Minutes 10 September 2025

September 15, 2025 Minutes

Attendance

Present:

Senators: Alexis Foster, Amanda Klemmer (President), Amber Roth, Amy Booth, Bill DeSisto, Camerin Seigars, Carter Emerson (Graduate Student Government Representative), Colleen Marzilli, Craig Mason, Danielle Pelletier, Daniel Sandweiss, Dean Astumian, Derek Michaud, Ek Han Tan, Ellen Hostert, Eric Landis, Esther Enright, Glenda Pereira, Grant Miles, Greg Howard, Heather Falconer, Henri Akono (Vice President), Jack Buttcane, Jay Wason III, Jennifer Perry, Jianjun Hao, Jonathan Barron, Kathryn Slott, Liliana Herakova, Keegan Tripp (Undergraduate Student Government Representative), Kelly Jaksa, Lauren Jacobs, Lee Karp-Boss, Matthew Chatfield, Michael Grillo, MJ Sedlock (Past President), Paula Drewniany, Philip Fanning, Roberto Lopez-Anido, Sabrina DeTurk (Secretary), Sara Flanagan, Sarah Lindahl, Seth Campbell, Shannon McCoy, Steven Kimball, Sudarshan Chawathe, Susan Smith, Timothy Waring, Vince Weaver, Will Manion, William Gramlich, William Otto, Zeke DeLorme (Substitute Undergraduate Student Representative)

Guests: Angela Fileccia, Daisy Singh, Debra Allen, Diane Rowland, Ellen Weinauer, Emily Haddad, Gabriel Paquette, Giovanna Guidoboni, Hannah Carter, James Ward IV, Jason Charland, Jenny Boyden, Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Joseph DiSalvo, Karen Pelletreau, Kevin Coughlin, Kody Varahramyan, Megan Walsh, Peter Schilling, Ryan Weatherbee, Scott Marzilli

Absent:

Senators: Bashir Khoda, Benjamin King, C. Matt Graham, Karen Beeftink, Keith Berube, Matt Hawkyard, Nils Haëntjens, Phillip Dickens, Timothy Bowden, Tingting Ye

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 3:02pm.

Land Acknowledgement 

The land acknowledgement was read by Timothy Waring.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from 7 May 2025 were approved with no corrections.

Introduction of Student Government Representatives

The representatives from Student Government (Keegan Tripp and one other, to be announced) and Graduate Student Government (Carter Emerson) were introduced. Zeke DeLorme was present as a substitute for the undergraduate government representative yet to be announced.

Presentations on Campus Services

The Director of the Counseling Center (Angela Fileccia) and representatives from the Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund gave presentations on services available to members of the University of Maine community. More information can be found in the public materials folder and on the Counseling Center or Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund websites. 

Questions of the Administration

Strategic Reinvisioning Update

President Klemmer asked President Ferrini-Mundy for an update on the Strategic Reinvisioning (SRE) initiative. President Ferrini-Mundy briefly summarized the work that had been done to date, pointing also to the series of actions at the federal level over the past nine months that has slowed progress. Interim Provost Gabriel Paquette referenced the recent memo that was distributed to the Senate in advance of the Open Meeting. He explained that college deans will begin reviewing SRE data with faculty immediately and that the administration looks forward to working with the Senate in the spirit of shared governance. Updates to the SRE website are also expected soon.

Discussion ensued, with questions focusing on how data had been collected and the models used to analyze that data. The administration said that available raw data will be made public and that accompanying information regarding methodologies is forthcoming. President Ferrini-Mundy invited the Senate to provide input on the administration’s models as part of this process.

Budget Update

Jenny Boyden, Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration & Chief Business Officer (CBO), gave the budget update. She explained that the University of Maine System (UMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget was approved by the Board of Trustees in May. This budget originally forecasted a 2.8% increase in revenue from tuition and fees, a 3.8% increase in state appropriations, and a large budgeted Facilities and Administration (F&A) increase of 12.8% over the prior year budget. Importantly, lower-than-expected enrollment numbers (particularly from out-of-state students) have led to revenue shortfalls. This is being evaluated by the Finance Office and the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, and results from that evaluation are forthcoming.

