University of Maine plans layoffs amid $19M deficit as system continues H-1B sponsorship

Campus Reform ^ | October 30, 2026 | Dana Rojas

[george76]

University leaders are preparing layoffs, eliminating vacant positions, and cutting expenses to address a projected $19 million FY2028 deficit..

Federal records compiled by MyVisaJobs show the University of Maine System filed 19 H-1B labor-condition applications in fiscal 2026.

...

The University of Maine (UMaine) in Orono is preparing faculty and staff reductions as it confronts a projected $19 million deficit for fiscal year 2028, while the broader University of Maine System continued H-1B sponsorship during fiscal 2026.

University leaders have proposed layoffs, eliminating vacant positions, reducing outside contracts, modifying some annual appointments, and consolidating units as part of an effort to close the budget gap.

UMaine Academic Affairs has committed to reducing its FY2028 base expenses by $10 million, leaving another $9 million to be addressed by nonacademic units.

In an Oct. 21 budget update, university leaders said planned spending reductions and new revenue are expected to cover $6 million of the $9 million nonacademic shortfall.

That leaves approximately $3 million still unresolved.

...

The university said proposed reductions include layoffs, eliminating vacant positions, reducing external contracts, modifying the length of certain annual appointments, and consolidating some units.

At the same time, employment records compiled by MyVisaJobs show continued H-1B activity across the University of Maine System.

The database lists 19 H-1B labor-condition applications filed by the system during fiscal 2026 and 13 H-1B petitions approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during that fiscal year.

UMaine’s Oct. 21 budget update does not identify whether any H-1B-sponsored employees work in departments or units that could face layoffs or other staffing reductions.

The university also has not publicly identified which academic programs will absorb reductions.

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UMaine attributed its financial pressures to rising operating costs, enrollment changes, and uncertainty involving federal funding and policy.

University leaders are expected to provide additional information during a Nov. 2 budget session.

The budget decisions leave unanswered whether the university or system will continue sponsoring foreign workers through the H-1B program while faculty and staff positions are reduced.

Campus Reform contacted the University of Maine to ask how many H-1B-sponsored employees work at the Orono campus, which departments employ them, whether any are in units facing staffing reductions, and whether H-1B sponsorship will continue during the university’s cost-cutting process.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Education
KEYWORDS: maine; umaine; university

[woodbutcher1963]

There are layoffs happening at a lot of state colleges and universities.

Keene State College in Keene, NH has dropped multiple courses. There is talk that this branch of the UNH system may actually close. Due to revenues/tuition falling and costs increasing. NH state government has a BALANCED BUDGET amendment. Therefore, they may be forced to close it.

Meanwhile, UNH Durham has seen an increase in attendance/Tuition. Personally, I think this is great. ALL College towns are bastions of liberalism. Keene has always been the place all the DEM candidates get their votes in SW NH.

[packagingguy]

If your product is too expensive and doesn’t deliver (i.e. STEM graduates take on mountains of debt then can’t find a job in their field) people stop buying the product.

[jroehl]

But, but, but the visa system was only to bring over a few hundred Indians who are the best and brightest in the world!