Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved a $520.7 million budget for the system’s upcoming fiscal year during a meeting held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on May 19. The budget reflects a $15.7 million cut in personnel and operating costs and an increase of just over 10 percent for student tuition and fees. To help offset the tuition and fee increases, the budget also includes an 11.4 percent increase in student financial aid.
“We treat tuition and fees as the revenue source of last resort,” said Richard Pattenaude, chancellor of the UMS. “The combination of budget cuts and tuition increase were designed to maintain academic quality and to minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the size of the tuition increase.”
Pattenaude said with overall operating costs rising and with no increase in state funding (excluding research funds), the “university had to offset the increased costs through budget cuts and an increase in tuition and fees.”
“We simply had to prioritize and make tough and painful decisions in order to maintain academic quality,” explained Pattenaude.
On average, said Pattenaude, tuition and fees for a full-time undergraduate student from Maine will be $7,822 for the academic year, an increase of $720. Tuition and fees for out-of-state undergraduate students will rise to $19,738, an increase of $1,675. Room and board rates will increase for students living on campus, averaging $7,776 – a 6.6 percent increase over the recently completed academic year.
Trustees expressed regret over the personnel changes and budget cuts that were necessary to save the $15.7 million. At least 139 positions were eliminated in the process. That includes some current vacant positions that won’t be filled. Other eliminations involve layoffs and voluntary retirements and departures. Senior administrators will also feel the pinch, with no pay increases slated for the coming year – a savings to UMS of about $300,000.
The largest cut was felt by USM, with a cut to its fiscal year 2009 budget of $7.5 million. The University of Maine at Orono slashed its budget by $5 million, followed by the University of Maine at Farmington with a cut of about $1 million. The four other universities reduced their respective budgets by $536,000 or less.
“Even with extensive cuts in personnel and operating expenses (throughout the UMaine System), a tuition increase was unavoidable and necessary to balance the budget,” explained Pattenaude.
The board honored Interim President Joseph Wood, of the University of Southern Maine, for his service to the university and the system. This year marked the end of Wood’s serving as head of USM.
“We offer our most sincere gratitude and thanks to Pres. Wood,” said Barry McCrum, board vice chairperson.
Wood was presented with a gift by Pattenaude and Board Chairperson Margaret Weston.
“I’ll have an opportunity to work on some writing projects now,” said Wood.
Weston confirmed the continuation of Donald Zillman as the president of UMPI. Pattenaude expressed his faith in Zillman’s abilities.
“Don brings so much to the campus, with his state, national and international connections. We’re lucky to have someone of his caliber representing us and the community,” said Pattenaude.
Trustees also took the following actions:
• Approved an “RN” to “BSN” degree to be offered by the University of Maine at Augusta. Under this program, registered nurses in the workforce who hold an associate’s degree may work toward a baccalaureate degree to allow them to perform at a higher level. The move was designed to help address Maine’s growing shortage of nursing professionals;
• Appointed Susan J. Hunter as vice president of academic affairs and provost at the University of Maine; Jeffrey E. Hecker as dean of the UMaine’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Rosa S. Redonnett as executive director of student affairs for UMS;
• Elected Lyndal J. Wishcamper, of Freeport, as incoming chair of the board, succeeding Weston;
• Re-elected McCrum, of Mars Hill, as vice chair; and
• Formally thanked Weston and Charles L. Johnson III, of Hallowell, following completion of 10 years of service on the Board. With their terms of service completed, Gov. John E. Baldacci is expected to appoint successors in the near future.