UMF, along with every institution, is undergoing change. The economy is slowly recovering with the help of massive federal aid, but the states are still struggling. For UMF, this means a continuing need to make tough budget decisions that may include more reductions and different ways of operation. We are, for instance, exploring ways to partner more effectively with other UMaine System campuses to serve students and the state.

Among the results of the latest UMS change process is a growing consensus that higher education must serve the public agenda, the needs of the state of Maine. The question is: What is the public agenda?

First, the public agenda requires courses and programs that prepare students for professional careers. Maine needs teachers, physicists, artists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, and higher education needs to produce them. However, people often get to their careers though indirect routes. They may, for instance, study teaching and end up in banking. UMF’s emphasis on a liberal arts education provides students with learning for a lifetime of career opportunities.

Secondly, Maine needs engaged citizens, who work in social service agencies, run small businesses, raise healthy families, and volunteer through churches, arts groups, civic organizations, and local and state politics. Higher education has to give students opportunities to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to be involved citizens. UMF students gain these opportunities through classes, volunteering, student research, service-learning projects, and through the experience of living in our residential campus community.

Finally, a campus serves the public agenda by “living” in a Maine town. A recent economic study told us that UMF’s payroll and services have an annual impact of $22 million on our local economy. And our faculty and staff are involved with business and service organizations, economic development, consulting, and so much more.

Beyond our economic impact, think of all the connections we have with area schools via student teachers, in-service workshops, graduate programs, class visits to campus, and our college aspiration programs like Upward Bound, Gear-Up, and Girls Talk. And then there are all the faculty and staff who do special enrichment classes, mentor school groups, and coach school athletic teams.

Consider all of UMF’s arts and cultural events that are open to the public: poetry readings, art exhibits, lectures, performances, plays, and concerts. (Our chorus, orchestra, and band are and always have been joint college-community ensembles.)

However, UMF’s relationship with the community goes far beyond these spheres of influence. And this anecdote best explains how.

This summer, I attended the reunion performance of The Designed Xpression, a student group led by Prof. Jerry Owens that brought talent and passion to performing popular music of the 1970s. Back then, TDX gave shows at Maine high schools and toured internationally for the USO. Sadly, Jerry, their brilliant coach and director, died while still very young, after only about 10 years at UMF.

His performers came together in August to remember him and reminisce about their days at UMF. Now in their 50s, these alumni gave a rousing performance to a large audience of faculty and staff, retirees, family, and community members. And that’s the amazing part: The Farmington community came to the concert because they remembered a wonderful group that performed 40 years ago. They celebrated an inspiring relationship between a gifted faculty mentor, and what students under his direction could, and did, do.

UMF has many connections to the community. But UMF’s most important contribution, I believe, is providing occasions, over and over again, for the people of Maine to experience our extraordinary students and to participate in, help to produce, and celebrate their learning and growth.

For me, that’s the underlying reason why the public agenda is worth carrying out.

Sincerely yours,

Theodora J. Kalikow, President