Tim Waring asked for an update on the structural deficit. President Ferrini-Mundy encouraged the senate to raise its questions at the Finance and Institutional Planning Committee meetings, where it will be possible to have a more thorough one-on-one discussion and Q&A with Jenny Boyden. The President also pointed to the Budget Advisory Committee meetings and upcoming Town Hall discussions as appropriate forums for these questions as the administration begins planning the FY27 budget.

Provost Search Update

Gen. Joseph DiSalvo, Interim Chief of Staff, was asked to give an update on the Provost Search. Gen DiSalvo said that he has been in contact with the firm contracted to manage the job postings and collection of applications. President Amanda Klemmer, as the Co-chair of the Provost Search Committee, announced that the committee would meet on Friday, September 12 to begin discussing the 93 applications that had been submitted. Finalist interviews will commence at the end of September. On-campus interviews for finalist candidates are slated for the last two weeks of October. President Ferrini-Mundy expressed a desire to have a new provost in place as soon as possible, before the end of the fiscal year.

Questions from the Floor

Salary Changes: A couple senators voiced faculty concerns regarding changes in the salaries of faculty, administrators, and system-level employees over the last several years. Gabriel Paquette encouraged the Senate to share specific concerns with the administration so they can be addressed. MJ Sedlock stated that the Finance and Institutional Planning Committee (FIPC) had presented a motion to the Senate, passed in FY24, requesting data from the administration on trends in employment over time. The administration supported this motion, but MJ did not recall action being taken. President Klemmer stated that FIPC had begun conversations with the former Vice President for Finance and Chief Business Officer, Kelly Sparks, former Provost John Volin, and former Associate Provost Gabriel Paquette in FY25. A preliminary report on Education and General (E&G) funded numbers across campus units was provided before the committee’s focus shifted to overall budgetary challenges precipitated by federal actions. FIPC will plan to pick up the issue this year with the current interim VP of Finance & CBO, Jenny Boyden, particularly to request data on salary changes that had not been included in the preliminary report.

Health-Care Plan: President Klemmer asked for an update regarding the anticipated change in health insurance providers for UMS employees. President Ferrini-Mundy explained that the UMS contract with its current provider, Cigna, would expire on December 31, 2025. The System engaged a task force and a Request for Proposals (RFP) was posted. Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Maine produced the top score in the inclusive consensus building scoring process and was awarded the opportunity to negotiate a 3-year contract with the System. Northern Light Health subsequently announced that it had reached an impasse in its negotiations with Anthem and would be terminating its relationship with this provider. A mediator has now been brought in. UMS remains committed to contracting with a provider that can meet the requirements outlined in its initial RFP.

Negotiations with the Graduate Student Union: Bargaining committees have continued to meet throughout the summer to discuss negotiations and progress continues to be made to complete the contract; 25 proposals have been tentatively agreed, and there are 10 outstanding. Several more are close to agreement. Meeting dates through October are pending confirmation. Sen. Perry asked where to find information on the proposals that had been agreed upon, and President Ferrini-Mundy said she would check.

