Community Resources

For more than 160 years, the University of Maine at Farmington has been a valued and accessible member of the community — providing a wide range of resources and opportunities for citizens across the state. The University and the town of Farmington have long enjoyed a cozy campus-community relationship. The friendly 2,000-student campus adds a distinctive vibrant college town atmosphere to the community as UMF students arrive each fall for the start of another new school year.

Always a Good Neighbor
You see, the University of Maine at Farmington is not an ivy-towered, gated-off college campus. It is a vital member of the Farmington area community, sharing many of its facilities and offerings with the public: Mantor Library, the Fitness & Recreation Center, the UMF Art Gallery, plus countless plays, concerts, readings, lectures, sporting events and much more — many free of charge.

The University of Maine at Farmington offers a number of resources to the citizens of western Maine: The Center for Assistive Technology, The Archaeology Research Center, Everyone's Resource Depot, Upward Bound, Service-Learning, student internship programs and more. Plus, UMF also provides facilities and support for a number of community resources: The Western Mountains Alliance, The Arts Institute of Western Maine, Mt. Blue TV, to name just a few.


Resources for Parents & Children
As one of the nation's premier teacher education institutions, the University of Maine at Farmington offers an enormous number of educational opportunities to the citizens of Maine — of all ages: Infant-Toddler Playgroup programs, Nursery School and Pre-K programs, Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Education Center, Upward Bound and TRIO programs, GEAR-Up program, Everyone's Resource Depot, summer sports camps, children's activity programs at the UMF Fitness & Rec Center and more.


Professional Development for Educators
The University of Maine at Farmington's commitment to K-12 education is strong and historic. Building upon our long-term reputation for the superb quality of our undergraduate teacher education program, UMF has added programs to meet the needs of practicing teachers and school administrators throughout western Maine.

The UMF Office of Educational Outreach works with superintendents, principals, teachers and ed techs to provide courses and programs for K-12 educators. Teacher certification programs, Master's-level programs, Summer Institutes, are just some of the many professional development programs offered by the Office of Educational Outreach. In addition, UMF houses the Regional Teacher Development Center, one of just three regional centers in the state devoted to providing professional development opportunities for educators. The Regional Teacher Development Center provides access for educational professionals seeking coursework, workshops, and other learning opportunities.

The University of Maine at Farmington also supports and houses the Western Maine Partnership, a regional network of 30 school districts, 2 independent schools and UMF that promotes the development of learning-centered schools where students and their educators are deeply engaged in learning. Central to the Partnership is a core belief that good schools -- schools that support the learning of diverse students -- also support the continuous development of their educators. You can't have one without the other. The Western Maine Partnership is also based on a belief that the University has a stake in school improvement, just as schools have a stake in the education of teachers.


Learners of All Ages
The Goldleaf Institute, whose office is housed on the first floor of UMF's Merrill Hall, offers educational and cultural programs for citizens in the region who are 50 years old or older. Affiliated with both Elderhostel and the Maine Senior College Network, the Goldleaf Institute provides enriching learning opportunities. Its members create and offer courses, excursions and social events throughout the year that attract participants from all of Franklin County and beyond. The Gold Leaf Institute's success in the region is due to its active volunteer base. Volunteers serve on the governing board, plan curriculum, work to promote their activities, and generally have a good time and make good friends in the process.


Facility Rental
A wonderfully vibrant downtown area just a short walk from campus. Pristine lakes and rivers. Spectacular hiking, canoeing, skiing, snowmobiling minutes from campus. An on-campus Fitness & Rec Center, a truly outstanding campus dining service, extensive hi-tech presentation capabilities, on-site athletic fields, plenty of convenient, free parking, overnight accommodations in the summertime. Could there be a better — and more affordable — place in western Maine to hold your next function?

The UMF Office of Conferences and Events is eager to help you plan your next function on the beautiful Farmington campus. For details, just visit the link at the top, Book a Function.