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The Search for the Next President
Table of Contents About the University of Maine at Farmington 3 One University 19 Role of the President 24 Priorities 25 Desired Qualities and Personal Characteristics 28
Established in 1864 as Maine’s first public institution of higher education, the University of Maine at Farmington is Maine’s public liberal arts college, offering premier programs in teacher education, human services, and the arts and sciences. The University of Maine at Farmington’s mission is to prepare students for engaged citizenship, enriching professional careers, and an enduring love of learning. For 155 years, UMF has advanced its regional and national reputation as an affordable, student- centered community.
“ At UMF, everything is personalized to fit what
I’m seeking in a college experience as a fully
engaged student. As a future secondary teacher,
I value my local practicum experience in the
schools working directly with students in the
classroom and assisting with the school’s theatre
program. I’m able to pursue what I’m passionate
”
about. - Steffon Gales ’19
Secondary Education
A 155 Year Legacy
The University of Maine at Farmington’s history is rooted firmly in
the early 19th century. In March 1863, a Normal School Act passed 18,200
alumni
into law, and that fall, Farmington was chosen from a list of possible
locations, making today’s University of Maine at Farmington the
birthplace of public higher education in the State of Maine. The
first class graduated from the Western State Normal School on May
25, 1866. Interest in the liberal arts continued unabated, through in all 50 states,
the school’s merger with the University of Maine System in 1968
and its first offerings of degree programs in the arts and sciences in
and 48 countries
1971. By the 1974-75 school year, nearly 300 students were enrolled
in Farmington’s arts and sciences programs.
with 14,000
For more than 150 years, the University of Maine at Farmington
living in all
has preserved its tradition in teacher preparation while adding
and enhancing academic programs in the arts and sciences.
16 counties
UMF continues to live by the founding ideals borne from the
Normal School movement and dedication to the liberal arts that a
in Maine
democracy can survive only if its citizens have a sense of history, a
working understanding of issues affecting the present, and a vision
for the future.
The University of Maine at Farmington is accredited by the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC),
now known as New England Commission of Higher Education 1,965
(NECHE). The UMF teacher education programs are accredited by
the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
students from
32 states and
11 countries
Fall 2018
Our Mission and Values
Over 30 As a premier teacher education and public liberal
arts college for the state of Maine, the University of
undergraduate Maine at Farmington prepares students for engaged
citizenship, enriching professional careers, and an
programs enduring love of learning.
Given its history since 1864 of educating teachers and its distinctive
contemporary mission as a public liberal arts college, the University
of Maine at Farmington has consistently been rooted in a vigorous
2 Master’s tradition of education in service to the public interest. In embracing
this tradition, UMF seeks to graduate individuals who will live
programs in purposeful, ethical, and personally rewarding lives, and who will
strengthen the social fabric of the communities they inhabit in
education Maine and beyond. We recognize that success depends upon our
ability to preserve continued affordable access to higher education.
The University’s focus is undergraduate education in a residential
setting. UMF also provides limited graduate education and
welcomes commuter students and continuing education
13-to-1
opportunities where regional and statewide needs correspond with
areas of academic strength in the University.
student to
faculty ratioThrough its focus on high quality academic programs in the arts and sciences, teacher education, and selected professional fields, the University challenges students to be active citizens in a campus community that helps them find and express with confidence their own voices, teaches them the humility to seek wisdom from others, and prepares them for ongoing explorations of how knowledge can be put to use for their personal benefit and the common good. Across our programs, academic rigor matters, as does a commitment to experience-based learning that enlivens theoretical understandings of different disciplines and the relationship of those studies to a rapidly changing world. An ethic of civic-mindedness and individual and collective duty to foster positive social change is realized through the practice of liberal learning and a recognition that innovation, collaboration, and service with community partners is fundamental to the educational enterprise. UMF’s sense of place is shaped by the aesthetic, environmental, recreational, and intellectual heritage of the western Maine region. The bounty of the landscape and the locale contributes materially to a range of academic fields at UMF, to the exciting diversity of the extra- and co-curricular life of the University, and to our reciprocal relationships in support of the important work of our neighbors in western Maine. To fulfill its complementary responsibilities to the region and to the State, the University also reaches out to national and international domains to broaden students’ educational experience and assure that they are well prepared for employment and citizenship in contexts that are richly diverse and global. Approved by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, September 9, 2014.
