The University of Maine System (UMS) Board of Trustees meeting on September 15, 2025, focused on financial updates and the presentation of the UMS AI Task Force final report.

During the meeting, Vice President for Finance and Administration Ryan Lowe provided an overview of the investment results for the fiscal year. The managed investment pool had a market value of $393 million in July, showing a modest gain of 0.1%. An estimated additional gain of 2% was projected for August. The pension fund, valued at $16 million in July, experienced a loss of 0.5%, but a recovery of 1.5% was anticipated for August. The Operating Fund, with a July market value of nearly $251 million, gained 0.4%, resulting in a net return of $650,000, surpassing the monthly budget of $414,000. A positive return of 1.1% was expected for August. Overall, the final investment results for FY 25 indicated a net increase in investment income of just under $13.8 million, which was less than the budgeted amount of approximately $2.5 million.

Following the financial updates, Lowe presented the findings and recommendations from the UMS AI Task Force. He acknowledged the contributions of task force members, which included trustees, campus leadership, faculty, staff, and student representatives. Their collective insights were instrumental in shaping the recommendations that were to be discussed.

The meeting underscored the importance of financial management and strategic planning within the UMS, as well as the ongoing commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into the university system. Further discussions on the implications of the AI Task Force's recommendations are expected in future meetings.