On Friday Oct. 31, members from the seven campuses that make up the University of Maine System (UMS) met in Portland to discuss what is being called the Strategic Planning Process. This process sets out to improve the economic opportunities for Maine citizens by examining and possibly changing the UMaine System. The opening phase focuses on gathering information from each of the UMaine schools. The president of each campus was asked to arrange a group of faculty, students, staff, and administration to attend each visit. From now until Thanksgiving, each campus will host a meeting to gather opinions.
An aging population, an increasing demand for services and programs and the sluggish economy were all issues that drove the UMS to develop the Strategic Planning Process. Maine youths are having a hard time finding economic opportunities and are going elsewhere for jobs. One of the questions the board will ask is: “What types of skills will Maine citizens need in the future to be successful, and how should you alter your academic curriculum to meet those needs?”
What changes the Strategic Planning Process will make is unclear at present. The planning board is bringing the same list of questions to each campus, according to Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Elsa Nunez. After the board identifies and analyzes the information it gathers, it will bring preliminary recommendations to each campus in Jan. or Feb. of 2004. Each campus will have a chance to respond to the recommendations and make adjustments as needed. The Strategic Planning Process will present a final plan in May 2004, and the implementation of the plan is expected by Sept. 2004. In order for changes to occur, sources of funds will need to be identified. Vice President for Student and University Life, Craig Hutchinson cannot predict if that will mean a raise in tuition, but he did plan on voicing that concern at Friday’s meeting.
“In my mind, this is all about strengthening the university and saying ‘how do we make the individual campuses work well so that they can achieve their missions and their goals?'” Nunez said.
Conducting the process, along with Nunez are: the Board of Trustees; a Board of Trustees Strategic Planning committee, consisting of only board members; a Strategic Planning Task Force, which is comprised of trustees, each campus’ President, and the Chancellor; the Chief Financial officer; the Director of Planning; and a consulting firm, Cambridge Concord Associates.
Questions or comments about the Strategic Planning Process can be sent to Vice Chancellor Nunez at [email protected].
Molly Lovell can be contacted at [email protected]