After struggling with budget shortfalls and years of declining student enrollments, the University of Maine at Machias is now slated to become a regional campus of the flagship University of Maine campus in Orono.
Members of the University of Maine System trustees voted in favor of the new partnership Monday, which will replace the former UMM president slot with an academic dean.
UMS spokesman Dan Demeritt said UMaine Machias will retain its current name and degree-granting authority.
“The partnership maintains the mission at the University of Maine at Machias, it maintains the service relationship with the Down East region but gives the campus access to the resources and reach of our flagship university in Orono,” he says.
With fewer than 750 students, UMaine at Machias has experienced an enrollment decline of nearly 20 percent over the last five years and has repeatedly turned to reserve funds to cover budget shortfalls.
Demeritt said the change in administration at the regional campus will become effective July 1st.