Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
At its last meeting the University of Maine System Board of Trustees approved a UMS biennium budget, more money for Memorial Union construction and money for land acquisition in Orono and Old Town. BOT met Sunday, Sept. 22 and Monday, Sept. 23, at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
UMS Chancellor Joseph W. Westphal presented the trustees with a proposal of how to fund the seven university system campuses for the two upcoming fiscal years. This biennium budget was accepted by UMS and will continue to the state legislature for further consideration.
Westphal’s plan, if approved by the state legislature, will keep tuition levels for Maine residents at their current rate while out-of-state tuition may raiseto five percent for UMaine.
“He knows that students were hit pretty hard this year with a four to six percent increase in tuition,” Matthew Rodrigue, UMaine Student Representative to the Board of Trustees said. “He wants to help as much as he can.”
Westphal’s proposal suggests doubling the amount of student financial aid and scholarship money available. According to a UMS press release, Westphal notices that the “financial burden on individuals and families seeking to fund higher education has doubled over the past 10 years.” This has made the cost of a college education almost unfathomable for many lower and middle-income families.
“This would certainly have an impact on UMaine students,” Rodrigue said. “I believe [the decreased amount of financial support] has already been felt [by students].”
The budget cuts at UMaine, in particular, have resulted in a housing crunch and a cut back on services, such as the cut in Memorial Union and library hours, according to Rodrigue.
“I think everyone can agree that higher education is a benefit to everybody,” Rodrigue said. “Let’s plan for the long term, not sell ourselves short. Let’s boost the education in the state of Maine.”
According to a UMS press release, since 1990, “the percentage of state revenues that have been spent on higher education have dropped from 15 percent to slightly more than seven percent today.” Westphal’s request is for a 12.9 percent increase in state funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003 and a 17.2 percent increase for the fiscal year beginning in 2004.
“We have to stress to our state leaders that higher education must be treated as Maine’s top priority, especially in the current economic times,” Westphal said in the press release.
“It’s a very bold request from a chancellor’s office,” Rodrigue said. “Still, I think it’s very exciting that he’s following through. He’s definitely someone who’s advocating higher education for the state of Maine.”
An increase in funding also was approved by BOT for the Memorial Union project, according to Rodrigue. The original budget was $8.8 million, which the project has now significantly gone over. Last weekend the UMaine administration asked for a third budget increase on the project. The approved budget will be $14.7 million to complete Memorial Union.
BOT suggested future measures must be taken in order to “avoid contractural overruns,” Rodrigue said. “There were just extra construction costs that were not wholly projected for.”
BOT also approved a land acquisition. UMaine is purchasing approximately 139 acres of land near Pushaw Pond in Old Town for $30,000. This land will be used for forestry and various outdoor programs.
“This will provide additional opportunities for research,” the student representative said.
There is a lot that students can do to ensure the state of Maine approves this budget that will certainly affect all students whether it is passed or not, according to Rodrigue.
“It’s pretty significant when students contact their state legislators,” Rodrigue said. “Let them know that it’s important to you and that higher education serves a definitive role in Maine’s future and long-term planning.”
The next stop for this biennium budget is the State Budget Officer and the governor’s administration for reviewing.
According to John Diamond, a UMS public relations representative, the governor will propose the level of spending for UMS and all other agencies that will receive state funding. From there, the budget will be decided upon by the full state legislature.
“That’s where the real action takes place,” Rodrigue said.
The final decision should be made during the spring of 2003, according to Diamond.
Noting that the amount being asked for by UMS is “considerably larger” than what most people would have expected, Diamond said he reminds people not to forget what it’s being directed toward.
“The focus of what’s being sought is money that will help keep the universities affordable and help retain and attract quality, faculty and staff,” Diamond said.
Bangor Daily News