UPDATE From: President Richard L. Pattenaude
Number 4, December 2003
> Update on Proposed Budget Cuts
> USM Lobbyist Visits Campuses
> CMCC Signs Articulation Agreement
> Muskie Collaboration Nets Critical State
Grants
> Student Research Exhibition Expanded
> Performing Arts Students Get Billing
> In My Travels
My Update was slightly delayed this month until I had more
facts to report about Gov. Baldacci's proposed $13 million
budget cut for the University of Maine System. These proposed
cuts are part of his efforts to trim government spending by
$22 million to offset the state's Medicaid shortfall. It's
not a problem he created, but he has the unfortunate responsibility
of solving it. I don't see any miracle cure, but I am confident
that USM's vital contributions to Maine will be part of the
discussion. Baldacci's proposal is subject to legislative
approval, and as such, we will take our case to the Legislature
when they reconvene in early January. The proposal is one
of the first things on their agenda. Chancellor Westphal continues
to meet with the Governor on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, my staff has begun the process of developing a
proposal to re-engineer the university toward long-term sustainability,
based on recommendations from the University Review and Improvement
Committee. While not initiated in response to the latest go-round,
I think it will serve us well if we are forced to make more
immediate cuts. My staff will meet twice over the break to
complete their proposal, which will be presented to the campus
senates and community at the end of January. A copy of the
URIC report will be available on my Web page shortly: www.usm.maine.edu/pres/
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We had an important visit this week from our lobbyist, Marjorie
Strayer, of Capitol Impact, who is helping us to prepare our
FY05 requests for federal earmarks. She visited each campus
and gathered info on some key research areas, met with staff
and faculty, and addressed our newly-formed Earmarks Advisory
Council (EAC).
Marjorie is a real Washington insider and has helped us secure
over $4 million in federal earmarks over the past two years.
Among other things, these monies have helped equip ASETÍs
Advanced Technology Wing, will fund teaching lab upgrades,
and will allow us to build a covered pedestrian walkway between
the new Bedford St. parking garage and Masterton Hall.
Marjorie will be working closely with Bob Caswell, USM's
executive director of public affairs, and the EAC over the
next month to prepare our new requests. Council members are
drawn from a wide representation of USM schools, colleges,
and academic programs and will work with Bob to update the
campus community on the progress of our requests through Congress.
For more information, contact Bob
Caswell at 780-4200.
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I am pleased to report that USM has signed a transfer agreement
with yet another Maine community college. Central Maine Community
College has become the third community college to join the
guaranteed admission agreement; SMCC and YCCC signed earlier
this semester. The agreement allows successful graduates of
the community college's Associate of Arts Advantage (AAA)
programs to enroll with junior status in many USM programs.
A signing ceremony will take place in Auburn shortly. For
more information on articulation agreements with MaineÍs community
colleges, visit:/www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_03-04/yccc.htm.
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Muskie Collaboration Nets Critical State
Grants
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognized
an important University collaboration recently when they awarded
nearly $4 million to the State of Maine for grants developed
in partnership with the Muskie School. The grants will be
administered by state agencies and community groups. They
target some of the stateÍs most pressing needs, such as improving
home and community-based services for the elderly, training
direct-service workers, and increasing enrollment in the Dirigo
Health Plan. The Muskie School will provide research and technical
assistance to state agencies as they implement these projects,
and evaluate the impact of their efforts. This is another
terrific example of the critical role the Muskie School plays
in helping to shape public policy and programs for Maine communities.
For more information, visit: muskie.usm.maine.edu/
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Student Research Exhibition Expanded
By now, you've probably received a Call for Abstracts for
Thinking Matters 2004, an expanded version of our successful
Poster Day. I hope you are encouraging students to participate
in this program. It showcases the research, scholarship, and
creativity of students from all disciplines and levels, and
is a testament to the quality of faculty-student interaction
at our institution. This year's program will be held on the
Portland campus, April 22-23, 2004, and will include posters,
oral presentations, a roundtable discussion and keynote address.
For more information, visit: research.iris.usm.maine.edu/thinkingmatters/
or call program co-chair Adam Tuchinsky at 780-4287.
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Performing Arts Students Get Billing
Many of our students in the performing arts have been making
headlines lately. Several students and faculty from the Dept.
of Theatre landed roles in the HBO filming of "Empire Falls"
in Waterville this fall. Beth Edgecomb, a senior music education
major, represented Maine in this year's Miss America contest,
where she won a talent award for her piano performance of
Chopin's "Fantasie-Impromptu." USM sophomore Rosie
Schoneberg recently auditioned for a talent scouting program
in Maine, which led to a win in the Best in Broadway division
of the Best New Talent Awards 2003 in Los Angeles. These are
just a few of our incredibly talented students. I congratulate
them for the hard work and training needed to reach their
levels of excellence.
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In My Travels
Recently, I was invited to be a panelist on a nationally
televised PBS conference on higher education budgets and planning.
It was refreshing -- and reassuring -- to hear that other
administrators think we have been creative and thoughtful
in our efforts. In fact, in dealing with the cuts of the mid-'90s,
we handled it so well that there are now two Harvard Graduate
School of Education case studies about it. I'd prefer that
we not have to develop the skill set, but it will be useful
in the days ahead.
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