Spring BFA Orientation
Residence hall move-in and Orientation for new, transfer and students returning from leave will occur on Sunday, January 13th.
Move-in 2013
Residence hall move-in for new students may occur between 10am-1pm. Details will be emailed to new residential students.
Questions regarding Housing may be directed to Dan Gardner, Director of Residential Education and Housing at dgardner@meca.edu or 207-699-5067
Orientation
All new students are required to attend Spring Orientation:
Sunday, January 13th
1 P.M.- 4:30 P.M.
Room 207
(Porteous Building, 522 Congress St. Portland, Maine 04101)
An optional dinner will be provided.
Still Have Questions?
Orientation Questions may be directed to Anna Schwartz, Director of Student Engagement at aschwartz@meca.edu or 207-699-5034
If you have additional questions not covered by these resources, please do not hesitate to contact us at 207.699.5034 or newstudent@MECA.edu.
Registration and Academic Advising
New students are encouraged to review the Registration and Academic Advising* website for information on academic policies. Undergraduates should review BFA information. Registration for courses begin in the summer. New students will receive registration instructions via email. Questions may be directed to Assistant Registrar and Academic Advisor, Julie Smith, at 207.699.5057 or jsmith@meca.edu
*You must use your MECA e-mail address and password to log-in to view this page.
Residential Education and Housing
New students interested in on-campus housing are encouraged to view the Residential Education and Housing for information on housing options. To secure housing, please complete the Residential Education and Housing Application and submit a $500.00 housing fee ($100.00 assignment fee and $400.00 deposit). Housing assignments are made according to date of completed application and received housing fee.
Student Accounts and Billing
The BFA Enrollment Agreement provides information on tuition, fees, and refund policies. Questions can be directed to Judy Morin, Student Billing Coordinator, at 207.699.5049
Art Supplies
Students often chose to purchase art supplies at one of the following local vendors:
- Art Mart (located beside MECA)
- Artist & Craftsman Supply (located at 540 Deering Avenue)
Students may also chose to purchase supplies online, from other students or from larger retail stores accessible from METRO bus lines.
Campus Dining
MECA offers campus dining options for residential students and off-campus students. Students living off-campus may chose between a 7 or 17 weekly meal plan or a 25 or 50 meal block plan. Weekly meal plans provide students with a number of meals and do not rollover from one week to the next. Block meal plans are used throughout the year and may be renewed.
Questions about special food needs, allergies or general inquires can be directed to General Manager, Pam Ryder at 207.699.5066 or pryder@MECA.edu
Counseling and Physical Health
MECA offers confidential and free counseling for students. Students needing physical health services are encouraged to find a doctor prior to attending MECA in the fall. If parents need help with referrals or local doctors, please contact Sheila Geant, the Assistant Director of Student Affairs, Counseling & Wellness at 207.699.5056 or sgeant@MECA.edu. For more information on campus counseling services or physical health information, please visit Counseling and Physical Health.
Employment
For more information on employment on and off-campus, please visit the Career Services website.
FERPA
The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects student privacy and access to student records. For more information on FERPA, please visit theFERPA website.
Guide to Community Living
The Guide to Community Living provides vital information on residence hall programs, policies, and frequently asked questions.
Health Insurance
Maine College of Art requires all degree seeking students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours to have either personal health insurance or register for MECA's student health plan. For more Information visit MECA’s Health Plan site.
Each academic year you will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Students preferring to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan and premium cost from their tuition/fees billing, must be enrolled in a comparable health insurance plan and are REQUIRED to complete the on-line waiver form. The on-line waiver form must be completed and submitted by September 14, 2012 or the full charge will apply.
Parking
MECA does not provide on-campus parking but there are several locations to park in downtown Portland. Students may park on the public streets or in local parking garages. Students living on-campus may apply for residential parking permit through the City of Portland. Parking is on public streets and limited. For more information on parking, please visit the Portland Parking Division website.
Public Transportation
The Greater Portland METRO Bus provides bus service for the city of Portland and the Maine Mall Area (located in South Portland). MECA students may purchase discounted TenRide cards or Monthly Passes from the Anna Schwartz, the Director of Student Engagement at 207.699.5034 or aschwartz@MECA.edu
For more information on the public transportation, please visit the METRO website.
