Dear members of the 91±¬ÁÏ and 91±¬ÁÏ at Machias communities,
As another academic year comes to a close, I want to express my gratitude for the care, creativity, and commitment you bring to the 91±¬ÁÏ and the 91±¬ÁÏ at Machias every day. Over the past year, your work has supported our students, enriched our university, and advanced our mission in deeply impactful ways.
Your efforts help shape our learner-centered R1 university and are reflected in encouraging signs for the coming year. New first-year student enrollment is running ahead of last year at this time, with strong growth among Maine high school graduates. Undergraduate enrollment and student credit hours are also trending positively. We all need to sustain these efforts to attract learners to this great university, throughout the summer and beyond.
These trends reflect the outstanding work already being done across our community to support student success and the student experience, particularly at a time when higher education institutions across the country continue to face demographic and financial headwinds. With the FY27 budget now approved, we are well-positioned to continue this important work, even as we work collaboratively to strengthen our long-term financial sustainability.
This momentum is also reflected in the continued strength of research and creative activity, with summer serving as an important season of discovery and preparation for the year ahead.
I also want to recognize several colleagues whose commitment has made a lasting impact on our universities. Please join me in thanking Scott Delcourt for his decades of leadership in graduate education and research at 91±¬ÁÏ, Jeff Mills for his transformative leadership of the 91±¬ÁÏ Foundation, and Megan Walsh as she prepares to begin a new senior academic role at Edgewood University following her service to 91±¬ÁÏ Machias. Their contributions have advanced our mission and strengthened our universities in meaningful ways.
I am also pleased to welcome Susie Monagan as the new executive director of the Collins Center for the Arts. Susie brings extensive experience in arts leadership and community engagement, and I know she will help continue the Collins Center’s role as a vibrant cultural gathering space for the university and the state.
I hope the summer months provide opportunities for research, renewal, and time with those who matter most to you. Thank you again for everything you do for our students, our universities, and the people of Maine. I look forward to seeing those who are here this summer, and to welcoming many of you back to our campuses in August as we gather once again for blueberry pancakes, the start of a new academic year, and Maine Hello welcoming another outstanding class of Black Bears.
Sincerely,
Joan Ferrini-Mundy,ÌýPresident
91±¬ÁÏ and 91±¬ÁÏ at Machias
