UMS campuses to hear strategic plan

BANGOR – Discussions on the proposed University of Maine System strategic plan have been scheduled at all seven campuses between Tuesday, April 13, and Friday, May 7.

UMS Chancellor Joseph Westphal, Vice Chancellor Elsa Nunez, and at least two members of the board of trustees will visit each of the campuses for a day of meetings and open forums to discuss the draft plan that was released at the end of March.

Many visits will include a full day of 60- to 90-minute meetings at which employees, students and residents of the area can comment or ask questions. The University of Maine at Machias and University of Maine at Fort Kent have scheduled separate days for community input.

A tentative schedule for the forums is:

. University of Maine, Tuesday, April 13.

. University of Maine at Machias, Thursday, April 15.

. University of Maine at Presque Isle, Wednesday, April 21.

. University of Maine at Fort Kent, Thursday, April 22.

. University of Southern Maine, Tuesday, April 27.

. University of Maine at Augusta, Wednesday, April 28.

. University of Maine at Farmington, Friday, May 7.

The exact locations and times have been posted on the Web at: http://www.maine.edu/pdf/campusvisits.pdf.

Meetings also are being scheduled to talk about the University College Outreach Centers on Thursday, April 29, and the University College of Bangor on Wednesday, May 5. The locations, times and agendas for those meetings have yet to be announced.

After the public comment period, a revised version of the strategic plan is expected to be considered by the board of trustees in the fall.

Under the draft plan, the university system would no longer offer two-year degrees.

The institutions in Fort Kent, Presque Isle and Machias would merge to become the University of Northern Maine, with campuses remaining at each location.

UM would be strengthened as the flagship land-grant institution to achieve increased state and national prominence.

UMA would become a campus of the University of Southern Maine.

USM would maintain its role as an urban comprehensive university.

UMF would continue its niche as a small public liberal arts college with strong teacher-education programs.