Notification of Board of Trustees Actions
Additional meeting information is available by contacting the Board Office at ums.trustees@maine.edu.
March 26-27, 2023 Board of Trustees Meeting
During a Board of Trustees meeting, on March 26-27, 2023 hosted by the University of Maine Augusta, the Board approved the following actions:
UMS 2023 Tenure Nominations
The Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee to accept the recommendations for tenure submitted by the Universities of the University of Maine System. Approvals will take effect September 1, 2023, for faculty with academic year appointments and on July 1, 2023, for faculty with fiscal year appointments.
Tenure at Time of Hire, Professor in the Department of History, UM
The Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee and approved tenure at time of hire, Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Maine with tenure to be effective February 1, 2023.
Tenure at Time of Hire, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Physical Education & Athletic Training, UM
The Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee and approved tenure at time of hire, Professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Maine with tenure to be effective February 1, 2023.
University of Maine Mahaney Dome Replacement
The Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Finance, Facilities, & Technology Committee and authorized the University of Maine System acting through the University of Maine (UM) to expend up to $3,000,000 to replace the Mahaney Dome with a same size structure, new turf within the facility, and to construct a connector from a new structure to the Memorial Gym.
Proposed New Board Policy 216 – Policy on University of Maine System Policies
The Board of Trustees approved the proposed new Board of Trustees Policy 216 University of Maine System Policy on Policies as presented.
Approval of a Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFUM
The Board of Trustees authorized the Chancellor to execute the collective bargaining agreement with the Associated Faculties of the Universities of Maine (AFUM) upon notice that the agreement has been ratified.
Resolution for James O. Donnelly
The Board approved the following resolution for James O. Donnelly:
Whereas, James O. Donnelly has served the University of Maine System with distinction as a Trustee from September 30, 2014 to December 12, 2022;
Whereas, he set a high standard for the level of involvement as a Trustee including service on the following committees: Audit Committee (since 2017 and chair for 2 years), Executive Committee (since 2016), Finance, Facilities, Technology Committee (since 2014 and chair for 1 year), Human Resources & Labor Relations Committee, and Investment Committee (since 2014);
Whereas, he served as UMS Trustee representative to the University of Maine Foundation in 2018 and Vice Chair of the Board in 2021. He was a member of presidential search committees for UMFK in 2015 and 2019 and UMaine in 2017;
Whereas, he considered the long-term effects of any decision made by the Board. As a former Maine elected official with experience on the Appropriations Committee, he assisted the University of Maine System on many occasions with legislative matters;
Whereas, Mr. Donnelly felt it was a great honor to serve as a Trustee and was passionate about his contributions to Maine public higher education, he is a proud graduate of the University of Maine at Presque Isle;
Whereas, he encouraged the University of Maine System to take bold steps to better serve students and the State of Maine;
Now, therefore, be it known to all that we, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, offer our most sincere gratitude, thanks, and best wishes to James O. Donnelly for his outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education in Maine.
Approved on the 26th day of March, 2023, by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, acting as stewards of Maine’s public universities and their nearly 30,000 students, 5,000 employees and more than 200,000 living alumni.
Resolution for Sven P. Bartholomew
The Board approved the following resolution for Sven P. Bartholomew:
Whereas, Sven P. Bartholomew served the University of Maine System with distinction as a Trustee from May 5, 2019 to March 3, 2023;
Whereas, he set a high standard for the level of involvement for a Board member by serving on several standing Committees. He served on the Audit Committee and the Investment Committee during his entire service as a Trustee. He also served on the Executive Committee and the Human Resources and Labor (HR) Relations Committee, serving as Chair of the HR Committee for one year;
Whereas, Mr. Bartholomew had a great understanding of the fiduciary responsibilities of the Trustees and his desire to find reasonable and responsible solutions was appreciated by everyone. His expertise and perspective have added greatly to the quality, vision, and future direction of the University of Maine System;
Whereas, through Mr. Bartholomew’s successful career in banking, he always brought sound financial experience and wisdom to the Board’s discussions. He was thoughtful and realistic about the myriad of issues facing the Board and one of his top priorities was the commitment to the students at the University of Maine System;
Whereas, Mr. Bartholomew is a proud graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington and has been an active voice and advocate for higher education;
Now, therefore, be it known to all that we, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, offer our most sincere gratitude, thanks, and best wishes to Sven P. Bartholomew for his outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education in Maine.
Approved on the 26th day of March, 2023, by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, acting as stewards of Maine’s public universities and their nearly 30,000 students, 5,000 employees and more than 200,000 living alumni.
Maine College of Engineering and Computing Naming and UMaine/USM Engineering Framework Approval
The Board of Trustees:
- Approved the renaming of the University of Maine College of Engineering to be the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC), to be effective April 1, 2023;
- Approved, under Board Policy 309 – Organization and Establishment of Major Units, the conceptual framework for collaboration and participation by USM engineering programs as a cooperating department with MCEC as described in the February 2023 MCEC MOU; and
- Encouraged and confirmed the faculty’s shared governance (March 2007 document attached to Board Policy # 205 – Faculty and Student Representatives to Board of Trustees ) responsibility for curriculum and academic policy development, program and university collaboration, and a focus and strong emphasis on DEI within MCEC and UMS TRANSFORMS.
Approval of Off-Cycle Honorary Degree Nominations for 2023, UMF
The Board of Trustees approved the off-cycle 2023 nomination for Honorary Degree for UMF, as presented.
Approval of Off-Cycle Honorary Degree Nominations for 2024, UMF
The Board of Trustees approved the off-cycle 2024 nomination for Honorary Degree for UMF, as presented.
Authorization, USM Center for the Arts
The Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Finance, Facilities and Technology Committee, and authorized the University of Southern Maine acting through the University of Maine System to increase the authorization to expend up to $63 million to proceed with the construction of the Center for the Arts on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus, and to increase the total square footage to 40,000 gross square feet.
CONSENT AGENDA
Acceptance of Minutes
The following meeting minutes were approved as presented:
January 9, 2023 – Academic & Student Affairs Committee Meeting
January 9, 2023 – Human Resources and Labor Relations Committee Meeting
January 12, 2023 – Finance, Facilities & Technology Committee Meeting
January 17, 2023 – Executive Committee Meeting
January 18, 2023 – Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
January 29-30, 2023 – Board of Trustees Meeting
February 24, 2023 – Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
March 2, 2023 – Investment Committee Meeting
Date of the Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on May 21-22, 2023 at the University of Maine, hosted by the University of Maine System.