Strategic Re-Envisioning Update — October 11

Dear University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias communities, 

October 1 marked the start of Phase 3 of the Strategic Re-envisioning (SRE) process: Refining and Executing. I was pleased to receive the thoughtful and comprehensive feedback from our initial working groups, which offer potential pathways for action and potential criteria for considering ideas. As other UMaine leaders and I review this material, it is important that we continue to receive input and ideas from the community. You can do that here.

To encourage feedback, we have another flash survey which asks about faculty and staff use of generative AI. This brief survey will inform the ongoing activities of the working group looking at the theme of leveraging generative AI. You can answer these questions here. 

In my last update, I announced the addition of a new SRE theme that emerged from campus input. Theme 14 will focus on enhancing organizational effectiveness and will be led by Corey Watson. The working group members for Theme 14 have already started their assessment. 

On Thursday, October 10, the SRE project leadership, some of the provost’s fellows, cabinet members, academic deans, and center and institute directors met to look at the work that has come in from phases 1 and 2 and to consider next steps and priorities. Watch for more in future updates. 

To gain a deeper understanding of the drivers and long-term goals of the strategic re-envisioning process, I invite you to explore a concept paper I authored, titled Challenges, Responsibility, and Opportunity: The Case for the Strategic Re-Envisioning of the University of Maine. I look forward to the community’s feedback on the ideas presented. 

Sincerely,

Joan Ferrini-Mundy

President