Faculty, students and AIA Maine urge trustees to halt proposed Hanley Hall move, citing accreditation and program risk

Public commenters and faculty speakers implored the University of Maine System Board of Trustees to reconsider plans to vacate Hanley (Handley in some remarks) Hall, warning that the proposed sale or relocation poses an immediate risk to the system's architecture and art programs.

Jesse Carroll, speaking on behalf of the board of AIA Maine, said the chapter has supported the program with more than $156,000 in annual contributions and that ‘‘dispersing this program across the university campus minimizes its connection to the profession and threatens the accreditation status.’’ He said Hanley Hall serves as a hub for events and professional engagement that benefit students and local firms.

Pete Preport, a professor of art and faculty senate president, framed the issue as one of shared governance. He told trustees faculty had been excluded from critical conversations and that the administration's framing of the decision as a "data-driven" real-estate move treats the university as a transaction rather than an academic institution. "Faculty are at the heart of the student experience," Preport said, urging the board to step in if campus-level resolution failed.

Assistant professor Carter Scamp described Hanley Hall's studios as tailored to accreditation and daily student practice: dedicated desks, open floor plans, natural light and 24/7 access. He noted the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and said its downtown location is central to assignments that rely on immediate access to urban sites.

Eric Stark, a professor who previously coordinated the Bachelor of Architecture program, told trustees the decision to move the program had been made without consulting program founders, donors or accreditation stakeholders and said applications have declined since the announcement. He warned that accrediting rules require prior approval for "any significant change" to an accredited professional program and that poor planning could endanger the program's standing.

Assistant professor and licensed architect Patrick Hansford directly challenged the administration's cost estimates for returning the building to code or remediating hazards, offering lower professional cost estimates for items the administration had listed at much higher figures. Hansford argued the administration's report contained "vastly inflated financial projections."

Several students, quoted during public comment, said the change has already harmed their sense of stability and belonging. One architecture student said the move has ‘‘caused many issues for students within the architecture program’’ and described feeling "helpless" and uncertain about their future. Other student comments detailed the loss of 24/7 studio access, storage for materials and the mentoring community formed by proximate studios.

Board members acknowledged the comments. The trustees noted there was no formal sale proposal on today's agenda but accepted the public input. The meeting record does not include an immediate board motion related to Hanley Hall; speakers asked the trustees to explain next steps and to ensure that any relocation protects accreditation requirements and studio infrastructure.

What happens next: faculty said they will seek board assistance under shared-governance policies if campus-level efforts do not resolve planning and communications. Multiple presenters asked the board for transparent data and a clear plan before any relocation proceeds.