Sen. Mike Tipping introduces bills to address decades of underfunding the University of Maine System, fully invest in Maine students

AUGUSTA — On Thursday, April 24, Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono, introduced two bills to fully fund the University of Maine System after decades of Maine underfunding its public universities. The Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee conducted a public hearing for LD 1219, “An Act to Increase State Funding for the Campuses of the University of Maine System and to Raise the Minimum Hourly Wage for Employees of the System,” and LD 1533, “An Act to Ensure the Retention of R1 Research Institution Status by the University of Maine.” 

“For decades, Maine has underfunded its public universities, leading to higher tuition and less investment in young people, research and the future of our state,” said Sen. Tipping. “In recent weeks, this has been compounded by the actions of the federal government — both in general cuts to educational grants and the specific targeting of UMS. Both bills target money to where it is needed most — the students, faculty and staff that make our universities our best hope for improving the lives and futures of Maine people. For every problem our state is facing, from the number of nurses to potato yields to helping young Mainers stay here and raise their families, our public universities offer solutions. It’s time to stand up for public higher education.”

LD 1219 would increase state funding to UMS to the same level, per-student, as “peer institutions” currently receive from their states — an increase of $14 million in the next fiscal year and $24 million for the following fiscal year. It would also set a minimum wage for university employees at 125% of the state minimum wage. It would meet vital current needs and better align Maine with other states in funding our public universities.

LD 1533 would provide around $8 million over two years to fund enough graduate students to meet PhD graduation levels that ensure the University maintains R1 research status. Grad students are often the first to suffer from cutbacks, and their work is essential to the future of Maine and maintaining the University’s reputation as a top-tier research institute.

In testimony for the public hearing, University of Southern Maine economics professor Rachel Bouvier told the Committee, “Our students — whether they are adult learners, veterans, New Mainers or recent high school graduates — go on to serve Maine as engineers, educators, artists, health professionals and more. An investment in the UMS is an investment in the future of our state.”

Similarly, Rachel Hovel, a biology professor at the University of Maine at Farmington, explained, “Our students deserve education and experiences that will lead to their success after graduation. Our state deserves talented and motivated UMS graduates that will continue to innovate our role into the future. Appropriate funding for the University of Maine System is critical to our continued offering of strong programs that keep young people in the state and draw new talented people to the region.”

In 1990, the state provided more than 70% of funding for the University of Maine System. Now, it is around 40%.

In the coming weeks, the Committee will schedule work sessions for LD 1219 and LD 1533.

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