By 2010, the University of Southern Maine will be a completely different school, according to “Transforming USM”, a six-year action plan for the university. USM president Richard Pattenaude released the first draft of the plan last month, and has hosted informational open meetings on each of the three campuses. The office of the president will consider feedback and concerns from faculty and students raised at the meetings when the plan is finalized on April 30. According to Bob Caswell, Director of USM Media & Community Relations, the plan has been well-received at each meeting.
“We have received a surprising amount of feedback, most of it positive,” he said. However, he adds, “there have been a lot of questions from people about the details of the plan.”
The stated goal of the plan is to develop USM into a top-ranked, nationally recognized public university, whose goal is to directly address the economic and educational needs of the region.
“Transforming USM” coincides with the University of Maine System’s “Strategic Plan”, released last week by the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor. This plan will reshape the university system by combining Presque Isle, Machias, and Fort Kent into the University of Northern Maine. USM will also be impacted, as the University of Augusta becomes part of Southern Maine. As the school moves from a three campus to a four-campus institution, the Portland campus will emerge as a hub because of its size and student population, according to President Pattenaude. “The most important thing is to respect the special differences in each campus while strengthening USM as a whole,” he adds. Although tuition will raise 6% next year and will rise 5% each year until 2008-2009, the plan includes a direct proposal to dedicate a $2.75 million from the extra dollars generated from the tuition increase to financial aid. “This plan calls for significant reinvestment in the school,” says Pattenaude.
The final informational meeting before the plan is finalized will take place on Friday April 9 in the Husky Hut of the Gorham campus.
Kate Brown can be contacted at [email protected]
In a recent letter to the USM community, President Pattenaude wrote, “This document will serve us as we build both our reputation for quality and our long-term viability as an institution.” He also stressed that USM must transform to meet the demands of Maine’s shifting cultural, economic, and social landscape.
The document identifies five areas in which change will be implemented.
1. Student Mix: Enrollment expected to remain around 11,000 students; increase full-time undergraduates to 60% of the student body, graduate students to 27.5%, and have 7% racially diverse students. More student housing, stronger advising, better recruiting, retention of first-year students.
2. Curricular and Co-Curricular Program Development: New high-demand programs:new media and the digital arts, mechanical engineering, and informational sciences. Review of less popular programs for downsizing or elimination. Enhance the Honors and Russell Scholars programs, increase online degree and learning.
3. Organizational and Financial Effectiveness: Reduction of costs through the reorganization, focus on efficiency and environmental sustainability. Will require merging certain academic and administrative departments to maximize resources such as building space, staff, and equipment.
4. Employer of Choice: To make USM a better workplace, provide feedback, coaching, performance reviews for employees, plus biannual survey to gauge faculty and staff satisfaction.
5. Renovations and New Facilities: Expansions on the Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston-Auburn campuses: the Portland campus will get a new student center and university commons, Gorham will have a new Performing Arts Center and more student housing, and Lewiston-Auburn will get more classroom space.
The document is available at http://www.usm.maine.edu/pres/transformingUSM.pdf
Amy Bickford can be contacted at [email protected]