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UMaine System trustees approve property purchase, USM art building, new degrees and program eliminations
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Summary
At its November meeting, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved the exercise of a purchase option for downtown Portland property, authorized construction financing for a new USM art building, approved a new BS program at Fort Kent and voted to eliminate USM—s therapeutic recreation degree; trustees also adopted several updated board policies.
The University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved a series of policy, capital and academic actions at its November meeting, including a $17 million purchase authorization for a Portland property, a $15 million construction authorization for a new art facility at University of Southern Maine—s Gorham campus, approval of a new bachelor—s degree at Fort Kent and the elimination of USM—s bachelor—s in therapeutic recreation.
Trustees voted to exercise the purchase option for 304/304—04th Street in Portland at a contract price of $17,000,000 and authorized the system to issue an internal loan up to the contract price plus closing costs, with repayment tied to a Harold Alfond Foundation fund that leadership said will cover the acquisition. Seth Gural, presenting the item, said the buildings were appraised at substantially higher values and that the purchase aligns with the long-term vision for the Maine Center. “It was a serious discussion we had,” the chancellor added, describing the Alfond Foundation—s written support for the acquisitions.
In Gorham, trustees authorized USM to enter a guaranteed-maximum-price agreement and to issue financing for a new art building on the Gorham campus. President Marcella Edmondson told the board that the department currently occupies inadequate basement space and that a new facility would house ceramics, sculpture, digital arts, photography, exhibition space and faculty offices. The resolution authorized up to $15,100,000 for a GMP and up to $15,000,000 of financing; the motion carried.
On academics, trustees approved a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management at the University of Maine at Fort Kent to emphasize applied wildlife and habitat management using UMFK—s regional assets. The board also approved the elimination of USM—s Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation and the minor in Recreational Leadership, effective at the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester. President Edmondson said the program currently enrolls eight students, that faculty voted to suspend admissions and that labor and APL processes were followed; she added that USM will support impacted students through teach-out plans and that affected faculty have contractual options including recall or severance. Faculty and public commenters asked trustees to delay the decision to allow more local governance review; trustees proceeded and the motion passed.
Trustees also approved a package of redline edits to the board policy manual and adopted a new board policy (3.16) establishing safeguards for 90-credit applied bachelor-degree programs. Board materials list multiple policy numbers included in the redline packet.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in meeting materials and announced on the floor): - Exercise purchase option for 304—04th Street, Portland — Authorized; motion passed. - USM Gorham art building GMP and financing (up to $15,100,000 GMP; up to $15,000,000 financing) — Authorized; motion passed. - Approval of BS in Wildlife Management, UMFK — Approved; motion passed. - Elimination of BS in Therapeutic Recreation and Recreational Leadership minor, USM — Approved; motion passed (one abstention recorded on the floor). - Adoption of multiple redline policy edits and new policy 3.16 (90-credit applied bachelor degrees) — Approved; motions passed.
What happens next: administration said acquisitions will proceed under the terms approved by the board with final legal and treasurer review, financing will be structured through internal loans, and campuses will implement teach-out and student support plans where program eliminations were approved.