“ UMF faculty are deeply committed to providing high-
quality educational experiences for our students. We
recognize each student as an individual, work directly
with them to cultivate academic success, and we send
them out into the world as skilled and knowledgeable
”
global citizens.
- Jean Doty, Professor of BiologyFarmington Community Farmington is a safe, vibrant town with a population of 7,500, at the gateway to Maine’s High Peaks. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound: skiing at Sugarloaf and Titcomb Mountains; mountain biking and hiking at Bigelow Preserve and Mount Blue State Park; Snowshoeing and Nordic-skiing the Maine Huts and Trail Network, and paddling the numerous nearby rivers. Farmington is the cultural center, county seat, and medical hub of the region, with an active community of artists, physicians, and professionals. Enjoyment can be found in downtown Farmington as well, with its array of dining and shopping opportunities just steps from campus. UMF employs 451— 110 full-time (tenured or tenure-tracked) faculty, 72 part-time (non-tenured) faculty and 186 full-time staff, and 83 part-time staff. This year 900 undergraduates students are living on campus. This past academic year, nearly 400 students graduated from Farmington, joining approximately 18,200 alumni. The University of Maine at Farmington is situated on 96 acres consisting of 29 academic and administrative buildings, 41 acres of athletic playing fields, and 7 residence halls that make up almost 800,000 square feet. UMF’s newest buildings are LEED-certified. The centerpiece of campus, Merrill Hall, is the University of Maine System’s oldest building.
81% Enrollment
admit rate
in 2018 On census day in fall 2018, UMF’s total enrollment headcount was 1,965
undergraduate and graduate students. Fully 20 percent of the new class
was “from away,” raising the overall percentage of out-of-state students
to 18 percent. For the last five admissions cycles, UMF’s average for new
fall incoming headcount at the start of the academic year is 538 new
165 high school
undergraduate students (min 500 – max 567), approximately 100 students
are transfer students. Additionally, mid-year, UMF attracts another
50-55 students who are a combination of first-years and transfer students.
students enrolled Graduate enrollment is based on a rolling cohort model. Early College
in Early
partnerships have grown in the past two years.
College UMF’s chief priority is recruiting and supporting a class that will persist
through degree completion. The rolling Recruitment and Retention
Plan is built upon the premise that successful enrollment for UMF will
Fall 2018 be the result of improved recruitment and student persistence practices.
Increased fit-selectivity, financial support and student success initiatives
that lead to purposeful career outcomes are essential drivers to stable
enrollment and financial health at UMF.
UMF will look to increase revenue streams by expanding graduate
Over 2,500 offerings through hybrid and distance learning, growing graduate
enrollment from 85 to 105 FTE sustaining what has been a seven-year
applications trend since inception of the graduate education at UMF. Additionally
over the last two enrollment cycles, early college partnerships have
annually expanded at public and private secondary schools bringing new up ticks
in headcount enrollment.Commitment to Affordability
Farmington is strategically building financial-aid funds and has added
more than $1M within the last 5 years to bolster support for students 97 percent
including merit scholarships, to keep Maine’s best and brightest in
state and from pursuing out-of-state options, and to attract students of students
from neighboring New England states. In 2018, UMF met 86% of
demonstrated need for entering students who applied for financial receive some
assistance. form of
UMF is a working campus, providing campus employment financial aid
opportunities through federal and institutional work study jobs,
resulting in $1.45M dollars in student earnings last year.
Over 50
Farmington has instituted an innovative emergency funding program
for UMF students whose pathway to graduation comes under financial
threat from unforeseen adversities. This fund is generously made
possible by donations from faculty, staff, and friends all matched by a percent of
generous alumnus.
students work
Farmington’s commitment to financial aid is recognized by the US
News & World Report in the top ten north regional colleges’ Best
on campus
Value Colleges. And, UMF was chosen as one of Money magazine’s
Best Colleges for Your Money for 2018-2019. Farmington was one of
only three public universities in Maine to make the Money magazine
More than 900
list of just 727 colleges recognized across the nation.
