Dear Alumni and Friends,
The connection between our sense of purpose and our sense of place has defined and differentiated the University of Maine at Farmington for more than 150 years.
Beyond its nationally recognized teacher preparation programs and reputation for affordable excellence as a public liberal arts institution, what makes UMF so special is its distinctive location in the heart of Western Maine’s lakes and mountains.
We are stronger because Franklin County is our home, and we also know Franklin County is stronger by our being here.
That’s why I am enthusiastic about the transformative opportunities that Question 4 on the statewide ballot this November provides for our campus and community.
Question 4 is a $49 million infrastructure improvement bond for the University of Maine System, $8.5 million of which would come right here to UMF — the second highest allocation for any campus.
We have focused the bond investments in Farmington on facilities that serve both our students and our community, while the bond more broadly addresses the need Maine employers have for more skilled workers to fill thousands of open jobs in fields like nursing, engineering, and teaching that increasingly require a four-year or advanced degree.
The need-based investment plan is well within the state’s borrowing capacity and was supported by Governor Paul R. LePage and nearly every member of the Maine Legislature, including our local representatives.
Voting Yes on Question 4 will grow and strengthen Maine’s teacher workforce by increasing enrollment and hands-on training and observation opportunities for future and in-service early childhood educators through the construction of a new, expanded Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center. This expansion will specifically reduce the state’s serious shortage of early childhood special educators and provide more qualified educators to support Maine’s growing public pre-kindergarten programs. As important, it will also increase access to affordable, quality childcare for many area families, including, for the first time, those with infants and toddlers.
We also know how essential the Olsen Student Center is to this region. Whether for a community health or craft fair, a Rotary Club meeting or an educational presentation, many people in Franklin County have attended an event in the student center’s North Dining Hall. Voting Yes on Question 4 will ensure $1.9 million for long-overdue upgrades to this important venue for campus and community activities.
Improvements to this campus center will also make our college more competitive in recruiting and retaining students as will the extensive renovations planned to our residence halls, STEM classrooms, Merrill Hall, and Mantor Library.
UMF is a cornerstone of this community that keeps our young people here, supports our local businesses, and attracts new talent and vitality to Western Maine. Voting Yes on Question 4 positions UMF for a stronger future, serving our students and this region. On November 6, I invite you to show your support for the contributions this campus makes to our community and join me in voting Yes on Question 4.
Dr. Eric C. Brown
Interim President
University of Maine at Farmington
