University of Maine System Chancellor Robert Woodbury’s five-year policy framework regarding UMS athletics:

“1. The board (of trustees) should affirm that intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports activities are part of a general commitment to physical, mental, social and emotional health and are also part of an appropriate mission of the University of Maine System. This systemwide mission should be adapted to the needs of each campus.

“2. The board should affirm for the University of Maine a commitment to competition at the Division I (Division I-AA for football) level within a Northeast context. This implies a commitment as well to the principles of NCAA for Division I.

“3. The intent of Title IX should be met by a program of affirmative progress over the next five years. This is a question of both resources and attitudes. This implies attention not only to balance in intercollegiate sports, but equal attention to serious imbalances at the intramural and recreational level.

“4. The base Educational and General budget for athletics should be established at a share of the overall University of Maine budget roughly comparable to its historical proportion. A major increase would seem to be inappropriate, particularly in hard times. A major decrease would condemn the program to either failure or eventual dismantling. A fixed budget proportion, however, may well mean a further reduction in the number of sports offered at the intercollegiate level.

“5. Some new support should come from modest increases and better coordination in private support, a prudent increase in the comprehensive fee, and the establishment of a tuition-waiver program. This approach will provide some increase in resources, pose the least threat to other parts of the university budget and yet signal a positive, realistic approach to increasing resouces over time.

“6. The board should strongly affirm and join in efforts to control costs (schedules, scholarships, support) in intercollegiate athletics at the national and regional (conference) level. The leadership that (University of Maine) President (Dale) Lick and (Athletic) Director (Kevin) White already have exercised deserves particular attention. It makes no sense to structure an environment where a Michigan and Maine play by essentially the same fiscal rules.”