Pell recipients
2018-2019 Costs
Maine Resident Non-Maine Resident New England Regional
in 2017
Tuition: $8,768 Tuition: $18,880 Tuition: $14,048
Fees: $898 Fees: $898 Fees: $898
Room & Board: $9,726 Room & Board: $9,726 Room & Board: $9,726
$19,392 $29,504 $24,672Budget In fiscal year 2019, the University of Maine at Farmington has an annual unrestricted operating budget, including auxiliaries, of approximately $39.5 million. This includes $12.3 million in budgeted unrestricted state of Maine appropriation. Tuition and fees comprise 54 percent of total revenue.
National Reputation
The University of Maine at Farmington has been acknowledged
repeatedly for its excellence in academic quality, value and
affordability, gaining stature as one of the finest state-supported
liberal arts colleges in the northeastern U.S. In 2017, UMF
received a $500,000 Mellon Foundation award to launch the digital
humanities New Commons Project.
2018 “Best College for Your Money”
— Money Magazine
2018 “Top 10 Baccalaureate College”
— Washington Monthly
2018 “Four Star Rated LGBTQ-Friendly College”
— Campus Pride
2018 “Maine Best College”
— Best Colleges.com
2018 “Top Green College”
— Princeton Review Guide to 399 Green Colleges
2018 “Hidden Northeast Gem School”
— College Raptor
2017 “Top 50 Best Value Public University for Out-of-State Students”
— Affordable Colleges.com
2017 “Top 100 Best Value College”
— Educate To Career
#9
BEST
#4
TOP
#4
UNDERGRADUATE
#10
BEST
#4
BEST FOR
OVERALL PUBLIC TEACHING VALUE VETERANS
REGIONAL - REGIONAL - REGIONAL - REGIONAL - REGIONAL -
NORTH NORTH NORTH NORTH NORTH
2019 Best Colleges U.S.News & World Report RankingsStudent Life
More than The University of Maine at Farmington inspires the growth of our
students by providing leadership opportunities and encouraging student
50 student involvement across the residential campus and local community. First-
clubs and
year students are required to live on campus, joining more than half of
their student peers. Students can join a club, take a trip to Boston, see
organizations a Broadway play, participate in community service, travel abroad, attend
games and performances, hang out in the Beaver Lodge, or get involved
with student government. UMF is a comfortable, safe, and
active community to live, engage, and learn.
UMF’s Partnership for Civic Advancement supports student
Over 450 engagement in community-based activities in western Maine and
beyond that are designed to be mutually beneficial to UMF students,
internship, our community partners, and the communities served. Internships,
student teaching, and practicum programs provide over 450 student
student-teaching, placements annually.
and practicum
placements
184 steps
to downtown
FarmingtonAthletics
19
19
SPORTS
Farmington is an active, outdoorsy college that combines
competitive sports, participatory recreation, love of the great
outdoors and strong academics. With 19 collegiate teams, UMF is
a member of the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference
and the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association
(USCSA). Also offered are more than ten organized club sports MEN’S SOCCER M/W BASKETBALL WOMEN’S LACROSSE
– several which compete against other colleges. UMF’s Rugby
Club Teams have a long winning history of regional and national
championships.
M/W OUTDOOR M/W CROSS COUNTRY
TRACK & FIELD
UMF has developed a reputation for developing quality coaches.
Over 160 alumni are serving as coaches at all levels in Maine and
New England, and several are working their way into the collegiate SOFTBALL WOMEN’S SOCCER FIELD HOCKEY
ranks across the country.
The Fitness and Recreation Center (FRC) is open year-round and
serves as the main hub for student health, activity, and outdoor BASEBALL MEN’S GOLF
recreation. The facility includes: a fully-equipped weight room,
large cardio fitness area, multi-purpose courts, 1/8 mile walking
and jogging track, and 25 yard swimming pool. The FRC offers
professional fitness trainers, and group fitness classes for step-
aerobics, spin cycling, yoga, pilates, and water workouts.
