Civil and Environmental Engineering

Campus Resources

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WRITING CENTER 

Whether carrying out work for an English course or preparing a term paper in any course, the University of Maine Writing Center is available to help you.  The Department hopes you will take advantage of this resource to develop your written communication skills.  Tutors are available five days per week during the school semester as follows:

Writing Center, 402 Neville Hall, 581-3828

Hours:  9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Monday – Friday

          7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (except Friday)

Contact HARVEY KAIL at 581-3829

Departmental Policy on Communication Skills

The student’s ability to express himself/herself in written or oral form is not the concern of the Department of English or Speech alone, but of every member of the Civil Engineering Department’s faculty.  Inadequate competence in this respect is to be regarded as a reason for lowering a student’s grade for any course, laboratory report, class project, etc. in the program.

The Department recognizes the need to develop competence in communication skills for its potential graduates.  This point has been further emphasized by feedback from alumni.  Thus, the Department is committed to the philosophy that the development of these skills among its graduates will be assured through both formal course work and continued usage throughout the curriculum.  Specific details on how these goals will be achieved are as follows:

1.  Each civil engineering student must show satisfactory proficiency in the use of written English.  The requirement is normally met by taking English 101, totaling 3 credit hours.  Students must be tested by the English Department to assess their skills in written composition before registration into English composition courses.

2.  In order to further develop as well as maintain their writing skills, each civil engineering student is expected to demonstrate such competence in all written laboratory reports, class projects, etc., and failure to do so will be regarded as a reason for lowering the student’s grade.  In addition, other writing assignments, to include graded class journals in some instances, will be made throughout the curriculum in order to ensure that the student frequently has the opportunity to organize and present his/her thoughts in a logical and effective manner.  In designing such assignments, students are provided with a “real engineering world” context for each task by requiring them to explain basic engineering concepts in their own words, which in turn obliges students to clarify these concepts for themselves.

3. Each civil engineering student must successfully complete CMJ 103 for credit.

• As a follow-up, there is a concentrated departmental effort to further develop these oral communication skills in civil engineering students by requiring oral presentations of laboratory findings in departmental laboratory courses.  Less formal speaking opportunities include encouraged class discussions, oral presentations of class (design) projects, and oral examinations.

MATH COURSE ADVISING

Course Placement

Prior to entering their first math course (MAT 111, 114, 115, 122, 126 or 151) at the University of Maine, all engineering students are required to take a math placement examination.  Students whose placement scores indicate that they are either “marginally ready” or “not ready” for one of the above named courses are encouraged to begin their math sequence at a lower level.  If students wish to take a course, despite a low placement test score, they are required to obtain their advisor’s approval to register for that course.  Students doing so, HOWEVER, will not be eligible for tutoring services through the Onward Program if they: (1) score a “9” or lower on the math placement exam, or (2) are designated as “Not Ready” for MAT 111, 114, 115, 122, 126 or 151 and still enroll for the course.  Math Placement Exam scores will be reviewed and verified as students request tutors through the Onward Program.

Tutoring

If you have difficulties while actually enrolled in a math course, the following are available for help:

1. Your mathematics instructor is a primary source for help.  You should determine your instructor’s office hours and regularly consult that individual for help.

• The University of Maine Mathematics Department operates a Math Lab and you are encouraged to take full advantage of this facility.  Many students wait too long and miss out on some excellent help that can make a real difference early in the semester.  The location and scheduled hours are:

116 Neville Hall

Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Monday -Thursday 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Any questions: 581-3900

3.      The Onward Tutor Program holds group tutoring sessions.  Typically, you will be placed in a group with students from your same course and section and matched with an appropriate tutor.  We highly recommend you sign up for the tutor program within the first couple of weeks of each semester.  The tutoring program often has a waiting list and is absolutely closed to new people after the first eight weeks of the semester.  Consult the Onward Program at the below address to sign up for tutoring sessions.

Onward Program

University of Maine

5757 Onward Building

Orono, ME 04469-5757

(207) 581-2319

COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS

The Counselor/Coordinator of Student Support Services facilitates the education of students with physical or learning disabilities by providing a point of coordination for any special services they may need while attending the University of Maine.

Some of the services provided or coordinated for disabled students are advising, special orientation to campus, readers, recorders, tutors as needed, the ordering of taped texts, classroom relocation, priority registration, mediation and advocacy, classroom accommodations, as well as personal, education, and vocational counseling.  Students believed to be learning disabled without documentation can be screened through this office and referred for assessment.

The Counselor/Coordinator of Student Support Services has an office in 125 East Annex and will be happy to supply further information and answer questions.  Students are encouraged to contact the Counselor/Coordinator of Student Support Services, University of Maine, 121 East Annex, Orono, ME, 04469.  Phone (207) 581-2319.  TTY for the Deaf (207) 581-2325.