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.
Watching the chancellor and the University of Maine System attempt to navigate the current budget crisis and reposition the system on a more secure financial footing has been less than awe-inspiring.
The plan just approved by the board of trustees, which the chancellor called “bold,” cuts costs, seeks efficiency by examining academic course offerings and in general outlines how to coordinate its private agenda with the state’s needs and public good.
What it does not do, among other things, is provide a convincing rationale for the need and purpose of the system office itself, or that of the chancellor specifically. Nor does it lead by example.
In a fiscal environment in which sports teams have already been eliminated, a budget shortfall of several million dollars must be made up for and job losses are surely on their way, a pay cut across the board for system administrators — many of whom make more than $150,000 per year — would send a positive message of shared sacrifice and accountability for results.
That’s something I haven’t seen in the chancellor’s “bold” plan. It could be argued that the system office has to compete with other university systems for top talent. But I’m guessing that many top-qualified people would still seek these top jobs even at reduced — but still hefty — salaries. Gov. Baldacci only makes $70,000 per year. Although the state and country is admittedly in a tough economic climate, it’s not as if the system’s leadership, despite some accomplishments, has hit a financial home run.
As tuition continues to climb to unsustainable levels, students continue to struggle to stay in school. Some are unsuccessful. The University of Maine system office must learn to better capture the imagination of people in Maine and offer a compelling vision of the future of higher education in Maine.
Although Maine has recently been knee-deep in referendum questions, a heath care debate and other topics, the efforts of the University of Maine system office have been under the radar screen of many, if not most, Mainers.
I believe that convincing skeptical and/or fiscally burdened lawmakers to keep better pace with funding needs throughout the system campuses is dependent upon leadership more fully articulate of a seasoned vision that compellingly addresses these trying times.
I don’t know whether the typical Mainer can articulate what the vision of the system office is, but it escapes me.
At a recent listening session at UMaine to hear feedback on the chancellor’s report, Chancellor Pattenaude sat on stage surrounded by four members of the Board of Trustees. The chancellor appeared highly deferential to the chair of the board of trustees, who answered the questions posed during the session in a more primary leadership role than did Pattendaude. The chancellor appeared to be on a pretty short leash. Unless Mainers get an expanded, clear and compelling vision going forward, I’d suggest that the leash become shorter still.
Alex Hammer is a graduate of the University of Maine and an independant candidate for Governor of Maine.
