Class President Charlie Gauvin’s speech is canceled after he tells classmates to bring non-alcoholic beverages to a senior skip day outing ‘because some wusses need chasers.’

The state’s education commissioner says some officials need more time to implement the new standards, which require student proficiency in eight academic areas.

The increase of $2 per credit hour will bring full-time, in-state tuition to $2,700 for the 2014-15 school year.

A change in state law prompts Portland officials to look at measures of ‘proficiency’ other than test scores.

Each has been charged with developing a distinctive identity within the University of Maine System.

The plan also calls for an academic overhaul to streamline programs at each of the seven campuses to decrease overlap, to help close a projected $69 million deficit.