Office of the President
The 21st-Century USM
From: President Selma Botman
March 16, 2009
Welcome to the latest 21st -Century USM update. Please check this site regularly for official communications on a range of issues. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly at president@usm.maine.edu.
New Vice President for Advancement
Earlier this afternoon, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved my nomination of Meg Weston as our new vice president for advancement. As I said in the official announcement, Meg is the perfect fit for our advancement needs at this stage of our development. I also want to extend a sincere thank you to Dick Sturgeon, who came out of retirement to serve as our interim vice president. Read the official announcement of Meg’s appointment.
Taking Stock
Last Friday, I was invited to attend the first meeting of the steering committee that will be overseeing the self-study process for our New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) reaccreditation. Every 10 years, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of NEASC assesses member colleges and universities for accreditation. Our self-study process begins this spring and will continue for the next 20 months. Some 200 members of the campus community will be involved in the creation of a self-study document, and all community members will have opportunities to offer feedback. Professor Luisa Deprez deserves our thanks for agreeing to lead this incredibly important effort. While our strategic plan will provide guideposts for future growth and development, a NEASC reaccreditation is equally important in that it offers a comprehensive and candid assessment of where we are at this point in time. It also will validate the work we do, while giving an independent assessment of areas in need of improvement. Please review the re-accreditation Web site at www.usm.maine.edu/accreditation
Thinking Matters!
I urge you to attend “Thinking Matters,” on Friday, April 17. This student-oriented research, scholarship and creativity symposium features oral sessions throughout the day, and a poster session from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Sullivan Gymnasium, Portland. It is a wonderful event that reaffirms the value of engaged teaching and learning. Much more information is available at research.usm.maine.edu/thinkingmatters
Budget Remarks Online
Finally, many thanks to all of you who attended the budget updates. My remarks are now posted at www.usm.maine.edu/pres/pdfs/town_meeting_remarks.pdf
