Committee Reports 11 February 2026

February 19, 2026 Committee Reports

Faculty Governance Council Representative – Bill DeSisto

The motion regarding fossil fuel investments was forwarded to FGC representatives on December 15, 2025 and requested that Faculty Senates consider it. The FGC has not met since last November and will meet later this month. 

Jeff St. John shared an intent to plan for the following:

  • ITP: M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, UMA
  • Full proposal: A.S. in THOR, UMPI (shared with you previously in its ITP form on 11/13/25)
  • Full proposal: B.S. in THOR, UMPI (shared with you previously in its ITP form on 11/13/25)
  • Full proposal: A.A. in Business, UMPI (shared with you previously in its ITP form on 9/2/25)

He is requesting feedback by 3/5/26.

Board of Trustees Representative – Colleen Marzilli

  • Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement, Graduate Student Workers Union
    The Board of Trustees authorized the Chancellor to execute the collective bargaining agreement, with the Graduate Student Workers Union, having been voted upon and ratified by the members of that bargaining unit.
  • Barrows Hall ESRP Wing Replacement Chiller
    Authorized to  expend up to $1,000,000 for the replacement of the Barrows Hall ESRB Chiller.
  • Morse Arena Funding Increase
    Authorized to expend up to $106 million for the construction of Morse Arena.
  • North Campus Infrastructure Improvements
    Authorized to spend up to $3,000,000 for the removal of Crossland Alumni Center, and make improvements and expansion to the Wells, Dunn, and Corbett parking lots, and realignment and improvements to Long Rd. Gym Drive, and University Mall walking pathways.
  • Franco-American Centre
    BOT supports the importance of a vibrant Franco-American Centre and that the University of Maine will provide a bi-annual report to the Board regarding the relocation and sustainability of the Franco-American Centre.

Program Creation and Reorganization Review Committee – Glenda Pereira (Chair) & MJ Sedlock (Co-Chair)

Currently gathering feedback from all faculty on two proposals. Proposals shared with all campus faculty via email on Thu Jan 29th. Comment deadline February 12th. 

  1. Proposal to suspend bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences in the Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences (previously submitted as an elimination in Fall 2025, Senate recommended suspension instead; full review)
  2. Proposal to Eliminate the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Spanish (full review)

Meeting on February 13 to discuss two proposals and feedback. 

Environment Committee – Tim Waring (Chair)

The Environment Committee met on January 29 to prioritize work for the semester. News:

  1. The president denied our motion, SM 2601 “Motion to Provide Information on Immigration Enforcement on Campus” from last semester requesting a careful and deliberate campus response to the public safety threat posed by the possibility of federal immigration action on campus. No clear reasons were provided.
  2. We have discovered that the Senate approved a motion titled “Motion to Regularly Assess Faculty Satisfaction at the University of Maine” in February of 2014, which stipulates that we use the UCLA Faculty Survey: https://heri.ucla.edu/heri-faculty-survey/ on a three-year cycle, and that the motion was approved by the administration on March 31, 2014.

We identified three priorities for the semester: 

  1. Address the President’s response to SM 2601 “Motion to Provide Information on Immigration Enforcement on Campus,” and request an open dialog about how to find workable solutions to the valid and high-stakes public safety issue.
  2. Work with the administration to restart the triennial faculty survey for execution this spring.

Cultural Environment Subcommittee – Michael Grillo (Chair) and Sara Flanagan (Co-Chair)  

The Cultural Environment Committee presented its motion rejecting the federal government’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education to the Senate Executive Committee.  At that meeting it was decided to work with the UMaine Administration to create a mutually supported iteration for presentation to the Senate.

Committee on Committees – Lauren Jacobs (Chair) – no verbal report required 

We did not find a faculty member for the Steve Gould Award Committee. We will try again next year.

Stay tuned for information on spring Faculty Senate elections. The CoC has a meeting to discuss necessary plans on 2/17.

Finance and Institutional Planning Committee – Henri Akono (Chair)

Met on Friday 12/19/2025 with senior administration. Discussions focused on (a) $7M budget cut decision and SRE concerns from faculty, (b) Budgetary aspect of research, and (c) Renovation of Crossland Hall. 

Met on Wednesday 1/21/2026; welcomed two new senators (Rob Meulenberg and Brian McGill). (a) Discussion regarding funding the move of the Franco-American Centre from Crossland to Libby to ESL, and its inclusion in the BOT agenda. https://umaine.edu/ofm/crossland-hall-removal/. (b) Steps to complete the admin growth motion report. 

General Education Stewardship Committee – Derek Michaud (Co-Chair)

Transition of courses from the old Gen Ed to the new Core Curriculum is complete and we are beginning to create a structure for thematic pathways to help students and advisors navigate the Core. GESC will be bringing a “clean up” motion to Academic Affairs in the next month or so to make minor adjustments to the Core that have been found necessary through the transition process. Assessment continues under the leadership of OIRA. Information can be found on the Core Curriculum website at https://umaine.edu/provost/academic-affairs/core-curriculum/. 

Library Advisory Committee – Jonathan Barron (Chair)

The Library Advisory Committee met on 1-29-26. There we discussed the current cuts to database subscriptions as well as forthcoming cuts when current subscription plans end. We also discussed implications that the new Title II requirements will have on library resources and, as a result, on the use of library materials for teaching and research. Our next meeting, still in the planning stages,  will be with Dean Singh where these issues will be discussed in more detail.

Research and Scholarship Committee – Benjamin L. King (Chair) & Jay Wason III (Co-Chair)

  • Drafting a document regarding some challenges with the current structure of the research enterprise at UMaine with recommendations.
  • Office of Research Admin should be sharing a 2-page document about guidelines for late notice-of-intent submissions soon
  • VPRs office expects to share SRE report with Senate by end of February. 
  • Next meeting is Feb 18th @3 pm

Faculty Information Technology Committee – Sudarshan Chawathe (Chair) & Colleen Marzilli (Co-Chair)

  • Two motions before the Faculty Senate today
  • Additionally FIT is drafting a motion on Technology Access for Emeritus Faculty and the Website