UMaine and UMM Present Consensus Recommendations for A New Public Higher Education Partnership and Service to the Downeast Region

Board presentation initiates engagement on partnership recommendations to include campus and
community discussions to gather feedback and solicit input around plan implementation

University of Maine President Susan J. Hunter and University of Maine at Machias President Sue Huseman jointly presented recommendations to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees for a new governance relationship creating new opportunities to share resources between the institutions.  The recommendations were developed by the Primary Partnership Structure and Governance Task Team which includes campus and community leaders from both UMaine and the University of Maine at Machias, as well as the University of Maine System Chancellor’s Office.

The recommendations call for Machias to become a regional campus of the University of Maine, while maintaining the University of Maine at Machias name, its distinct, regionally-focused mission, unique degree programs that serve the region’s interests, and its own community-focused Board of Visitors to support the Machias campus and its local leadership.  Developed to comport with the University of Maine System Charter as well as state law, the plan establishes a structure that facilitates intercampus collaboration while remaining responsive to regional needs.  The plan recommends a July 1, 2017 launch of the new governance relationship.

The presentation to the Board initiates a campus and community engagement process to discuss the recommendations.  The Board will act on the final recommendations at its March 26–27 meeting.

Please follow this link for a background document on the consensus recommendations.

Please follow this link for the material presented to the Board.

Please follow this link for background on the launch of the Primary Partnership.

The universities will be distributing media advisories, invitations to participate in the engagement process, and links to survey tools to provide public comment and input in the coming days.

Contact: Dan Demeritt, 581.5441