Your Right to Know: Freedom of Access Requests
“The public’s right to information about government activities lies at the heart of a democratic government. The Maine Freedom of Access Act (“FOAA”) grants the people of this state a broad right of access to public records while protecting legitimate governmental interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens. The act also ensures the accountability of the government to the citizens of the state by requiring public access to the meetings of public bodies. Transparency and open decision-making are fundamental principles of the Maine Freedom of Access Act, and they are essential to ensuring continued trust and confidence in our government.”
(From www.maine.gov/foaa/ (External Site))
University of Maine System – Public Access Officer
The Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) Public Access Officer for the University of Maine System is Paul Chan, General Counsel. All FOAA public record requests should be directed to foaa@maine.edu or to:
The Office of General Counsel
University Of Maine System
15 Estabrooke Drive
Orono, ME 04469
Phone: 207-581-5841
Fax: 207-581-9212
The State Freedom of Access Act requires the University of Maine System to designate a public access officer to serve as the contact person with regard to requests for public records.
Because the University of Maine System consists of System-wide Services, the Chancellor’s Office, and seven universities and a law school, records are not centrally located. The following are the designated contacts for particular records and the public access officer is available to respond to or assist with requests, and answer any questions.
University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias:
John Diamond, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Phone: 207-581-2749
Email: diamond@maine.edu
University of Maine at Augusta:
Aili Robinson, Chief Business Officer
Phone: 207.621.3183
Email: aili.salo@maine.edu
University of Maine at Farmington:
Laurie Gardner, Chief Business Officer
Phone: 207-778-7272
Email: lgardner@maine.edu
University of Maine at Fort Kent:
Pamela Ashby, Chief Business Officer
Phone: 207-834-7550
Email: pam.ashby@maine.edu
University of Maine at Presque Isle:
Rachel Rice, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: 207-768-9452
Email: rachel.rice@maine.edu
University of Southern Maine:
Theodore Chelis, PhD Director of Administration and Planning
Phone: 207.780.4021
Email: theodore.chelis@maine.edu
University of Maine System:
Media, Legislative, and Other Requests:
Samantha Warren, Director of Community and Government Relations
Phone: 207-632-0389
Email: samantha.warren@maine.edu
Email: foaa@maine.edu
Finances and Procurement:
Rachel Piper, Executive Director of Strategic Procurement and Services
Phone: 207-780-4235
Email: rachel.piper@maine.edu
Human Resources:
Amie Parker, Chief Human Resources Officer
Phone: 207.581.5862
Email: amie.parker@maine.edu
Facilities:
Gretchen Catlin, Chief Facilities Management and General Services Officer
Phone: 207-621-3482
Email: gretchen.catlin@maine.edu