M/W M/W M/W
SNOWBOARD NORDIC SKIING ALPINE SKIING
Since 1949, UMF’s mascot is the Beaver, known as Chompers.IMAGE SPORTS? Maybe Drew Kelso and coach? With quote from Ways to Give Piece
“ I could have attended a larger school with a lot of
research funding, but I didn’t want to be mentored
by a postdoctoral student or a graduate student. I
wanted the quality of instruction and attention that
the small class sizes at Farmington could provide.
At Farmington, my professors weren’t teaching
assistants. They were all Ph.D. faculty, and I loved the
” ”
educational experience.
- Jason Bubier ’97
Molecular genetics expert
Jackson LaboratoryFirst ever June Advancement
match giving
challenge In the past year, the University has made an increased commitment to
doubled the improving fundraising, alumni engagement, stewardship, and alumni
number of communications efforts. Following a period of relative dormancy,
in which the Advancement Office shrank from seven FTE to two
annual fund professionals (focused solely on annual giving and gift processing), the
University reorganized the department to report to the Vice President
gifts received of Enrollment and External Affairs and added two FTE: a Director of
in 2017 Advancement (hired in early January 2018) and a Gift Officer (hired in
mid-June 2018 to focus on assessment, cultivation, and solicitation of
leadership-level gifts).
Since early January 2018, the Office of Advancement has invigorated
Secured a the UMF community’s culture of philanthropy through a variety of
$50,000 engagement and stewardship:
commitment to Farmington First, a monthly online alumni magazine celebrates
support at-risk alumni and University achievements and exemplifies the impact of
philanthropy.
cohort of Received a +$700,000 bequest from an alumna who named the
first-year University the primary beneficiary of her estate. The gift is designated
students to endowed scholarships.
Developed several mini-campaigns with targeted gift opportunities to
support the Art on Campus Initiative, the Actuarial Science Program,
the New Commons Project, Theater at UMF, the UMF Greenhouse
Three newly Project, and the Honors Program.
endowed Expanded access to the annual UMF Ski Day at Sugarloaf (an event
scholarships originally and primarily organized by the Office of Admissions as
stewardship for regional guidance counselors) to all alumni and
were secured in friends.
2018Campus Governance UMF Board of Visitors The State of Maine provides that each of its seven universities may have a Board of Visitors of up to 20 members who are recommended by the campus presidents and confirmed by the Board of Trustees. UMF’s Board of Visitors includes business and civic leaders state-wide and across New England who are committed to UMF’s mission as the state’s public liberal arts college and to the educational, economic and cultural well-being of the region. The Board of Visitors is also advisory to the President and senior administration, who meet with the full Board four times per year. These regional leaders serve as advocates and advisors for UMF, review final recommendations on tuition increases and new academic programs, and raise private funds for the university. President’s Council UMF’s President’s Council advises the President and serves as the chief administrative body of the campus. It currently includes a faculty liaison, chief business officer, and three vice presidents: Academic Affairs (acting), Enrollment and External Affairs, and Student and Community Services (vacant as of November 15, 2018). Faculty Senate The UMF Faculty Senate has twelve members, including one representative from each academic division and two elected at-large members. The senate’s president is elected by the full faculty. The Faculty Senate is served by a substructure of seven committees, each of which is charged by and reports to the senate on an annual basis. Students participate through representation on the Faculty Senate and on committees charged with overseeing General Education and Curriculum. Staff Senate The UMF Staff Senate consists of regular full-time employees of which six are represented by the Classified Employees group and five from the Professional Staff group. A representative from UMF Student Senate also holds a seat. New Senators are elected by the staff at large in the fall of each year and serve a three-year term. Officers including: President, Vice President, Secretary, as well as sub-committee chairs are voted on and elected within the senate. Faculty and Staff Unions UMF employees are represented by six collective bargaining agents. The bargaining units are for full-time faculty, part-time faculty, professional and administrative staff, clerical/office/laboratory/technical staff, service and maintenance staff, and police/ security staff. Relationships between the unions and UMF administration are friendly. Collective bargaining for all UMS campuses is done at the System level.
