The University of Maine’s Faculty Senate voted on March 13 to eliminate the Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish and to suspend the Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences for three years. The moves, part of a system‑wide program review, await approval from the UMaine System Board of Trustees, which is expected to meet in May.
University officials said the Spanish master’s program was the system’s only degree of its kind and has seen historically low enrollment, ranging from zero to three students each year over the past five years. “It’s unfortunate for the reasons that were articulated at the senate meeting,” said Emily Haddad, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “But it’s also an appropriate decision based on the demand for the program.” Haddad added that the undergraduate Spanish minor remains “very healthy,” and major enrollment is “steady,” though she does not expect the master’s to be reinstated.
The medical laboratory sciences bachelor’s program has not enrolled students for several years, according to Mary Jean Sedlock, a faculty‑senate member who co‑chairs the Program Creation and Reorganization Review Committee. Sedlock explained that the suspension will last three years, after which the program will be reviewed again for possible elimination. Neither the department chair for modern languages and classics, Carlos Villacorta‑Gonzales, nor the dean of the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences was reachable for comment on the suspension.
Both proposals must clear several layers of review. After Senate endorsement, the changes will move to the provost and university president for endorsement, then to campus presidents, the chancellor, and finally to the Board of Trustees. Board spokesperson Samantha Warren said the trustees will likely discuss the issue at their next full meeting in May.
The cuts occur amid a broader budgeting process aimed at addressing an $18 million shortfall projected for the next fiscal year. In December, UMaine announced a 7 percent system‑wide budget cut. Earlier this week, President Joan Ferrini‑Mundy emailed faculty and staff outlining a plan to close the gap that includes laying off “fewer than 10” staff, relying on attrition, a $2.3 million increase in state funding, and using grant, gift and reserve dollars.
The university system’s strategic planning document, released in the fall, evaluated academic programs using metrics such as enrollment, credit hours, degrees awarded and job‑growth potential. While the Spanish master’s degree was flagged for review, the medical laboratory sciences bachelor’s degree did not appear on the list, suggesting the suspension is driven primarily by its zero enrollment.
Enrollment across the UMaine system has risen slightly, reaching 25,870 students this fall—the highest level since 2021—though the system has accepted 26,164 students for the upcoming year, leaving the actual headcount uncertain. A full budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year is slated for release next week.
The program eliminations reflect a growing national trend of public colleges confronting enrollment cliffs and tightening budgets, forcing administrators to scrutinize low‑demand degrees and reallocate resources toward higher‑growth fields.