Residence Halls
For more information on MECA's residential facilities , please visit the Residential Education and Housing website.
Student Emergencies
MECA provides an on-call professional 24/7 for students to contact in the event of an emergency. Students are provided the number at orientation and at the beginning of each semester.
Your MECA ID is the key to the campus, Portland Museum of Art, and discounts at various Portland businesses. With your student ID you can check-out a book, eat in the Cafe, or attend campus-wide events and programs. Student IDs are provided during orientation.
Technology
Your MECA e-mail is the key to staying informed on-campus. To log onto your MECA e-mail click MECA Connect above. Each student is issued a MECA e-mail address. This e-mail address provides access to internal websites and is the official method of communication between faculty, staff, and students. MECA provides three computer labs with Apple computers and all the software an artist needs. For information on purchasing computer hardware or software, please visit MECA's Technology Department.
Parents, families, and friends play a vital role in a students transition to campus. We want to ensure that your transition to college life is as successful as your students. Please take a look at the information below and the websites listed on the left side of this site. If we can provide you will additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us at 207.699.5034 or newstudent@MECA.edu.
Counseling and Physical Health
MECA offers confidential and free counseling for students. Students needing physical health services are encouraged to find a doctor prior to attending MECA in the fall. If parents need help with referrals or local doctors, please contact Sheila Geant, the Assistant Director of Student Affairs, Counseling & Wellness at 207.699.5056 or sgeant@MECA.edu. For more information on campus counseling services or physical health information, please visit Counseling and Physical Health.
FERPA
The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects student privacy and access to student records. More information on FERPA.
Parent or Family Concern
Have a concern about your student, please contact the Director of Student Engagement at 207.699.5034. If you are highly concerned or an emergency (after calling 911), please call 207.699.5034 or after hours 207.775.3052..
Student Emergencies
MECA provides an on-call professional 24/7 for students to contact in the event of an emergency. Students are provided the number at orientation and at the beginning of each semester.
Dear New MECA Student:
In mid to late July you will receive a MailME packet. Your FY-In faculty have asked you to make a visual response to the concept of TIME. The project can be interpreted literally or metaphorically. You should think deeply about what TIME is, how it is defined, represented, and manifested. How does the transition you are currently making impact your perception of TIME? How do artists evoke and transform time in their work? How is an artwork a dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary? Can an artwork shift perception and thinking about the present and the future?
Your Mail ME square must be returned to MECA no later than August 17, 2012, in order to allow for enough time to hang and display your work. If you have questions about Mail ME, please direct them to Orientation Assistant Zeke Rodriquez at erodriguez@meca.edu.
Links + resources:
- Long Now Foundation
longnow.org - Stewart Brand
ted.com/talks/stewart_brand_on_the_long_now.html - Andy Goldsworthy
ucblueash.edu/artcomm/web/w2005 - Art 21 Time
pbs.org/art21/watch-now/episode-time - William Kentridge
pbs.org/art21/artists/william-kentridge - Amy Stacey Curtis
amystaceycurtis.com - Edward Muybridge
npr.org/2010/04/13/125899013/muybridge-the-man-who-made-pictures-move
Films:
- Rivers and Tides. Dir. Thomas Riedelsheimer.Microcinema International , 2002, DVD
- Back to the Future. Dir. Robert Zemekis. Universal Pictures, 1985, DVD
- Inception. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2010, DVD
- The Matrix. Dir. Andy and Lana Wachowski. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999, DVD
- The Butterfly Effect. Dir. Eric Bess, J. Mackye Gruber. Katalyst Films, 2004, DVD
- Stephen Hawking’s Universe. Producer. Laura Sobel, PBS, 1997
Books:
- Drawing From Life: The Journal as Art by Jennifer New
- Time by Andy Goldsworthy
- Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman
- Correspondence Art by Michael Crane and Mary Stofflett
- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
- Cartographies of Time: A History of the Timeline by Daniel Rosenberg and Anthony Grafton
- The Shape of Time: Remarks on the History of Things by George Kubler
- Letters to a Young Artist, Peter Nesbett, Sarah Andress, Shelley Bancroft ed.