UMaine System trustees approve 90‑credit pilot, free‑speech policy, capital projects and other measures

The University of Maine System Board of Trustees at its March meeting approved a package of governance and capital actions that included development of up to five 90‑credit applied bachelor’s degree programs for adult degree completers, final adoption of Board Policy 2.12 on free speech, and authorization of two capital projects in Portland and at the University of Southern Maine.

The board authorized the system to develop and submit up to five 90‑credit applied bachelor’s degree programs for consideration by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE) in fall 2025. Presidents and provosts will prepare program proposals; trustees approved a set of safeguards that exclude first‑time, traditional‑age undergraduates and limit the initial pilot to returning adult degree completers. The board voted unanimously to move forward with the NECHE submission timeline.

Trustees also adopted an edited Board Policy 2.12, titled "Free Speech, Academic Freedom, and Civility," after several board meetings and consultations with presidents, faculty representatives and students. Trustee Alexander presented the final edits and the board approved the policy as presented.

On capital projects, the board approved a financing and reimbursement resolution allowing the University of Southern Maine to purchase Steinway pianos and related costs for the Cruz Center for the Arts with project expenditures up to $2.8 million. Separately, the board authorized the Maine Center (Maine Graduate and Professional Center) to spend up to $8.5 million for renovations and capital improvements at the Maine Center in Portland; funding sources include state capital improvement allocations and congressional directed spending secured last year.

Other governance items approved included the FY2027 board and committee meeting calendar; appointments of student representatives to the board; standard operating procedure edits on the consent-agenda process; and the annual tenure approvals (54 faculty awarded tenure by campus procedures). The board also approved a tenure‑at‑time‑of‑hire appointment recommended by the University of Southern Maine president. Several votes were described in the meeting as unanimous.

Board motions and outcomes (at a glance):

- Approval: Board and committee meeting calendar for FY2027 — Moved by Trustee Kane; seconded by Trustee Eames; approved. - Approval: Final adoption of Board Policy 2.12 (Free Speech, Academic Freedom, and Civility) — Moved by Trustee Alexander; seconded; approved. - Approval: Standard operating procedure edits on consent agenda items — moved and approved. - Approval: Appointments of student representatives — motion moved and approved. - Approval: Development/submission of up to five 90‑credit applied bachelor’s programs for NECHE — moved by Trustee Martin; seconded by Trustee Kane; approved unanimously. - Approval: Finance resolution for Steinway pianos and reimbursement (USM/Cruz Center) — approved (project authorization up to $2.8M). - Approval: Maine Center renovations and spending authorization — approved (authorization up to $8.5M; funding mix: state capital funds, congressional directed spending, Maine Center reserves). - Approval: Tenure recommendations (54 candidates) and tenure‑at‑time‑of‑hire — approved.

Ending: Trustees said the decisions reflect a mix of strategic experimentation (the 90‑credit pilot), updated governance (free‑speech policy and consent‑agenda clarifications), and targeted capital investments. Presidents and system staff will continue to present implementation plans to appropriate committees and return to the board with progress updates.