knives or cutting boards before you use them for another product, you transfer this parasite from one environment to another.” 

One of the safest measures consumers can take is cooking their food. 

“Cooking is the only way to kill this parasite,” Evrendilek said. “If cooking products, for example, cabbage or peas, you want to cook them to 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius).” 

Tips for businesses 

In addition to following safe food handling practices at home, restaurants and other food service establishments should use potable water for washing fresh produce, maintain good employee hygiene and prevent cross-contamination throughout food preparation, Evrendilek said.

Employees with diarrhea or other symptoms consistent with cyclosporiasis should not handle food until they meet public health requirements for returning to work. Evrendilek said that because some infected individuals may have mild or no symptoms, proper handwashing before handling food remains essential.

“Cyclospora is spread through food or water contaminated with human feces,” she said. “Direct person-to-person transmission is considered unlikely because the parasite must mature in the environment before it becomes infectious. Preventing contamination and practicing good hygiene are therefore critical.”

On farms, Cyclospora can contaminate fresh produce through contaminated agricultural water or soil. Farmers, particularly those using private wells or surface water for irrigation or produce washing, should routinely monitor water quality through certified laboratories and follow applicable U.S. Food and Drug Administration Produce Safety Rule requirements and state guidance.

“Even though no cases have been reported in Maine, growers should remain vigilant,” Evrendilek said. “Regular monitoring of agricultural water, good sanitation practices and proper worker hygiene are important measures for reducing the risk of contamination.”

Farmers should also establish policies that encourage workers to report gastrointestinal illness and exclude symptomatic employees from handling fresh produce until they have recovered.

More food safety guidance for other situations is available at the . 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu

In the past year, middle schoolers from the Belfast area have explored the Bixby Chocolate Factory in Rockland, toured the Ecology Learning Center in Unity and volunteered at the local soup kitchen.

These experiences have been offered for free through the NorthStar 4-H Youth Mentoring program, managed by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. In rural communities that often struggle to offer co-curricular and youth development opportunities, NorthStar provides field trips and after-school activities that help students discover their passions, build relationships and explore future possibilities.

“I enjoy being able to experience things I normally wouldn’t be able to,” said Sage, a NorthStar participant. “It’s also helped me to build a community.”

Following years of success in Oxford County, NorthStar 4-H expanded to Waldo County in 2024 thanks to a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Staff developed programming based at Tanglewood 4-H Learning Center to serve Regional School Unit (RSU) 71, which includes the towns of Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Swanville.

Since launching in Waldo County, students have reported increased confidence, a stronger sense of belonging and expanded worldviews. According to statewide data from the Rural Youth Institute, which includes NorthStar, 70% of participants have reported increased learning and school engagement, while 88% of eighth graders believe they will continue their education after high school.

“We’re providing opportunities that connect them to new experiences locally, across the state and even beyond, to broaden their perspectives,” said Jessica Decke, director of Extension’s 4-H Learning Center at Tanglewood.

How NorthStar works

Youth-adult mentorship has been central to 4-H for more than 100 years. In the NorthStar model, participants help shape programming based on their interests.

“A lot of kids have things they are really excited about, but don’t necessarily see the connections to where it can take them,” said Decke. “The program helps youth make those discoveries along the way. It’s a game changer for kids to have trusted adult mentors who see them for who they are, and foster those genuine interests and abilities.”

Students are identified with guidance from school counselors, principals and social workers. Participants join in sixth grade and remain part of a cohort supported by trained volunteer mentors through high school and beyond.

“The model is set up so we will follow them through high school graduation,” said Mel Torres, NorthStar 4-H program coordinator in Waldo County. “It’s a long-term, immersive program. A fundamental tenet of 4-H is youth-directed learning, where kids decide their own pathway.”

Students meet with mentors weekly and join a monthly afterschool club aimed at increasing community engagement and learning more about available resources. Group activities, facilitated by staff and mentors, give participants the opportunity to dive into topics that interest them.

“Many of our students don’t really gravitate toward sports or clubs. They haven’t really clicked with anything yet,” Torres said. “The NorthStar program gives them opportunities to find what inspires them.”

