Closing one of the three campuses that make up the University of Southern Maine would not be cost-effective and shouldn’t be considered, according to the chairman of the University of Maine System’s board of trustees.
The idea of exploring the possibility of closing a campus was proposed Friday by the USM Faculty Senate, as an alternative to the administration’s plan to eliminate 50 faculty positions and end two academic programs.
“The suggestion that USM should close one of its campuses to close its budget gap is short-sighted and is inconsistent with current law,” Chairman Sam Collins said in a statement Wednesday. Another trustee, Karl Turner, agreed.
“Closing one of our campuses would be a huge strategic mistake” that would jeopardize the reach and mission of the university, Turner said in a statement.
State law defines the campus as being located in both Portland and Gorham, though the university also has a smaller campus in Lewiston.
The faculty and program cuts are expected to shave $6 million off the university’s budget gap of $16 million for the next fiscal year. USM had a budget of $134 million for the fiscal year that began July 1.
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