UMaine System chancellor will stay on for a year, but is financially slapped for search debacle

Courtesy / University of Maine System University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy had his contract renewed for one year after no-confidence votes in his leadership.

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By Jessica Hall

The University of Maine System has renewed the contract of Chancellor Dannel Malloy for one year — but without a bonus or salary increase, in response to a botched presidential search at the system’s Augusta campus and no-confidence votes in Malloy's leadership.

Malloy will instead receive a 3% “cost of living” increase that all management personnel get, putting his salary at $382,500.

Malloy, who has led the UMaine System since 2019, came under fire in recent months following missteps during the hunt for a new president of the University of Maine at Augusta. Malloy never shared a key piece of information about the candidate with the entire search committee, the UMS board said.

Michael Laliberte received two votes of “no confidence” while serving as president at the State University of New York at Delhi. But that was not communicated to the entire search committee that vetted his hiring at UMA.

The lack of communication and failed search efforts prompted faculty at three of the system’s campuses to vote that they had no confidence in Malloy’s leadership. The faculty at the other four campuses followed with letters in support of those no-confidence votes.

Malloy’s three-year contract was originally set to expire June 30. But following the turmoil, the University of Maine System’s board of trustees extended it until July 11, providing more time to weigh a decision on his employment.

On Monday, the board agreed unanimously to extend Malloy’s contract by a year, with some conditions including those related to improved communications and financial stability.

“We were confronted with a failed UMA presidential search that resulted in financial and reputational loss, by votes of no confidence from faculty senates, as well as lingering resentments about the lack of transparency and engagement with affected parties prior to launching the retiree health change,” said Trish Riley, chair of the University of Maine System board of trustees.

“The board takes these concerns very seriously and recognizes a pattern of action without adequate engagement. We see an urgency to rebuild trust,” Riley said. “We weighed the chancellor’s serious missteps and lack of effective communication and engagement against his considerable accomplishments.”

Riley said the one-year contract renewal will give Mallow the opportunity rebuild trust, increase transparency, and help the system maintain stability as it looks to fill important leadership roles at several campuses and weather the current financial uncertainties. The university system, like other national higher education institutions, faces fewer enrolling students, which means reduced revenue.

Malloy, meanwhile, apologized for the tumult.

“I am sorry for the turmoil my mistakes have created for Maine’s public universities in recent months,” Malloy said. “I am truly humbled by their unanimous vote for me today, and by the experience of the past three months.”

Before becoming the chancellor of the University of Maine System, Malloy served as governor of Connecticut, where his approval rate dipped below 15% before his departure.

Established in 1968, the University of Maine System comprises Maine’s seven public universities, including 10 campuses and numerous satellite centers. UMS serves more than 30,000 students annually and has more than 5,000 faculty and staff.