For example, seventh graders from Troy Howard Middle School raised money for a day trip to Portland, where they chose to visit Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. Along the way, they volunteered at Furniture Friends in Westbrook, cleaning furniture for donation through Habitat for Humanity.

“I really enjoyed getting to go to the soup kitchen,” said Ophelia, part of the first-year Tanglewood cohort. “It was cool to see how they ran it and to help the people in the community that needed it.”

Origins in western Maine

Staff at Extension’s 4-H Learning Center in Bryant Pond launched the NorthStar program at Telstar Middle and High School in Bethel in 2017. The program is based on the 4-H Youth Development Model and received start-up funding from the Rural Youth Institute.

“Because that program was successful, the Rural Youth Institute was looking to expand a mentorship model to more communities across Maine,” said Decke.

Training from the institute emphasized the idea that relationships, not programs, change lives, a principle that continues to guide NorthStar.

“The partnership with the school district is really important,” said Ryder Scott, executive director of Extension’s 4-H Learning Centers. “Our staff have earned the trust of the local teachers and school district administrators and are treated as members of the guidance department. NorthStar is supported by the school districts it serves because they know the program is working and can help fill in the gaps that many rural schools experience due to budget and staffing challenges.”

The New Balance Foundation became a major supporter of the program in Oxford County. In addition to grants, sponsors such as Norway Savings Bank have adopted cohorts, contributing $20,000 annually to support groups of 12 to 14 students.

“We want to open the window of what life can hold and eventually provide experiences like the Washington, D.C. trips taken by seniors in the Oxford County NorthStar program,” Decke said.

Making a difference

The NorthStar program has the potential to make a significant impact on rural communities across the state. Over 60% of Maine’s population resides in rural areas.

“Extension has offices and staff in all 16 counties of Maine. So we started to ask ourselves what it could look like to have access to this type of programming for kids across the state,” said Scott. “Program growth has been deliberate as we build a staffing model and partnerships with local and statewide organizations.”

Expanding the program would require additional staff, volunteers and sustained funding from partners such as private foundations, banks and businesses.

“We’re in conversations constantly with them about this broader vision to implement NorthStar statewide and they’re very keen on that,” said Scott.

Extension leaders hope NorthStar’s continued growth will ensure more rural Maine youth have access to mentorship, meaningful experiences and pathways to future opportunities.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer mentor or supporting the NorthStar program may contact 91���� Extension 4-H Learning Centers at either Bryant Pond, extension.bryantpond@maine.edu, or Tanglewood, extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu.

This work is supported by the Mentoring At Risk and Rural Youth Program, project award no. 2024-48790-43821, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Story by Clarisa Diaz

Contact: Melissa Arndt, melissa.arndt@maine.edu

Two University of Maine leaders have been selected for the prestigious 2026 Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI), a national leadership development program of the (AASCU).

Giovanna Guidoboni, interim vice president for research for the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Machias and dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC), and Hannah Carter, deputy provost and dean of University of Maine Cooperative Extension, are among 31 higher education leaders nationwide chosen for the 2026 cohort.

MLI prepares senior administrators for executive leadership roles through mentorship, executive coaching and professional development. Since its founding in 1999, the program has supported more than 800 higher education leaders, including many who have gone on to serve as college and university presidents and chancellors.

As the inaugural dean of the MCEC, Guidoboni leads a flagship initiative of the University of Maine System’s UMS TRANSFORMS program to build a statewide hub for engineering and computing. She oversees efforts to modernize academic programs and facilities, expand hands-on learning opportunities and foster innovation. As interim vice president for research, she has also helped advance 91����’s research enterprise and engagement with federal funding agencies.

As dean of 91���� Extension, Carter leads statewide education, applied research and public service programs that support communities across Maine. She oversees strategic planning, personnel development and stakeholder engagement while working closely with government, industry and community partners.

“We are proud to welcome this exceptional group of leaders in the MLI network as they continue their progression toward the presidency and senior leadership roles,” said Charles L. Welch, president and CEO of AASCU. “MLI has long played a vital role in cultivating a dynamic community of higher education leaders who are prepared to meet the challenges facing our institutions and students.”

The 2026 cohort is meeting in Washington, D.C., June 10-13 to begin the yearlong program.