UMS trustees vote down faculty proposal for shared governance

BANGOR – University of Maine System trustees on Wednesday nixed the idea of creating a systemwide faculty senate or giving professors a vote on the board.

But trustee James Mullen said the recent changes to the system’s proposed reorganization plan were evidence that the board has “listened carefully” to professors’ concerns.

“I think we’re already evidencing that we value faculty input … and that we don’t need to change the governance structure of the system to continue to receive that and to act upon the good suggestions they make,” he said.

Down the road, UMS trustee meetings could allow for more faculty comment, UMS Chancellor Joseph Westphal told professors who gathered to discuss shared governance and other changes they hoped to make to the strategic plan.

“You have an official function. You play a very important role,” Westphal said.

Faculty representatives, concerned about their limited role without a vote on the board of trustees, said they would continue to press for shared governance.

Issued last March, the original draft strategic plan drew fire for proposing, among other things, that campuses at Fort Kent, Presque Isle and Machias be merged into one University of Northern Maine.

But earlier this week, aiming to accommodate faculty and other critics, Westphal proposed that the three campuses not be merged, but instead form a “consortium” to allow for more collaboration and cooperation.

Reacting to Wednesday’s announcement, however, one faculty representative said the trustees need professors’ perspective.

“We need leaders at every institutional level,” said Lucinda Cole from the University of Southern Maine. “It can’t be only the board, presidents and chancellor who have their finger on the pulse of higher education,” she told the group.

Dana Humphrey, University of Maine faculty representative, said after the meeting he wasn’t surprised that trustees “weren’t able to fully embrace the concept of shared governance,” given that professors haven’t yet issued a formal document outlining a plan.

“Any proposal for gaining acceptance of a new idea is a process, and we’re only at the beginning of the process. We are committed to … developing a policy for shared governance and look forward to working with the board of trustees to develop that policy,” he said.

Proposed last month by a group of professors from across the system, the concept of “shared governance” would enable faculty to have more say in everything from academics and research to admissions and financial aid.

In addition to creating a 14-member systemwide faculty senate which would issue an annual report on past accomplishments and future goals, the proposal calls for the governor to appoint seven faculty members – one from each campus – to serve as voting members on the UMS board of trustees. Seven professors now serve only in an advisory capacity to the 16-member board.

But Mullen said Wednesday that shared governance isn’t necessary for a number of reasons.

Less than 2 percent of public colleges have faculty members on boards of trustees because it puts a campus leader in a compromising position since the people who work for him also are overseeing him.

Discussing personnel matters when it relates to one’s colleague also could be delicate, he said.

Mullen added that faculty representatives on the board of trustees serve on a variety of committees and task forces and, during meetings, engage in both formal and casual discussions with trustees.

Also, professors have a voice at their individual campuses through faculty senates and involvement in academic programming, he said.

Humphrey said after the meeting he hoped trustees “are getting the message that working collaboratively with faculty to develop a shared governance policy with the system is critical.”

Cole said if trustees don’t adopt a shared governance system, they “need to be willing to find other ways to embody the … idea that institutions run more effectively and efficiently when leaders at all levels have a role in the process.”

Also at the meeting, University of Maine at Machias faculty representative Gerard NeCastro said he “appreciated” Westphal’s recommendation to drop the idea of merging the campuses.

But Carol Kontos, University of Maine at Augusta faculty representative, said having her campus become part of the University of Southern Maine was a “dreadful mistake.”

She suggested creating a “central Maine consortium” with UMA, Kennebec Valley Community College, Unity College and Thomas College.