Administration’s Response to SM 2601 & SM 2602
To: Amanda Klemmer, President of the Faculty Senate
From: Joan Ferrini-Mundy, President
CC: Joe DiSalvo, Interim Chief of Staff
Gabriel Paquette, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Kelly Straub, Executive Assistant to the President
William Somes, Senior Administrative Coordinator, Faculty Senate
Re: Response to Faculty Senate Motions from November 19, 2025 meeting, and received for action on November 20, 2025.
Thank you for your letter dated November 20, 2025 regarding the motions approved at the November 12 and November 19 Faculty Senate meetings. After review with Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Gabriel Paquette, my responses to the November 12 and November 19, 2025 University of Maine Faculty Senate Motions are as follows:
Regarding SM 2601: “Motion to Provide Information on Immigration Enforcement on Campus.”
I cannot support the motion as written. Please see Interim Provost Paquette’s memo and recommendations [see below]. I would be happy to discuss this matter with you at your convenience.
Regarding SM 2602: “Motion to Add a Library Link Item to the Brightspace Navigation Bar.”
I am pleased to support the motion to add a link dedicated to Fogler and Merrill Libraries to the Brightspace Navigation Bar. The libraries’ resources, staff, and facilities play a vital role in supporting research and teaching at the University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias. Fogler and Merrill Libraries exemplify excellence in academic support, fostering innovation, discovery, and student success across disciplines. This dedicated link to Library Resources within Brightspace will further streamline and strengthen faculty and student access to these resources.
Decision Memo from Interim Provost Paquette to the President
Date: December 19, 2025
From: Gabriel Paquette, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost
Subject: SM 2601: Motion for Information on Immigration Enforcement on Campus
Purpose: We received the attached memo from the Faculty Senate entitled, “Motions Approved at the University of Maine Faculty Senate Meetings on November 12 and November 19.” These motions were received for action on November 20, 2025. The purpose of this memo is to provide my feedback and recommendations for your actions on SM 2601. A response to SM 2601 is due to the Faculty Senate by December 19, 2025.
The second motion, approved at the November 19 meeting, SM 2602, will be submitted in a separate decision memo for your consideration.
Background or Context: The following is a motion that was approved by the Faculty Senate at the November 12, 2025 meeting.
SM2601 entitled, “Motion to Provide Information on Immigration Enforcement on Campus.”
Interim Executive for Academic Affairs and Provost Recommendation:
It is the responsibility of the University to adhere to and comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Further, UMaine is prohibited from impeding any law enforcement actions. Additionally, there are logistical and operational barriers that would render ineffective the use of the internal emergency alert system for this purpose. Thus, the Senate’s proposal to use the internal emergency alert system is not something to which the University can agree.
With regard to the proposal to create an internal webpage that would address, at a minimum, four points, I recommend offering the following response: first, there exist ample neutral third-party resources that are publicly available; second, the University already offers significant support to international students, faculty, and staff, with resources easily accessible via
University-controlled websites and other, established channels; third, it is impossible to categorize every single University space as either private or public since such a determination is based on how each is utilized. I would suggest that the University could specify the categories of spaces and how they are generally utilized (i.e., public or private) and provide those categories to the Senate; fourth, there are numerous resources available from neutral third-party websites for members of the international community. As previously noted, the University’s responsibility is to comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.