I have attended many Univ.of Maine commencements in my twenty-seven years on the faculty. I always enjoy the event, but inevitably some of these have been marred by unexpected bad weather–why some years ago it was wisely decided to hold … Continue reading →

I’m sure that the term “academic clowns” has been used by others, but I don’t claim originality anyway. By “academic clowns” I refer to college and university professors who harm their students in various ways and who lack the professionalism–and … Continue reading →

Today’s Bangor Daily News has a small story about the request by the Bangor School System for a 2.26% increase in its budget from last year. As always, there are compelling reasons provided for additional funds. And as always, there … Continue reading →

I am neither a lawyer nor a major player in the National Education Association’s UME System faculty affiliate called AFUM. As a dues-paying member who has nevertheless followed closely summaries of the protracted negotiations over years now between AFUM and … Continue reading →

For those who live on Mars or Venus, STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM has become a buzzword throughout education in recent years, not least in the University of Maine System. As elsewhere in public higher education, there … Continue reading →

Faculty Are No Longer the Heart of Many Public Colleges and Universities Part of the University of Maine’s annual graduation ceremonies–there are nowadays morning and afternoon commencements to accommodate the many graduates and their families and friends–is a moment when … Continue reading →

I have increasingly respected and envied the universal acknowledgment that athletic abilities in all sports and at all levels of sports differ. On the one hand, this may seem like a rather obvious statement. On the other hand, when faced … Continue reading →

The Feb. 4, 2013, Bangor Daily had an article quoting our esteemed Governor, Paul LePage, as having twice now told schoolchildren at different Maine schools not to read Maine newspapers because they allegedly spin the news–and, in his view, spin … Continue reading →

The job market for many academics in the humanities and social sciences has been awful for decades now and shows no sign of improvement. Many wonderful graduate students who receive doctorates can’t find academic jobs, though some find rewarding careers … Continue reading →

I’ve been swamped with end of fall semester stuff and haven’t posted anything in several weeks. Can you forgive me? This will be my fourth posting. For a few weeks last fall former UMaine President Robert A. Kennedy was in … Continue reading →