UMaine to freeze pay, boost enrollment to balance budget
The University of Maine System yesterday released a final draft report detailing how the system can cut spending, boost enrollment and improve its performance.
The report, titled "New Challenges, New Directions," was released yesterday at a meeting of the system's board of trustees. The result of a six-month-long study on UMS's finances and structure, the report details changes the system plans to undertake to avoid a projected $43 million annual shortfall by 2013, with the bulk of cuts -- as much as $31 million -- slated to come from changes to administrative, student and financial services. The action plan includes freezing compensation and benefits at current levels for 2010 and 2011, eliminating courses with fewer than 12 students and attracting an additional 500 to 700 full-time equivalent students, according to the report. Also included in the report are plans to centralize and modernize data management systems and distance learning technologies, and the development of a public agenda that would align the system's plan with the goals of the state, including the Legislature, the business community and the Maine Community College System.
Trustees plan to visit each campus and hold public hearings on the report in the next few weeks, and the board is scheduled to act on a final version of the report at its meeting on Nov. 16, according to the Bangor Daily News.
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