Working as One University
for all of Maine
Seven Leading the Response to Maine’s Workforce and Demographic
universities Challenges
With a total population of only 1,350,000, Maine is the nation’s
and over 20 oldest state and is aging rapidly, creating new demands for services
course sites and and great challenges for the state’s workforce. Over the next 15
years, the number of Maine people in the prime work years of 25-64
Cooperative will decline by more than 100,000, or 15%, while the total number
of high school graduates continues to decline. During that same
Extensions period nearly two-thirds of new jobs will require a post-secondary
credential or degree. Affordable, accessible, quality public education
for all citizens is therefore an essential component of any state plan
for economic and social health.
The One University Promise
The University of Maine System launched the One University
82 million initiative in 2015 to respond to these challenges, as well as a growing
structural budget gap brought on by years of declines in enrollment
in annual and state support. The core One University concept is that we
savings must work to bring all university resources into focused alignment,
supporting all Maine families, businesses and communities
achieved regardless of location. It is driven by a realistic appraisal of Maine’s
severe demographic and fiscal facts, as well as an understanding of
the highly competitive and rapidly changing landscape for higher
education.
At the University System level, this entails changing our planning
and operational models from that of a loose confederation of
institutions to a highly integrated system.To date these changes have centered on administrative reform, integration and
reduction, as well as increased partnerships and academic collaborations.
The University of Maine System features seven universities -- some with
multiple campuses -- located across the state as well as eight University of
Maine at Augusta outreach centers, a law school, an additional 31 course sites
and Cooperative Extension. Annual enrollment exceeds 30,000 students and
500,000 are served annually through educational and cultural offerings.
One University Progress - Finances
Comprehensive planning coupled with hard choices at the System and campus
levels have restored fiscal stability to the universities. Concrete steps and results
include:
$82 million in annual savings achieved, approximately 15% of the
system’s FY 2019 budget;
A unified financial management structure put in place for greater
transparency and accountability, as well as for comprehensive multi-year
strategic planning and resource allocation;
A nation-leading commitment to affordability tied to a six-year tuition
freeze and and the largest investment in institutional aid in the System’s
history; and
A promise initiative that covers tuition and fees for students with the
greatest financial need at four of the System’s institutions.
One University Progress - Partnerships and Collaboration
Aligning all our resources to serve Maine families, businesses and communities
requires both internal and external partnerships and collaboration, creating an
expanded culture of teamwork and mutual success. Recent examples include:
A new partnership that makes Maine’s smallest university, the
University of Maine at Machias, a regional campus of the land grant
University of Maine.The Maine Center for Graduate Professional Studies is a multi- campus initiative launched to form a unique consortium of professional disciplines and statewide engagement that creates new opportunities for students and employers. A feature of the collaboration is a combination of the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine Masters in Business Administration (MBA) programs into a single MBA program within the new Graduate School of Business that reports to the UMaine provost. Partnerships with Maine high schools that have increased the number of early college participants more than 300% with a commitment to make early college opportunities and Maine career exploration available to every Maine high school junior and senior; A statewide peer-to-peer financial literacy initiative being led by the University of Maine at Farmington that is being expanded across the System and through partnerships with Maine’s community colleges and local schools to help young Mainers make informed financial decisions and avoid excessive debt; and A Maine University Nursing Workforce Plan of program collaborations and expansions, investments, and partnerships with healthcare providers to address a critical nursing shortage estimated to grow to nearly 3,000 RN vacancies by 2025 – an effort being duplicated in the computer sciences, engineering, and other critical workforce areas. A new collaboration with the University of Maine at Farmington and University of Maine at Augusta creates “Farmington Forward,” a program that will offer admission to a set number of UMA applicants to live and learn on the UMF campus. Upon successful completion of a three semester sequence, the students will have the option of matriculating into a UMF degree program.
