Faculty Senate

This is a news story covering the open Faculty Senate meeting at the University of Maine, Orono, from Wednesday, November 18th, 2009.

http://mainecampus.com/2009/11/19/umaine-administration-predicts-5-percent-tuition-increase/?ref=hp

UMaine administration predicts 5 percent tuition increase
Faculty Senate aggravated by software portal included in chancellor’s restructuring plan, calls its cost ‘ridiculous’
By Sara Breau
Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2009, 2:08 am

Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus. The University of Maine Faculty Senate met Wednesday to discuss UMaine budget cuts they believe are having a negative impact on the university, resulting in decreased enrollment numbers and employee layoffs. Faculty also addressed the loss of public support in recent years and the need to raise awareness regarding the university and its future.

“With discussing any vision, the elephant in the room certainly is the economy and the challenges that we have as an institution, financial and otherwise. We’re not alone; institutions across the country are faced with this,” said UMaine President Robert Kennedy.

While faculty is working to soften the blow budget cuts are having on the university, the cuts are necessary for moving forward, Kennedy said. Janet Waldron, vice president for administration and finance, predicted at least a 5 percent increase in tuition and fees during the next four years.

These challenges have also led to cuts in faculty positions. Professor Tina Passman questioned the recent elimination of Angel Loredo’s position as Associate Dean of Students.

“We’ve had to cut one-third of staff and Student Affairs,” Dean of Students Robert Dana said. “One-third of our front line has been laid off, including Dean Loredo. This was one of the first noticeable blows to the student body, as far as budget cuts go.”

“We can’t survive without change. The challenge that we have is making some changes, but inevitably there will be some cuts that will negatively affect the institution,” Kennedy said.

Student Government Rep. Nate Wildes presented the General Student Senate’s research into the adoption of a new software portal at the university — an aspect of the chancellor’s restructuring plan, which the board of trustees approved Monday.

“It would cost $20 per student, per semester,” Wildes said.

Student Government is still gathering information regarding the implementation of the program.

“As current students at the University of Maine, our job is to consider what we think is a benefit for our current enrollment at the university, and I see it as a benefit,” Wildes said, concerning the Government’s position.

Some faculty are unsupportive of the proposition.

“The cost of this is completely ridiculous,” Sen. Craig Mason said. “Is it worth it to students to take away hundreds of scholarships from students each year? We need to consider the fact that these expenses add up and make a huge difference in the long run. Those of us with finance experience can see this.”

Mason went on to express that the adoption of a new software portal was not in the best interests of the university, and that students should re-think their opinion.

“Our intentions are to help the faculty and administration make this decision from the student’s point of view. We’re looking at what the decision-makers have on the table and are doing our best to give the public a student’s point of view about it,” Wildes said.

UMaine is the state’s only land-grant university and is also one of the top 100 research universities in the nation. Kennedy cited the need for unrivaled recognition for the university across the state to encourage public support.

“What this is about is the public perception of the University of Maine, and over the past five to 10 years, that has changed drastically. Our support has been declining,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said a major goal for UMaine is to earn a place in the top 50 universities in the country.

“If we continue to do what we’ve been doing, I’m confident that we will achieve that. Many would argue that we are as good as or better than the universities on that list,” Kennedy said.

The senate discussed options for raising awareness about educational benefits for potential UMaine students. Passman suggested the university create an ad hoc response group to come up with new ideas to get the public involved, which would involve targeting high school students to generate interest in the university and offer information about the educational opportunities within the state.

“Is there some way of getting in the schools and getting data from kids? That’s our audience; that’s our market,” Mason said.

Sen. Janet Fairman suggested more data be presented to the public outlining the benefits of a UMaine education.

“Do we have objective data on what distinguishes the quality of our programs, such as graduate rates and other indicators we could use to differentiate the quality of our education?” Fairman asked. “There’s great data, but the public isn’t informed of it.”

UMaine faculty is working to create an image for the university that presents its benefit in comparison to other universities in the state, without portraying a competitive or conceited atmosphere.

“We need to talk about the quality that we have. Our quality is there, and we speak to it, but it has to be the quality that we project as in institution, not trying to say that we are better than the other institutions. That will not work in this state,” said Provost Sue Hunter.

Faculty also addressed the issue of Maine residents leaving the state to find education elsewhere.

“If programs aren’t here but they’re offered elsewhere, students will just go to the other University of Maine campuses, such as Machias or Fort Kent, or to Massachusetts or New Hampshire, where those programs are offered,” Mason said. “We need to provide data that students will leave the state of Maine to get education elsewhere.”

At the close of the meeting, the senate announced the New Challenges, New Directions, a program aimed at achieving long-term financial sustainability has been approved, and Hunter has been re-approved as Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.