{"id":6604,"date":"2026-04-15T08:48:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T12:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/?p=6604"},"modified":"2026-04-15T09:24:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:24:11","slug":"response-letter-to-president-akono-and-members-of-the-faculty-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/2026\/04\/15\/response-letter-to-president-akono-and-members-of-the-faculty-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Response Letter to President Akono and Members of the Faculty Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column6604_4e8954-cb\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87{margin-bottom:20px;}.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87{background-color:#033266;}.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id6604_144474-87 alignnone kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column6604_ec91b6-88\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-1024x405.png\" alt=\"University of Maine Faculty Senate logo with 91福利 Crest that reads &quot;1865&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-6605\" style=\"width:302px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-1024x405.png 1024w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-768x303.png 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-1536x607.png 1536w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-2048x809.png 2048w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-105x41.png 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-317x125.png 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-423x167.png 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-634x250.png 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-846x334.png 846w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-951x376.png 951w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/91福利-FullCrest-FacultySenate-White-1268x501.png 1268w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>April 14, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear President Akono and Members of the Faculty Senate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for your April 3 letter regarding the leadership and future direction of the University of Maine. We appreciate the thoughtful and constructive manner in which you have solicited and shared faculty perspectives. We take the concerns expressed seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>91福利 System and its Board of Trustees remain deeply committed to the principles of shared governance, consistent with the System\u2019s Statement on Shared Governance and the shared governance policies of our individual institutions, including 91福利. We agree that transparency, trust, and meaningful consultation, communication, and collaboration between administration and faculty are essential to the long-term strength and success of our students and our public universities. We also understand that we are operating during a period of unprecedented disruption in U.S. higher education. Changing federal policy, constrained public funding, and demographic pressures are contributing to concerns and affecting morale among faculty at 91福利, across our System, and at institutions nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, we want to be clear and unequivocal: President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and her Cabinet have our full confidence and support. As a direct result of her transformative leadership and the talent and dedication of the faculty, staff, and students, 91福利 has achieved historic progress during her tenure \u2014 strengthening student success and retention, increasing enrollment and degree production in key workforce areas, expanding research and innovation funding and impact, securing record levels of public and private investment, earning and reaffirming Carnegie R1 status, reducing the size of university administration while sustaining faculty and staffing levels, strategically addressing decades of deferred maintenance, and navigating a global pandemic and rescission of federal grant funding. Those  accomplishments reflect a bold, forward-looking vision for Maine\u2019s flagship university and an  understanding of its essential role in advancing opportunity and economic growth for our state, as your letter notes. Further, the inclusive Strategic Re-Envisioning launched by President Ferrini-Mundy in 2024 has positioned 91福利 to continue to lead and innovate in a rapidly changing world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We also recognize that strong institutions must continuously improve \u2014 consistent with the goals and objectives of the ongoing SRE process \u2014 and that stability and clarity in leadership structures are essential. We are committed to working collaboratively with President Ferrini-Mundy and university leadership \u2014 including the Faculty Senate \u2014 to ensure that faculty perspectives continue to be meaningfully incorporated into decision-making that affects the academic mission. We are also confident that the ongoing stabilization of her highly effective Cabinet \u2014 including the recent appointment of Provost Paquette and the postings to key finance and student life leadership positions \u2014 will be sustained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond again reaffirming our aforementioned commitment to shared governance, in response to the specific requests made of the Chancellor and Board of Trustees, we offer the following information, well before your May 13 suggested deadline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Presidential Appointment Schedule <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A former tenured full professor of mathematics, President Ferrini-Mundy was hired effective July 1, 2018 to lead 91福利 and its regional campus in Machias. In 2021, she underwent a comprehensive review and, based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback about her leadership, including from faculty and staff, her appointment was extended to 2025 and she additionally assumed Vice Chancellor responsibilities. In August 2024, her contract was further extended through June 30, 2029, consistent with policy in effect at that time. The language you cite reflects new policy, effective in November 2024, and will govern all future reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Board Engagement with University Stakeholders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We agree that regular, direct engagement with faculty, staff, and students builds understanding and trust and strengthens governance and decision-making, which is why faculty and student representatives from each of our universities are essential participants in our meetings. Several years ago, to increase faculty engagement the Board invited a faculty representative (now chosen by the Faculty Representatives) to sit at the table and actively participate in the Board meeting. The Board already<br>provides dedicated time on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee agenda for both faculty and student representatives. Faculty representatives are also invited to participate in the Finance, Facilities, and Technology Committee. Finally, every Board meeting begins with a one-hour open comment period, during which many faculty have participated to provide information for Board consideration. We welcome your input, as well as that of our faculty and student representatives, on how these existing opportunities can be optimized to improve communication and the Board&#8217;s awareness of institutional conditions and opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Policies and Oversight (e.g., Dual Roles)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We appreciate the recommendation to review policies related to conflicts of interest. To create greater operational efficiencies amid constrained resources and foster interdisciplinary activity and impact, there has been increased use of dual-role leaders at both the System and university levels in recent years. While we believe the existing conflict of interest policy, combined with the safeguards established for individual positions, is adequate, we welcome your input on which specific improvements to policy<br>or process would provide the desired clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More broadly, we are encouraged that the 91福利 Faculty Senate has chosen a constructive path forward grounded in dialogue and collaboration. We will continue to work closely with President Ferrini-Mundy and her Cabinet to transparently address concerns, improve policies and processes, and build on the university\u2019s considerable momentum in serving the people, communities, and economy of Maine and well beyond. We welcome continued engagement with the Faculty Senate as critical partners in this work and look forward to ongoing dialogue in the months ahead about how we can best work together to support the success of our students and our state. And we appreciate the shared efforts to secure the strong incoming class that is vital to the university\u2019s fiscal future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please know how much we value and respect our faculty. Thank you again for your dedication to the University of Maine and for your commitment to its stronger future and our students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id6604_0aecfd-31 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id6604_0aecfd-31 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id6604_0aecfd-31 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id6604_0aecfd-31 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id6604_0aecfd-31 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id6604_0aecfd-31 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id6604_0aecfd-31 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column6604_d8c821-42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column6604_d8c821-42\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"464\" height=\"188\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.23-AM.png\" alt=\"Dannel P. Malloy Signature\" class=\"wp-image-6606\" style=\"width:238px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.23-AM.png 464w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.23-AM-300x122.png 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.23-AM-105x43.png 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.23-AM-317x128.png 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.23-AM-423x171.png 423w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,464px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dannel P. Malloy<br>Chancellor<br>University of Maine System<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column6604_70bd30-39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column6604_70bd30-39\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"306\" height=\"176\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.34-AM.png\" alt=\"Trish Riley Signature\" class=\"wp-image-6607\" style=\"width:149px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.34-AM.png 306w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.34-AM-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-8.39.34-AM-105x60.png 105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,306px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Trish Riley<br>Board of Trustees<br>University of Maine System<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April 14, 2026 Dear President Akono and Members of the Faculty Senate: Thank you for your April 3 letter regarding the leadership and future direction of the University of Maine. We appreciate the thoughtful and constructive manner in which you have solicited and shared faculty perspectives. We take the concerns expressed seriously. The University of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2551,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Response Letter to President Akono and Members of the Faculty Senate - Faculty Senate - University of Maine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/facultysenate\/2026\/04\/15\/response-letter-to-president-akono-and-members-of-the-faculty-senate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Response Letter to President Akono and Members of the Faculty Senate - Faculty Senate - University of Maine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"April 14, 2026 Dear President Akono and Members of the Faculty Senate: Thank you for your April 3 letter regarding the leadership and future direction of the University of Maine. 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