Location Each season in Maine dramatically unfolds, from the colorful wildflowers of spring to the beautiful waterways and hillsides of summer, from the world’s most brilliant fall colors to the stunning snowcapped mountains of winter. Enjoy outdoor activities in Maine’s High Peaks, like whitewater rafting, downhill skiing, hiking, cross country skiing to pristine nature walks. Further north, the Rangeley Lake area has some of the finest snowmobiling in the east with connecting trails to the statewide system, New Hampshire and Canada. Emerging in our neighboring Carabasset Valley region is an expanding network of huts and trails, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiast throughout the region.
JUST AN IMAGE. NO QUOTE
Role of the President The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) President is elected by the Board of Trustees on the nomination of the Chancellor and serves at the pleasure of the Board. The Board consists of 16 members, 15 of whom are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Maine Legislature. The Maine Commissioner of Education serves as a member ex officio. Members are appointed to a five-year term and may be reappointed once. A student member of the Board is appointed to a single two-year term. Reporting directly to the Chancellor of the University of Maine System, the president is the executive officer of UMF and is responsible for all aspects of operations within the approved mission and for implementing the policies and procedures set forth by the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. The president currently has five direct reports and convenes a council that includes the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student and Community Services, the Vice President for Enrollment and External Affairs, the Chief Business Officer, and the Faculty Representative to President’s Council. The president of the University of Maine at Farmington is charged with a set of traditional responsibilities enumerated here.
Priorities As a member of the University of Maine System, UMF provides a transformational experience to students of varying backgrounds, offering a liberal arts foundation and an array of pre-professional opportunities in a tight-knit collegial environment. Demonstrating a deep commitment to the power of a public education and its broader impact on students, citizens, businesses, and organizations within the region and state, the next president of the University of Maine at Farmington will advance the University in accordance with system- wide initiatives geared toward upholding the mission and strength of the University while ensuring its future success and positive impact in the state. Working collaboratively with the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees, the next president will embrace the following leadership priorities: Devising and implementing a strategic vision that capitalizes on UMF’s strengths amid the changing educational needs of the state and nation. The next president will lead a collaborative process of visioning UMF’s future by looking for innovative ways to build upon and promote the University’s strengths as a public liberal arts, education, and professional studies institution. S/he will lead the institution in developing and executing fiscally sound and sustainable academic, enrollment, and administrative strategies consistent with the current and projected national higher education environment. Serving as a cooperative partner with the presidents of other University of Maine System campuses and the Office of the Chancellor, the next president will also lead key UMS efforts and support the One University initiative, including: strategic resource allocation planning; academic transformation; and student success. In articulating a clear and compelling vision for UMF, the president will support the welfare of the entire system, serving the state’s needs and promoting program and administrative collaboration and integration in order to expand access, affordability, and impact across the system.
Strengthening and upholding the high quality of a University of Maine at Farmington education. Founded as Maine’s first public institution of higher education, UMF offers the signature teacher education preparation in the state and has built on this foundation by offering innovative programs in the arts and sciences and other pre-professional fields. The president will continue to build on these strong programs, creatively examining Maine’s state workforce needs for technically skilled liberal arts graduates and expanding undergraduate, pre-professional, graduate, and distance learning programs as appropriate. S/he will also champion opportunities to enrich the student experience both in and out of the classroom through internships, community service, and undergraduate student research. Leading the campus in a process of understanding, creating, and implementing a budget and building resources to advance the strategic vision of the University. The president will be tasked with ensuring fiscal stability for the University while maintaining the quality of the UMF educational experience. This will entail candid conversation and education about the roles of the University as an institution and as a member of the University of Maine System. S/ he will ensure fiscally sound and sustainable outcomes in academics, administration, and enrollment. Working closely with Chancellor and Senior System staff as well as the President’s Council members, the president will actively manage the budget, address potential fiscal concerns, and operate and communicate transparently with the campus community as fiscally-driven decisions arise. Additionally, s/ he will serve as the chief fundraiser for the University and be creative in generating resources to sustain and enhance the institution through fundraising, grants, new educational offerings, and extramural activities.
