FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington has had seven names during its 140-year history.

Will the eighth be the College of Liberal Arts Maine, or CLAM?

Chancellor Joseph Westphal of the University of Maine System proposed a name change for UMF last month as part of his planned reorganization that would reduce seven universities to four.

University of Maine at Farmington was seen as a name that was out of sync with the new design; officials said it could confuse prospective students into thinking Farmington’s university was part of Orono’s University of Maine.

Westphal wants a name that gives the school its own identity and emphasizes its mission.

While his 27-page proposal referred to UMF as the Liberal Arts College of Maine, that name was just an indication of the kind of name that may be considered, officials said.

“The only consensus at this point is that the name [University of Maine at Farmington] will be modified somewhat,” said system spokesman John Diamond.

For some, the name mentioned in the plan morphed into College of Liberal Arts Maine, or CLAM.

“That’s not too attractive on a hat or a T-shirt,” said UMF spokesman Tom Donaghue.

UMF was founded in 1864 as Western State Normal School. It was changed to Northern State Normal School in 1878; Farmington State Normal School in 1903; Farmington State Teachers College in 1945; Farmington State College in 1965; Farmington State College of the University of Maine in 1968 and the University of Maine at Farmington in 1970.

Dozens of anxious alumni have expressed opposition to another name change.

Apart from the rumored CLAM, many didn’t like removing Farmington from the college’s title. Some were miffed at the focus on liberal arts when the school also has valued teacher education programs. Many also worried about name recognition since U.S. News and World Report has ranked UMF as one of America’s top colleges seven years in a row.

UMF President Theodora Kalikow has sent a letter to alumni expressing similar concerns over a name change.