UMaine announces planned staff and faculty layoffs to address projected $19M shortfall
University of Maine to Cut Staff and Programs Amid $19 Million Budget Shortfall
ORONO, ME – The University of Maine (UMaine) announced on Thursday that it will initiate a series of layoffs and program reductions to address an anticipated $19 million deficit for the 2028‑2029 fiscal year. The plan, outlined in a joint letter from President Joan Ferrini‑Mundy and Provost Gabriel Paquette, will see the elimination of about one‑fifth of the university’s vacant positions, consolidation of certain course sections, and reductions in instructional budgets. In the long run, the administration says it may impose limits on class sizes or close low‑enrollment programs.
UMaine’s operating costs, the letter explained, have risen faster than state appropriations, tuition revenue, and federal research and financial‑aid funding. “We recognize that such personnel actions are painful for those directly impacted and for the overall morale of our entire university community,” Ferrini‑Mundy wrote. “Our university has done outstanding, difficult work to make reductions and reorganize for efficiency, and we recognize that comes at a cost.”
The university’s academic affairs division—which represents roughly half of UMaine’s budget—has committed to trimming its core expenses by $10 million. “Decisions related to the other units in the university will be announced in the coming weeks,” the letter added.
The cost‑cutting strategy is part of a broader strategic plan that the university has been developing since 2024. Reserve funds have been exhausted, operating budgets have already been trimmed, and one‑time savings have been exhausted. The university also noted that changes to federal research funding and financial aid have tightened revenue streams.
In March, UMaine’s leadership warned that a $18 million shortfall would require a 4 % tuition increase and additional staff cuts. That earlier notice set the stage for this latest, more detailed announcement.
Spokeswoman Samantha Warren said the university had not yet identified which positions would be eliminated or when those decisions would be made. The next fiscal‑year budget proposal will be presented to the Board of Trustees in January.
UMaine has also announced plans to boost enrollment—a trend that has been in decline for several years—to generate new revenue. The university’s leadership hopes that increased student numbers, along with the planned tuition hike, will help bridge the financial gap.
The news is developing, and the university has not yet released a full list of affected departments or roles. Students, faculty, and staff will likely hear more specifics in the coming weeks as the administration works to finalize its restructuring plan.
