USM to put its reorganization into motion
With enrollment dropping, the university seeks to update its approach to education.
By Kelley Bouchard kbouchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
The University of Southern Maine will start implementing a reorganization plan this summer that President Selma Botman hopes will promote a new interdisciplinary approach to academics and revitalize the university.
Dr. Kristine Bertini and her staff will close the USM student health center in Portland, seen here, and consolidate services at the health center located on the Gorham campus. The change will save $300,000 a year.
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
Selma Botman
OTHER CHANGES AT USM
• The university will close the student health center on the Portland campus, which no longer has resident students, and consolidate staffing and services at the health center on the Gorham campus, said Kristine Bertini, director of health and counseling services.
Both centers are now open weekdays for checkups and vaccinations; neither offers emergency health care. Two open positions will be left vacant and the hours of 15 remaining employees will be reduced in the summer and between semesters, saving $300,000 a year. No one will be laid off. The changes will be made by Sept. 1. USM will continue to offer mental health counseling on all campuses.
• Six of 20 employees in the Department of Research Administration were laid off at the end of May, including the director of operations, the operations manager and the director of research compliance. The changes will save $180,000 a year and promote growth in faculty and staff research projects.
• Overall, the university plans to save $1 million a year by reducing administration and non-academic programs, including eliminating its child care program, which will save $200,000 a year.
• Another reorganization of non-academic services will be announced early in this fiscal year, which started July 1. It will generate additional savings through reassignments and leaving positions vacant.
Botman is setting up volunteer committees to help draft new governance and policy documents and choose interim deans for three new colleges that will be formed in the reorganization.
She also plans to establish USM's first curriculum committee, to coordinate academic programs across the university with an eye toward developing interdisciplinary studies targeting real-world needs.
"To address many of the issues we're facing today in the world, we need an interdisciplinary approach," Botman said. "I envision a self-confident institution that periodically looks at itself and says, 'What can we do differently?' A university that's on the cutting edge of a movement that is forward-thinking and responsible."
The reorganization will consolidate eight schools and colleges into five, and eliminate three academic deans' positions, saving about $750,000 a year.
The USM Faculty Senate approved the plan in April, by 25-17 advisory vote. The University of Maine System Board of Trustees endorsed the plan in May.
Botman said she wants to have the three new deans in place by the end of August and complete most of the reorganization within a year.
While saving money is driving the reorganization, it's not the only goal, Botman said.
She views the reorganization as a rebirth for USM, following a recent system-sponsored market study by Noel-Levitz, a Colorado-based consulting firm that is developing recommendations for "rebranding" Maine's universities and boosting enrollment.
In the past eight years, USM's enrollment has fallen from just over 11,000 to just over 9,000. Only 34 percent of its students earn bachelor's degrees within six years.
"People realize things have to change," Botman said. "This is an opportunity for all boats to rise, especially for students. We want to expand everyone's horizons."
Jeannine Uzzi, vice chairwoman of the Faculty Senate, says the reorganization has the potential to change the university in exciting ways, but it has a long way to go.
"Right now all we have is the template for reorganizing the schools and colleges," said Uzzi, an associate professor of classics. "The devil is in the details. I do think the reorg will be good for USM in the long run."
Though some faculty members have serious concerns about the reorganization, it has spawned difficult but productive discussions among staff members in various departments, she continued.
"It's forcing professors to talk to each other across disciplines," Uzzi said. "I've had more conversations with faculty lately than I did in the previous seven years."
USM's eight schools and colleges are: School of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology; College of Arts and Sciences; School of Business; College of Education and Human Development; Muskie School of Public Service; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Lewiston-Auburn College; and University of Maine School of Law.
Lewiston-Auburn College and the law school won't be affected by the reorganization.
The other six schools and colleges will be reorganized into three new colleges centered around science and math, communication and culture, and public service, business and graduate education.
The university is searching internally for the three new deans, Botman said.
The deans of the science and math college and the communication and culture college will have two-year interim positions that could become permanent if the deans prove to be a good fit.
The dean of public service, business and graduate education will have a one-year position that will be filled permanently after a national search, Botman said.
"It's a complicated college involving several professional schools and we need new, fresh leadership," she said.
John Wright, dean of the School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, won't be in the running for any of the new dean positions.
In May, Botman appointed him to a two-year position as USM's provost and vice president for academic affairs. He replaced Kate Forhan, who stepped aside to take a faculty position.
Wright came to USM in 2000 and is the senior dean.
He is chairman of the steering committee responsible for implementing the strategic plan. The university will conduct a national search in 2011-12 to fill the position permanently.
