Your Right to Know: Freedom of Access Requests

“The public’s right to information about government activities lies at the heart of a democratic government. The Maine Freedom of Access Act (“FOAA”) grants the people of this state a broad right of access to public records while protecting legitimate governmental interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens. The act also ensures the accountability of the government to the citizens of the state by requiring public access to the meetings of public bodies. Transparency and open decision-making are fundamental principles of the Maine Freedom of Access Act, and they are essential to ensuring continued trust and confidence in our government.”
(From www.maine.gov/foaa/ (External Site))

University of Maine System – Public Access Officer

The Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) Public Access Officer for the University of Maine System is Paul Chan, General Counsel. All FOAA public record requests should be directed to foaa@maine.edu or to:

The Office of General Counsel
University Of Maine System
15 Estabrooke Drive
Orono, ME 04469
Phone: 207-581-5841
Fax: 207-581-9212

The State Freedom of Access Act requires the University of Maine System to designate a public access officer to serve as the contact person with regard to requests for public records.

Because the University of Maine System consists of System-wide Services, the Chancellor’s Office, and seven universities and a law school, records are not centrally located. The following are the designated contacts for particular records and the public access officer is available to respond to or assist with requests, and answer any questions.

University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias:

Meredith Whitfield, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Phone: 207-581-2749
Email: meredith.whitfield@maine.edu

University of Maine at Augusta:

Brent Wooten, Associate Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Communications
Phone: 207-621-3072
Email: brent.wooten@maine.edu

University of Maine at Farmington:

Laurie Gardner, Chief Business Officer
Phone: 207-778-7272
Email: lgardner@maine.edu

University of Maine at Fort Kent:

Pamela Ashby, Chief Business Officer
Phone: 207-834-7550
Email: pam.ashby@maine.edu

University of Maine at Presque Isle:

Rachel Rice, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: 207-768-9452
Email: rachel.rice@maine.edu

University of Southern Maine:

Gina Guadagnino, Chief of Staff
Phone: 207-780-4446
Email:gina.guadagnino@maine.edu

University of Maine System:

Media, Legislative, and Other Requests:

Samantha Warren, Director of Community and Government Relations
Phone:
207-632-0389
Email: samantha.warren@maine.edu
Email: foaa@maine.edu

Finances and Procurement:

Rachel Piper, Executive Director of Strategic Procurement and Services
Phone: 207-780-4235
Email: rachel.piper@maine.edu

Human Resources:

Carolyn Dorsey, Acting Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, Chief of Staff
Phone:
207-581-5863
Email: carolyn.dorsey@maine.edu

Facilities:

Gretchen Catlin, Chief Facilities Management and General Services Officer
Phone: 207-621-3482
Email: gretchen.catlin@maine.edu