Media report on proposal to make Machias a regional UMaine campus by July

The Associated Press, Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News, WABI (Channel 5), WLBZ (Channel 2) and WVII (Channel 7) reported on a proposal to make University of Maine at Machias a regional campus of the University of Maine by July. Under the proposal, the campus name would not change, students would still graduate with University of Maine at Machias diplomas and all sports programs would be unchanged despite the two campuses being in different divisions, according to the Press Herald. Instead of a president, UMM would be led by an “executive dean” who would report to the UMaine president. The proposal, which was presented to system trustees Monday, will be discussed at campus and community meetings in the coming weeks, and the trustees will vote on the recommendations at their March meeting, the Press Herald reported. “We think we can bring some capability to this that will allow to free them up and be more successful in their location,” UMaine President Susan J. Hunter told WLBZ. Maine Public, SFGate, The Washington Times and Greenwich Time carried the AP report.