New YourPace Public Policy BA from UMF Powered by UMPI

[Jonathan Whatley]

New collab just dropped, UMF x UMPI!

The University of Maine at Farmington BA in Interdisciplinary Studies – Public Policy is launching on the YourPace competency-based education platform operated by University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Students will apply through the YourPace undergraduate application form which now has a drop-down menu Select an Institution, where they'll choose UMF. Students using federal financial aid will use UMF's school code.

The degree will be from UMF.

Tuition is listed as $1800 per 8-week term.

Interdisciplinary Studies - Public Policy B.A. (Residential and CBE) (UMF 2025-2026 Catalog page)

Public Policy (UMF landing page; currently describes the non-CBE online modality which launched in 2024)

UMF Public Policy (landing page on the UMPI YourPace information site)

[huiwh1998]

I just wanted to know who gives out the diploma. I really hope it wasn't UMPI...

[jg_nuy]

Exciting to see them continue to expand.

[sixdegreesandamovie]

I’ve been hoping that other UMS schools would follow the UMPI YP model to increase enrollment.

There are lots of unknowns.

1. Will transfer credits be reviewed by UMF standards or by UMPI standards? Will subsequent bachelor’s degree students from UMPI who want an UMF degree have their transfer credit reviewed all over again using UMF transfer standards?

2. Will official academic records be housed at UMF or UMPI?

3. Will UMF students only have access to courses operated out of UMF or will they also be able to choose UMPI YP classes for electives?


I’m excited to learn more. If this is a true blue UMF program (UMF diploma and transcripts) using only the UMPI’s platform for course delivery I’ll definitely be returning to earn another bachelor’s degree from UMF.

[Jonathan Whatley]

My fairly confident guess is that records, diploma, and transcripts will be from UMF.

[tdat314]

I just wanted to know who gives out the diploma. I really hope it wasn't UMPI...

Why would it being listed as from UMPI be a bad thing?

[sixdegreesandamovie]

I just wanted to know who gives out the diploma. I really hope it wasn't UMPI...

Why would it being listed as from UMPI be a bad thing?

As a purely aesthetic preference, I do not like earning more than one degree from the same school. I already have a degree from UMPI. I'll totally be applying to this program once all the details are ironed out and it is confirmed that official transcripts, degree conferral, and diploma will be issued by UM Farmington.

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Ace/Credly, Straighter Line, Study dot com, and Sophia Learning Pathways, LLC do not appear on the UM Farmington transfer credit tool (where they do appear on UMPI's): https://mainestreetcs.maine.edu/psp/CSPR..._GUEST.GBL

I emailed their admissions team and requested they evaluate my unofficial transcript I downloaded directly from Sophia. They responded with their preliminary review, I can confirm that they will recognize Sophia credits for transfer. Please see the attached equivalency report.

[Swiss Cognac]

Would it have killed them to just call the degree "B.A. Public Policy"? That Interdisciplinary Studies was not needed.

Nonetheless, I checked out the curriculum and it actually seems like a solid degree plan. This would be a solid degree to go into Master studies of Public Administration, Social Work, Law School, Etcetera.