Botman said she doesn't anticipate leadership changes for the schools of public service, music, nursing or social work.
Department chairs will be appointed, or reappointed, as they have in the past, but for a maximum of one year, she said.
Colleges, schools and departments will follow approved budgets. Routine academic work such as scheduling faculty, hiring adjuncts, advising students and buying supplies will continue as usual.
Many policies related to that work will have to change, Uzzi said, for the reorganization to produce the results that Botman wants, particularly regarding interdisciplinary studies.
If the new deans are strong and creative, they will promote increased sharing between faculty members and students in everything from program development to course scheduling, she said.
Concerns about cross-pollination are strongest among colleges that are accredited by professional organizations, which have certain core academic requirements that cannot be watered down, Uzzi said.
USM will have to break down barriers between departments, especially when it comes to compensating instructors who develop and team-teach interdisciplinary courses.
"The institution traditionally has not valued new ventures and working across boundaries," Uzzi said.
"It's only now starting to say maybe that's what we should be doing."
Staff Writer Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at: kbouchard@pressherald.com
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19 COMMENTS
deceiver said...
Ah, reorganizing is nice. It's bureaucratic and gives the committees something to do but if you want to increase enrollment. Lower the cost. Our state public colleges are fast pricing themselves out of the range of the masses they were designed to serve. They are not ivy league degrees and usually don't garner ivy league wages but the cost of getting that degree is rising to ivy league proportions.
July 6, 2010 at 7:15 AM Report abuse
deceiver said...
Ah, reorganizing is nice. It's bureaucratic and gives the committees something to do but if you want to increase enrollment. Lower the cost. Our state public colleges are fast pricing themselves out of the range of the masses they were designed to serve. They are not ivy league degrees and usually don't garner ivy league wages but the cost of getting that degree is rising to ivy league proportions.
July 6, 2010 at 7:15 AM Report abuse
Coolfusion said...
President Selma Botman should be asking why the Maine Maritime Academy is still receiving $9,000,000 per year in Maine tax payers subsidies, haven't been asked to reduce budgets, and are taking generous staff raises.. this small country-club of 900 students of which more than a half of the student body are from out-of-state.. graduate, leave, and never look back. Isn't it time for the Maine leadership use it's scarce financial resources to support Maine youth and not aggressively recruit free-loaders from afar?
July 6, 2010 at 7:31 AM Report abuse
mainelined said...
USM wants to save money without lay people off? Good luck because that is dreaming. The problem at USM stems from the fact it is playing catch up with UMO. That's their fatal focus and they are failing miserably. I don't know of anything that USM does better than UMO and many UMO course are merely "rebroadcast" to USM students. In Maine, if someone starts a business and it seems successful, then 5 other people start one just like it across the street. That way no one makes a living. Maine is the only state I've seen this happen. It's the copy cat mentality. Many people are too stupid to come up with an idea so they steal the business plan from the guy across the street. USM is following in this time honored Maine tradition by trying as hard as hell to be UMO! USM would make a nice trade school, nursing school, technical, school, but it will never hold the shoelaces of UMO. Irritatingly sad, but true.
July 6, 2010 at 7:35 AM Report abuse
Dhiff said...
The lower cost and expansion at SMCC has led to another competitor for USM. SMCC has seen a spike in enrollment in the past couple of years. The UMaine system should look to create a "southern" flagship to complement UMO. Too bad they won't
July 6, 2010 at 7:45 AM Report abuse
Bill2 said...
When you do not know what to do or need some time, hire a Consultant. When that is over and things have not gotten better reorganize, this will buy some more time. While that is perculating and has bought you some time, look for your next job before they catch on.
July 6, 2010 at 7:52 AM Report abuse
Steve0 said...
deceiver said... Ah, reorganizing is nice. It's bureaucratic and gives the committees something to do but if you want to increase enrollment. Lower the cost. ================= While cost is a factor, much of the decreased enrollment is due to a smaller population of high school students in the state. The real kicker is that the university system knew this would happen 10 years ago. They had projections, because they knew how many kids were in elementary school and the size future graduating classes. However, they added positions like the growth of the late 90's and early 00's would continue forever, even though they knew enrollment would be dropping!
July 6, 2010 at 8:34 AM Report abuse
Eric said...
I guess you all mean The University of Maine, UM or UMaine, no such school as UMO. UMO only existed for about 18 years of the 145 years of the school. May sound picky to reiterate this but like everyone else on here i like to correct others mistakes
July 6, 2010 at 9:11 AM Report abuse
Steve0 said...