Promoting and supporting a cooperative and collegial academic community. The new president will have a positive, personable, engaging, and highly visible presence on campus, in the community, and across the University of Maine System. Demonstrating support for the culture of caring for others that predominates UMF, the next president will nurture this ethos of care through open communication with faculty, staff, and students. With a student population that is approximately 50 percent Pell-eligible and 50 percent first-generation, a transparent and approachable orientation takes on heightened importance. S/he will recognize the dedication of a student-centered faculty, staff, and administration and ensure that UMF continues to provide students with a supportive environment and an opportunity for deep learning and engagement. The president will also champion continued faculty and staff engagement, honoring their central and significant contributions to the University. S/ he will also foster and support a campus culture of service and common direction at UMF that also serves to build bridges between UMF and Maine’s other public higher education institutions as well as the business and employment community. Strengthening and building relationships within the city of Farmington, the region, and the state. Part of the Farmington community since 1864, the campus has enjoyed a synergistic relationship with the surrounding community and region. The president is expected to continue to foster this important relationship and be an active and visible member of the community, championing UMF’s initiatives and impact and highlighting the important role UMF plays within the community and state. The president will continue to work closely with the campus’ Board of Visitors to help identify and implement University and regional partnerships. S/he will effectively represent and advocate for the University with prospective partners and work with the appropriate local and state civic, community, and business leaders to ensure mutually beneficial relationships. Leading enrollment strategy using innovative programs and delivery to attract and retain students locally, nationally, and globally. As demographics and workforce needs in the state continue to shift, the University of Maine at Farmington will be in a unique position to devise new strategies in enrollment to attract a diverse student population that encompasses students from within Maine and beyond. As is the case with institutions nationwide, opportunities for innovative programs and delivery including hybrid and online learning will be examined. The next president of the University must not only articulate broadly the transformative quality and value of a UMF education, but s/he must also provide strategic leadership in setting enrollment goals and strategies that will bolster UMF’s impact on the state and nation while preserving its commitment to a strong public liberal arts tradition.
Preferred Qualities and Personal Characteristics The next president of UMF must be a highly engaged and collaborative leader with a deep understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities facing public higher education at the state and national levels. S/he will be energized by the unique possibilities for leadership presented by the changing landscape in Maine and the importance of UMF in the state and region. The next president will show confidence, courage, and conviction in leading the University and will possess many of the following: A collaborative approach to leadership with local stakeholders, University of Maine System institutions, and the UMS Chancellor’s office; A commitment to the combined and transformative power of the liberal arts, professional education, and graduate education as well as to the University’s mission of providing students with an academically challenging and intellectually vibrant environment; Demonstrated experience, skill, and energy in developing external support, with a track record of making an effective case for, and successfully attracting new resources to, an institution or program; Demonstrated financial acumen and experience strategically managing budgets; The ability and self-confidence to inspire authority and make decisions on behalf of an ambitious institution;
An ability to be engaged with and work collaboratively with the community to maintain its strong connection to the campus; Emotional intelligence and the ability to ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully, shape discourse, be accessible, and foster a culture of shared governance; A commitment to identifying and celebrating the exceptional contributions of faculty, staff, and students while simultaneously motivating individuals and groups to strive for a better future; Diplomatic skill and grace when assessing opportunities and communicating outcomes, ensuring that future ideas are generated by all members of the University community and shared with the leadership; A deep commitment to transparency and an approachable and engaging style of communication; A keen understanding of the issues facing institutions like UMF and the region’s evolving demographics and workforce needs along with ideas for navigating these trends successfully; The ability to lead and manage an organization through a time of cultural change, including the ability to grow and support high performing teams; Integrity, persistence, and a sense of humor; and, An appreciation for the University’s distinctive, rural location in Western Maine.
Additional Information
For best consideration, please send nominations and application
materials, including a current curriculum vitae and letter of interest, to:
Jim Sirianni, Partner
Ruth Shoemaker Wood, Partner
Lindsay Allison, Associate
Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LP
UMFPresident@storbecksearch.com
The University of Maine System is an EEO/AA employer, and does not dis-
criminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, in-
cluding transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship
status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment,
education, and all other programs and activities.
Please contact the Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 N. Stevens Hall, Orono,
ME 04469 at 207-581-1226 (voice), TTY 711 (Maine Relay System), or
equal.opportunity@maine.edu with questions or concerns.You can also read
