Why USM’s budget crunch is more complicated than you might think - Matthew Stone, Bangor Daily News

The University of Southern Maine sent layoff notices to 12 members of its faculty earlier this year as part of the 9,000-student university’s plan to trim $14 million from its budget for the 2014-15 academic year. But President Theodora Kalikow later reversed course after an outcry from students and professors. Another part of the cost-cutting plan involved phasing out four academic programs, but USM ultimately preserved one of them: recreation and leisure studies. Kalikow finalized USM’s budget reductions for the coming year — which involved a number of faculty retirements, one staff layoff and the elimination of three programs. She also warned of more cuts to be made in the coming year. http://bangordailynews.com/2014/06/20/opinion/why-usms-budget-crunch-is-more-complicated-than-you-might-think/