Officer & Position Reports

  1. President – Amanda Klemmer
    Committee assignments are forthcoming. Please be on the lookout for an email from committee chairs.
  2. Vice President – Henri Akono
    No report.
  1. Secretary – Sabrina DeTurk
    No report. 
  1. Faculty Governance Council (FGC) Representative – Bill DeSisto
    1. UMS began putting together a Cluster Micro-Credential Policy. FGC Rep. DeSisto invited input from the Senate on this topic.
    2. There are five Intent to Plans in various stages. For questions about any of these Intent to Plans, please contact Bill DeSisto.
  1. Board of Trustees (BoT) Representative – Colleen Marzilli
    The University of Maine System Board of Trustees met by Zoom on July 14, 2025. Key actions and updates included:
  • Updates: President Ferrini-Mundy reported on significant capital projects underway at the University of Maine, including the grand opening of the Aroostook Farm phenotyping lab and the construction of several major facilities: the sustainable aquaculture workforce innovation center, New Balance soccer field and track, Shawn Walsh Center renovations, advanced manufacturing center upgrades, and Blueberry Farm modernization. She also noted progress on the GEM project.
  • Policy Updates: Approved updates to Board Policies 301, 301.1, and 302, refining processes for university and system mission statements and academic calendars.
  • Academic Program Changes: Approved elimination or suspension of several under-enrolled programs at UMaine at Fort Kent, UMaine at Augusta, and USM. Approved five new 90-credit pilot bachelor’s programs for adult degree completers at multiple campuses, with anticipated launches pending accreditation.
  • Facilities and Capital Projects: Authorized major investments includi­­ng $10M for Boardman Hall modernization, $1.36M for Darling Marine Center renovations, $7.43M for the Forest Biomaterials Innovation Center, $5M for the MAFES Analytical Lab, and a $13.6M, 15-year residential housing lease for UMA.
  • Program Update: The Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and approved the Bachelor of Applied College Studies (90-credit) at the University of Maine at Machias as a 90-credit pilot program with enrollment limited to adult students, as defined by the Board, and with regular reviews by the Board of the System’s evaluation of the pilot.
  • Collective Bargaining: Approved tentative agreements with the Service & Maintenance Teamsters Union and the Fraternal Order of Police Union.
  • Strategic Initiatives: Received reports on enrollment (slight growth), finance (strong investment returns), legislative successes (increased funding), and ongoing strategic planning, with significant progress on campus fundraising and marketing initiatives.
  • Other Actions: Approved Maine Law’s $10M comprehensive fundraising campaign and the University of Maine at Farmington’s new Master of Education degree.

    The next Board meeting is scheduled for September 14-15, 2025, at the University of Maine on behalf of University of Maine at Machias.
  • The Academic and Student Affairs Committee met via Zoom on August 25, 2025. The meeting addressed key university issues including conflicts of interest, reports from student and faculty representatives, academic program proposals, enrollment data, tuition programs, and policy updates. The committee considered and voted on several new academic program proposals across University of Maine System institutions, including:
    • Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (UMA, UMPI)
    • Master of Science in Homeland Security (UMFK)
    • Associate of Arts in Human Services (UMPI)
    • Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education (UMPI)
    • Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (UMPI)
    • Master of Arts in American Studies (UMPI)
    • No programs from UMaine were reviewed

The meeting also included updates on multi-university program collaborations, enrollment trends for Summer 2025, pilot student surveys, and revisions to the student conduct code.

Committee Reports

Committee on Committees – Esther Enright

  1. Provost’s Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee.
    1. From what units: 3 Nominations from each College
      • College of Education and Human Development
      • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
    2. Who: Tenured, full professors only (do not have to be a senator)
    3. When: 3 Year Terms, Start date 12.2025
      • Meet Dec/Jan & again in May
    4. Thank you to David Neivandt (Engineering & Computing), Jessica Leahy (Earth, Life, & Health Sciences), Patti Miles (Business) for your continued service.
  2. We need a representative for the Navigate Advisory Committee
  3. Please go to your Colleges/Departments and make sure you have engaged in an election process for faculty senate. If you haven’t, please let me, Amanda, and William know and we will support you through that process. We need faculty senators to be elected representatives of their units to be in compliance with bylaws (and honor the principles of faculty governance).

Environment Committee – Tim Waring

  1. Faculty request for information on CCA parking lot
  2. Soliciting new members. Have developed a full agenda. Please send nominations and tributes!

Cultural Environment Subcommittee – Outgoing chair – Tim Bowden

Need chair

Finance and Institutional Planning Committee – Henri Akono

No report.

Program Creation and Reorganization Review Committee – Co-Chair MJ Sedlock

No report.

Academic Affairs Committee – Jennifer Perry

No report.

General Education Stewardship Committee – Derek Michaud

No report.

Library Advisory Committee – Jonathan Barron

No report.

Research and Scholarship Committee – Ben King and Jay Wason

Upcoming Sept 17th meeting with the VPR. Contact us with topics of concern for that meeting or others this semester

Faculty Information Technology – Sudarshan Chawathe

  1. Need committee members. Please volunteer.
  2. Please send any issues that would benefit from this committee’s attention by email to sudarshan.chawathe@maine.edu.
  3. ITSC (Information Technology Strategic Council, UMS-level) will likely meet soon.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:40pm.