The Oct. 12 Maine Sunday Telegram editorial “Our View: Structural changes key to university’s future” argues that the decline in student enrollment at the University of Southern Maine has left USM with too large a footprint on three campuses for a university of its size and the university should address this issue before dealing with any others.

The most pressing result of USM’s decline in enrollment is more administrators, faculty, staff and academic programs than the university can afford for its current student body size. The 15 percent enrollment decline over the last five years has left USM with a structural budget gap of $16 million for our next fiscal year that cannot be ignored and must be addressed now.

To suggest that the university administration should first deal with the challenge of shedding one of USM’s three campuses before it tackles other challenges makes little sense and is impractical.

Further, our Portland campus serves the largest population center in Maine and the hub of Maine’s economic growth and innovation; our Lewiston-Auburn campus serves Maine’s second largest population center and a growing, diverse economic environment; and our Gorham campus houses the university’s engineering program, music and art facilities, student housing, athletic complex and a number of other academic programs while serving the Gorham community with distinction.

We must address our deficit now with a balanced approach.

We must align expenditures with current revenues. USM will emerge as a more focused university – one that will invest in key growth areas while being affordable, accessible and agile. We will continue to provide a transformative education for our current and future students.


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