Office of the President
The 21st-Century USM
From: President Selma Botman
January 20, 2009
Dear Colleagues:
Now that the second semester has begun, my updates to you, in the form of “The 21st Century USM,” will be coming on a much more regular basis. I’ll also be launching a blog within the next two weeks so that I can share with you my thoughts on a wider range of issues in a more informal, conversational way.
My primary reason for communicating with you more often is that the pace of our budget deliberations is picking up dramatically. I recognize how important it is to stay ahead of any rumors or misinformation.
BUDGET UPDATE
Because previous savings estimates proved unsubstantiated, we have, to date, only confirmed $1.8 million of the $2.7 million curtailment ordered by the Governor. (See my budget remarks of November 24 at www.usm.maine.edu/pres/publications/budgetremarks.doc) We have yet to identify the additional $900,000. Currently, we are working with deans, directors and the vice presidents, each of whom have been, or will be, given reduction targets in their respective areas. We have no choice but to find these savings by the end of this fiscal year, June 30, 2009. The one bright spot is that as of this writing spring 2009 enrollments appear to be rebounding and may not add significantly to our $2.7 million, current budget hole.
LONGER-RANGE REDUCTIONS
In addition to meeting our obligations for the current fiscal year, we are looking at longer-range cutbacks and possible reorganizations. I know that you have heard this before. But the situation we are facing is even more urgent than ever before, and the condition of the national and local economies gives us little hope for an immediate recovery.
Regrettably, that portends reductions in upcoming fiscal years. We cannot continue to make incremental, opportunistic cuts year in and year out, an approach which will serve only to sap our institution of its quality and impede our ability to be focused on our core mission. Furthermore, our ongoing fiscal challenges necessitate elimination of programs and services unrelated to our mission. We must consider elimination of programs and services that are not critical to our mission.
Thoughtful, deliberate and mission-oriented change will require a full understanding of our budget reality and a plan that, to the best extent possible, protects, if not nurtures, our academic core. I am creating a budgetary advisory committee – made up of faculty, students and staff - whose help I will seek as I make difficult and sometimes anguishing decisions.
Every area of the University has merit and makes contributions, but the long-term viability of the University requires us to pare down. Disinvesting in some areas means that, in the longer term, we can invest in others. I’ll share additional details as soon as they are available.
Soon, we will have a new strategic plan to help guide our decisions. Beyond that, I have established a subgroup of deans to explore substantive reorganizations of academic, administrative and support units. The budgetary advisory committee that I referred to earlier will provide counsel, and will take feedback on various proposals back to their colleagues. I’ll share the committee list with you as soon as it is finalized.
NURSING AND LEWISTON-AUBURN COLLEGE DEAN SEARCHES
I have decided to halt the two dean searches underway, at Lewiston-Auburn College and in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, until strategic planning recommendations and the deans’ working group make clearer our path forward. I think it is unfair, and maybe unethical, to appoint a new dean at a time when we are initiating a process to rethink how we are organized.
I deeply value the important work of the search committees, and I truly wish the result could have been otherwise. But, it is not. I arrived at this decision during the early part of semester break when our colleagues were scattered and communication would have been irregular. I determined that it was best to wait until everyone had returned from the holidays to make a campus-wide announcement. If you hear reports on decisions before the distribution of an official announcement, please do not hesitate to contact me for comment. I do not want anyone to rely on misinformation and premature announcements.
I want to point out that no decisions have been made on any academic or administrative reorganizations. Those decisions will require much thought, a full consideration of the fiscal conditions upon us, and broad input from our colleagues and friends. I hasten to add that we do not have the luxury of time. Those who have come to know me understand that inclusivity and transparency are principles that I treasure, though fiscal constraints make it my responsibility to bring the appropriate degree of decisiveness to the process. More details on that process to follow.
THE LIFE OF THE UNIVERSITY
Beginning today, January 20, the USM Art Gallery in Gorham will present “Ubart: A Retrospective,” showcasing 40 years of work by artist, educator, collector and our colleague, Juris Ubans, who will retire this summer. I hope you can join me for a reception to be held from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, February 1, at the Art Gallery.
Some of you are familiar with Sherman Lake in Newcastle. I have been told that it disappeared some four years ago when a storm knocked out a dam. Now, students in our Department of Environmental Science have a unique opportunity to study one of the largest saltwater marsh restorations in Maine. More information on this wonderful example of a collaborative, faculty-staff student research experience is available at https://blogs.usm.maine.edu/publicaffairs/archives/150
Finally, I hope you have a chance to watch today’s momentous inauguration. To call it “historic” seems a colossal understatement. Inaugural ceremonies will be broadcast live throughout the afternoon in Hannaford Lecture Hall, the Woodbury Campus Center and the Southworth Planetarium, Portland; in Room 170, Lewiston-Auburn College; and in the Brooks Student Center, Gorham.