Dhiff said...The UMaine system should look to create a "southern" flagship to complement UMO. Too bad they won't =================== Why should they? Two "flagships" would just dilute the offerings as both schools. The only argument that makes a little sense is that UMaine is two hours away from the population center in Portland. However, this is not atypical for flagship state land grant universities. UMass is in Amherst, 2 hours from Boston, Penn State is over 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh and over 3.5 hours from Philly, UIUC (Illinois) is 2.5 hours from Chicago.
July 6, 2010 at 9:48 AM Report abuse
Pablo said...
USM will always be a two campus joke that doesn't support their sports teams, frats, sororities, or other social groups and activities that draw students in. Sorry to say it but until it does these things the kids will always pick some place better. The average student wants an education with some fun. UMO provides what USM can't.
July 6, 2010 at 9:54 AM Report abuse
Citygirl said...
In reading this article it looks like the only department downsized was the department that monitored proper use of grants and audited faculty research funds. I would think in the current environment USM would want closer monitoring of funds, not less.
July 6, 2010 at 10:06 AM Report abuse
null said...
Citygirl--that's not true at all. There have been layoffs after layoffs for the last 18 months. The problem is that the State funding formula doesn't support the size of USM (which in terms of overall enrollment is about equal if not more than UMaine.) There just isn't anything left to cut without depleting the quality of the education more than it already is. The bottom line is that kids are either going to UMaine or going out of state, unless they can't afford to do either, in which case they're going to USM. USM also serves a large nontraditional population of older students and commuters, which makes it a far different animal. The bottom line is that if reorganization doesn't work, nothing will.
July 6, 2010 at 10:17 AM Report abuse
AFVET said...
"If the new deans are strong and creative" -- a joke. Academic administrators are never strong -- they'd get fired if they were -- and are never creative. The very career field, filled with failed teachers, punishes creativity and rewards bureaucratic maneuvering. See 'Dilbert.' Nothing in the piece about attracting good teachers or about creating an environment in which learning is central to the goals of the institution.
July 6, 2010 at 10:33 AM Report abuse
RobertAT said...
It seems that Ms. Botman doesn't yet understand that the USM's future is not in teenagers who are fresh from high school. It's in working adults who want or need to extend their education. She is creating a culture of fear in the system, which means that no one does anything resourceful, in case it should fail and get them attention. She has cut the department that is there to help faculty find, write, and administer grant funds. The faculty, however, are so concerned with keeping a low profile that no one is applying for grants. Ms. Botman has effectively eliminated the need for a department that would be generating funds for USM is the culture supported innovation. USM and UMO are not educationally different. The quality of instruction in both places is low and the cost is high. We, as a state, need to think about what we want our university system to do for our state. What we've got is a waste of money. The first thing I'd trim would be Ms. Botman's salary.
July 6, 2010 at 10:47 AM Report abuse
grayman said...
USM needs to go to something like zero-based budgeting and basically start over. There are so many non-essential jobs and programs larded into the organization with well placed vested interests that Botman's incrementalism won't work. Think about just this one item: a "modern" university that exists to prepare young people for the future, right? It has 20+ courses in Frnch and 15+ courses in "womens and gender studies". Not one course in Chinese- yet that society is driving the economy of every country in the world. Fire everyone and start over based upon relevance and merit.
July 6, 2010 at 3:22 PM Report abuse
s-doodle said...
Hagimalli, enough!!!!Find a street corner to peddle your effing book!
July 6, 2010 at 3:56 PM Report abuse
NH said...
UMaine-Orono and USM are both part of the University of Maine system, with great potential to reach different student populations. Unfortunately UM seems to have taken a scatter-shot, protect-my-kingdom approach to their offerings. Obviously USM should have focused on being a great commuter school, rather than wasting so much money building dormitories and athletic fields.
July 6, 2010 at 4:15 PM Report abuse
Steve0 said...
null said... The problem is that the State funding formula doesn't support the size of USM (which in terms of overall enrollment is about equal if not more than UMaine.) =================== The state population does not support two schools of that size. For n example, look at how USM has been trying to expand its engineering program -- there are not enough students and resources in the state to support two without them cannibalizing each other. Would you rather spend more money to end up with two watered-down programs or spend less to have one good program? Put resources behind one to make it a true flagship and reorg the other to make it a satellite/commuter/continuing education campus.
July 6, 2010 at 4:18 PM Report abuse
Steve0 said...
RobertAT said... USM and UMO are not educationally different. The quality of instruction in both places is low and the cost is high. ============= UMaine (there is no such thing as 'UMO') has excellent engineering programs at a price better than schools such as WPI and Tufts. Maybe you don't see the UMaine engineers since they leave the state for good jobs.
July 6, 2010 at 4:21 PM Report abuse