UPDATE From: President Richard L. Pattenaude
Number 6, March 2005
> University System Budgetary Update
> Feasibility of Football at USM
> USM/UMA Progress
> Call for USM Student Commencement Speaker
> University Mourns Loss of Professor Emeritus
Jerry Bowder
> A Grammy-Winning Performance
by USM Alumnus
> In Recognition
During this time of fiscal constraint, I wanted to take a
moment to update you on the Baldacci administration's proposed
biennial budget for the University of Maine System, and in
particular USM. The University System has not fared well in
the Governor's upcoming two-year cycle that begins July 1.
Given increases in healthcare and other operating costs and
needs, the Chancellor and Trustees had submitted to the Governor
a budget calling for a $29-million increase over a two-year
period. Rather, Governor Baldacci has proposed a $1-million
increase to the System's general operating budget in the first
year and no increase in the second year.
The Governor and many legislators, however, are supporting
the University System and USM, in particular, through several
bond proposals. These proposals include money for updating
general science labs, classroom improvements, construction
of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and equipping labs
in the Bioscience Research Wing. If authorized by the Legislature,
the proposed bond packages could go to voters for approval
as early as June.
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Speaking of recent legislative interests, you also may have
heard about a bill that was introduced to the Maine Legislature
last month that would have required USM to conduct a feasibility
study on the establishment of a football program at USM. In
reviewing the proposal, the Education Committee decided unanimously
not to pass the bill, but rather to encourage us to again
study the feasibility of such a program when the time is appropriate.
As in the past, I have made it clear that although we believe
a football program can be beneficial for student enrollment
and strengthening ties with the community, such a program
at USM, including startup costs, must be self-supporting.
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We continue to make progress around the planning for integration
of USM with UMA. Recently, I have been meeting with groups
of faculty, staff and students at UMA. Ongoing conversations
between USM and UMA faculty, staff, and students also continue
to generate points that need to be addressed by our implementation
plan if we are to move forward.
As I shared with the Chancellor in January, my vision for
UMA is one of achieving academic and programmatic excellence
to provide greater educational opportunities for students
in central Maine. Toward this end, I see UMA emerging as USM-Augusta--an
increasingly robust baccalaureate institution with a few carefully
selected Masters degrees. While current UMA baccalaureate
programs will be essentially intact, new programs could be
imported from current USM programs. Discussions are still
preliminary and we will work with our colleagues at UMA to
fashion a positive future for that campus.
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While it may not seem like it now, spring is just around
the corner, and that means its time to gear up for graduation.
Each year a committee comprised of faculty, staff and students
chooses a graduating student to be the USM student commencement
speaker. Please encourage graduating students to apply for
this honor. Deadline for student submissions for consideration
is Monday, March 28. For more information regarding the application
process, please visit the Destination Graduation Web site
at: www.usm.maine.edu/destinationgraduation
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It is with sadness that I note the passing of Professor Emeritus
of Music Jerry L. Bowder on February 10, 2005. Jerry came
to USM in 1960 after receiving his Ph.D. in composition at
the Eastman School of Music. During his tenure at USM, serving
as department chair on several occasions, Jerry was regarded
by his colleagues and students as a talented composer and
teacher. An active composer for more than 40 years, Jerry's
numerous compositions include four symphonies and a string
quartet. In 1976, he was appointed the Maine Bicentennial
composer. His work also has been recognized with many commissions
and awards, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 1972
for his String Quartet No. 1.
On behalf of the entire University, I extend condolences
to Jerry's wife Libbie and the entire Bowder family. At Libbie's
request, contributions can be made in his honor to the Jerry
Bowder Music Scholarship fund at USM. For more information,
see www.usm.maine.edu/music/faculty/bowderj.htm
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USM alumnus and Lewiston native Andy Pelletier won a Grammy
for his part in the Southwest Chamber Ensemble's recording
"Carlos Chavez -Complete Chamber Music, Vol. 2." The California-
based classical group won in the Small Ensemble Performance
category. Andy, a 1995 graduate of the USM School of Music
where he earned a bachelor's degree in horn performance, credited
his time at USM for laying the groundwork for his career in
music. "I wouldn't give up my USM education for all the money
in the world," he told the Portland Press Herald. He now is
a visiting professor of music at Bowling Green State University.
Read more: www.usm.maine.edu/music/news/
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During a White House ceremony on Monday, February 28, USM
Muskie Professor Charlie Colgan, as part of a national team
of researchers, received an Excellence in Partnering Award
by the National Ocean Partnership Program. The award was presented
for the team's investigation of the economic benefits of ocean
observing systems in the United States. Colgan served as co-
principal investigator on the project.
At a Blaine House ceremony hosted last month by First Lady
Karen Baldacci, Craig Hutchinson, vice president, Division
of Student &University Life, and USM's Promoting Reduced-Risk
Alcohol Choices (PRAC) committee were presented with Friends
of Campus Prevention Awards by Maine's Higher Education Alcohol
Prevention Partnership (HEAPP). PRAC, chaired by Paul Dexter,
assistant dean of student life, is a committee of employees,
students and community members that develops ways to educate
USM students about the hazards connected with drug and alcohol
use and looks for ways to offer students alternatives to underage
drinking.
Finally, nearly 60 USM Department of Theatre students, faculty,
and staff returned to campus with multiple awards from the
2005 Region I (New England) Kennedy Center American College
Theatre Festival. Having a show selected for the festival
is a major coup-- only six are chosen from the region. This
year, USM sent two productions: "The Laramie Project," directed
by faculty member Wil Kilroy, and a student-written play,
"november/december," by Chris Gyngell of Willington, Conn.
Read more at: www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_0405/regionalawards.htm
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