Maine Student Action

Maine Student Action members were honored tonight at the USM Student Leadership Gala as the “Outstanding New Student Organization” for the 2021-2022 school year. Congrats to our members at the University of Southern Maine for your hard work this school year - you deserve this recognition!

Thank you to all who came out to Congress Square Park to . Join us for what’s next: a virtual community conversation on climate - happening May 24 at 6pm. Watch this space for more info.

“Maine has taken a huge step forward by guaranteeing all students greater access to their transcripts and diplomas. With this new law, thousands of Mainers will recover access to stranded credits that they need in order to complete their education or secure jobs” said Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center. “The rest of the country should take note.”

Students, advocates applaud new law that bans withholding transcripts over debt Students and economists are applauding a new law that would prevent Maine’s universities and colleges from withholding transcripts or diplomas from those who owe debts. On March 31, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli (D-Sagadahoc). As

Some exciting news: LD 1838 has passed both legislative chambers and was signed into law by Gov. Mills earlier this week!! This will reform the practice of transcript withholding, which stops many students and graduates from accessing their transcripts or diplomas and therefore slowing their ability to enter the workforce or graduate.

USM Maine Student Action President Samantha Donley is happy to see this practice changed so future students like her aren't impacted by this harmful practice.

Sign our petition in support of LD 1838 to prevent Maine colleges and universities from withholding transcripts from students who owe modest debts!

Sign here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-school-administrators-to-support-access-to-diplomas-and-transcripts?source=UNE&

Seen in today’s Portland Press Herald: a piece by our very own Samantha Donley!

Sam shares her own transcript withholding story and calls on our elected officials to pass LD 1838 - which will make it so students and graduates don’t have to jump through as many hoops to access their transcripts or diplomas due to unpaid bills.

Read what Sam has to say here:

Maine Voices: Bill could help college students graduate, ease Maine’s worker shortage By reining in the withholding of transcripts over unpaid bills, L.D. 1838 will let Mainers get their degrees and jobs.

Check it out! Maine students of all ages (middle schoolers, high schoolers, undergrad and graduate) are in Augusta today talking to legislators about !!

Maine People's Alliance

Has a college or university ever withheld your transcript or diploma due to an outstanding balance? If so, you've likely had issues transferring schools or applying for jobs that require a diploma.

Next week there will be a public hearing on a bill that would outlaw this practice! Share your story in the link below - and if you're interested in sharing testimony at the public hearing email [email protected].

Tell your transcript withholding story Has a college or university ever withheld your transcript or diploma due to an outstanding balance?

Join us for a week-long online action to raise awareness of the urgent need for more affordable housing in Maine and why we need Gov. Mills and the legislature to act now.

Share a photo online with the hashtag .

Learn more and download our toolkit here: http://bit.ly/20KHomes4ME

Your time is worth a living wage.

Workers at one Maine Dollar General quit with a splash, 'speak truth to power' Three workers at the Dollar General in Eliot, Maine decided this week that they had had enough. They walked off the job together, leaving the store with only one employee. But before they locked up after their last shift on Monday, they tendered their resignations and taped them to the glass door.