FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 26, 2010
CONTACT: TED O’MEARA
207.699.4401
ted@cutler2010.com

CUTLER CALLS FOR SYSTEM-WIDE APPROACH TO UNIVERSITY OF MAINE PRIORITIES AND PROGRAM CUTS

PORTLAND, Maine – Independent candidate for Governor Eliot Cutler today praised University of Maine President Robert Kennedy and other university campus presidents for taking a hard look at budgets, programs and priorities. At the same, however, he questioned why such reviews are not being conducted on a coordinated, system-wide basis.

“Establishing priorities and making tough choices is absolutely the right thing, but it makes no sense to be doing this on a campus-by-campus basis,” Cutler said. “The entire university system should be doing this together. This is a prime example of why our entire education system in Maine has become so expensive and fragmented.”

Cutler was reacting to a recently announced proposal by the University of Maine to cut more than $12.2 million by eliminating faculty positions and reducing the number of majors and master’s degrees.

Cutler, who has made education reform a top priority in his campaign, served as chair of the board of visitors of the Muskie School of Public Service for ten years until stepping down last year. His late father, Dr. Lawrence Cutler of Bangor, was a longtime member and chair of the University Maine board of trustees.

“We are a state of just 1.3 million people with limited financial resources. We simply can’t afford for every campus to operate in its own silo,” Cutler said. “The University of Maine, as our land grant institution, has a special mission in our state, and each of the other campuses also have their strengths. Now is the time to take a comprehensive look at what we need, what we can afford, and which campus is best suited to offer particular programs.”

Cutler also has called for a merger of the university and community college systems into one system of higher education in which students can move seamlessly from the associate degree programs to a four–year degree to graduate studies.

“It’s time to organize higher education around the needs of students, taxpayers and 21st century employers,” said Cutler. “That is one of the best ways for us to stimulate economic activity and create jobs.”