Question 6 seeks school funds

The need to upgrade campus facilities across the state’s community college and university systems is the driving force behind a $9 million bond issue before voters in the November election.

Higher education officials say passage of Question 6 not only will provide sorely needed funds for facilities upgrades, it also will enable the colleges to use a portion of those funds to leverage private donations.

The bond issue identifies the need for $5 million in repairs and upgrades at the state’s seven community colleges and $2 million in building renovations at five of the seven campuses within the University of Maine System. It also includes $2 million for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine, the administrative center of the state’s growing Senior College program for people 55 and over.

More than 48,000 students are enrolled at the state’s public universities and community colleges, and thousands more are engaged in learning at Senior Colleges across the state.

“Passage of Question 6 is vital to Maine’s ability to provide high-quality education opportunities at both the community college and university level,” UMS Chancellor Joseph Westphal said. “With passage of this bond proposal, we will be able to make much-needed improvements to public universities and colleges across the state.”

At the University of Maine at Augusta, $295,000 would be invested to upgrade existing laboratory space for both the science and nursing programs. The money would be used to replace outdated work areas in the science labs and to upgrade the nursing lab to present-day standards.

At the University of Maine at Farmington, $850,000 would be used to renovate Preble and Ricker halls, including to update laboratories and improve energy efficiency. Preble and Ricker halls were built in 1963 and have been unchanged since their construction more than 40 years ago.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent would use its $290,000 share of the bond issue to address deterioration and safety issues involving three campus buildings. Powell Hall is in need of $50,000 for masonry and roof repairs, Fox Auditorium is in need of a $70,000 fire alarm system, and the Sports Center needs $170,000 to replace a 30-year-old roof.

The University of Maine at Machias would use its $250,000 to upgrade the fire alarm system at Kilburn Commons and to improve the heating and fire alarm systems and install a new elevator at the Reynolds Gymnasium and Center.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle would receive $300,000 to enhance its science laboratories and classrooms and replace outdated exhaust fans to improve air quality and provide a more healthy and comfortable learning environment.

The Maine Community College System would be allocated $5 million for building repairs and upgrades at the state’s seven community colleges.

According to spokeswoman Alice Kirkpatrick, the community college system has experienced a 44 percent increase in enrollments since the changeover from technical colleges to community colleges three years ago. There are now more than 12,000 students statewide attending a community college.

“With our rapid growth our need for repairs to these facilities is pretty urgent at this time,” said Kirkpatrick. “We need to make sure that every one of our facilities is used to maximum capacity, and these upgrades will enable us to accomplish that. The purpose of the change from technical to community colleges was to provide higher education opportunities for more students. It’s proven to be the right move for Maine, but we need to support the infrastructure for the students.”

Central Maine Community College in Auburn would receive $715,767 in bond funds to renovate its technological infrastructure, classrooms and science labs. A portion of the funds would be used for energy efficiency improvements at the college heating plant.

Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, which has experienced a 27 percent increase in enrollment over the past five years, would direct $1,153,886 in bond funds to updating classrooms and improving energy efficiency. The work is to include a major renovation of Maine Hall, the college’s main instructional building.

Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield would receive $935,517 to update and enhance King Hall and the Frye Building, two of its main academic buildings, improve campus safety and improve energy efficiency.

Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle would receive $427,878 to improve energy efficiency, safety and security throughout the campus. The Mailman Building, Christie Complex and Andrews Hall – the college’s oldest residence hall – would see major improvements.

Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, which has more than doubled its enrollment since 2002, would receive $1,288,813 for renovation of the Health Science Building, one of the key buildings on campus.

Washington County Community College in Calais would receive $299,214 for critical repairs and improvements to residential housing facilities and improvements in air and ventilation systems in the library, classrooms and laboratories.

York County Community College in Wells would receive $178,872 for energy efficiency and improvements to classrooms that support technical programs in computer-aided drafting and design, computer technology and digital media.

The University of Southern Maine’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute provides courses and other educational opportunities for residents 55 and older throughout southern Maine and through its work with the statewide Maine Senior College Network. Its $2 million share of bond funds would be used to build a new classroom and administrative building on the USM campus. The $2 million would leverage an additional $4 million from the Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco. While now based in San Francisco, the philanthropist Osher grew up in Biddeford, Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin College.

The institute “has been growing by leaps and bounds since the program was established in the late 1990s,” said USM spokesman Robert Caswell. “The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute was the first Senior College in Maine and, in addition to providing classes at USM, is the coordinating facility for the other 15 Senior Colleges in Maine.”

There is no known opposition to Question 6 and if history is any judge, the bond issue is likely to receive a favorable response from Maine voters. Since 1959 when Maine voters first approved a $10 million bond for the University of Maine, subsequent bond issues for higher education have received widespread support. Of the 39 ballot questions offered since 1959 that dealt with higher education needs, the state’s voters have rejected only six.

Question 6

“Do you favor a $9,000,000 bond issue to make building renovations at campuses of the University of Maine System, improve and expand the facilities of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine and make building renovations at campuses of the Maine Community College System?”