The University of Maine System's $1.4 million, two-year ChatGPT contract is drawing scrutiny over spending priorities and how the artificial intelligence tool is used in teaching, the Portland Press Herald reported Oct. 11.
Riley Board's report said 8.8% of students, 22% of faculty and 30% of staff had created accounts as of Oct. 8. Officials told the paper the rollout was tracking expectations and that use should rise.
The paper reported that the flagship University of Maine faces a $19 million budget shortfall and employees have been told to expect layoffs. Nearly 90% of 137 respondents to a professional staff union survey were dissatisfied with the purchase.
The report also described a University of Southern Maine graduate student's objection to receiving AI-generated feedback. The University of Southern Maine's faculty senate has approved an AI-disclosure policy that would let students opt out of AI grading; it still needs the president and provost's approval.
The system announced the agreement in May, with access beginning July 1 for faculty, staff and enrolled students. It said participation would be voluntary and that training would accompany the rollout.
The system's May announcement said four qualified bids were evaluated and that ChatGPT Edu prevents prompts and files from being used to train OpenAI's models. Unbudgeted investment income will pay for the first year; trustees will revisit second-year funding in the fiscal 2028 budget.
System officials told the Press Herald the procurement was transparent. The system says the service is intended to prepare students for the workforce and support teaching and operations.
Sources
Riley Board, Portland Press Herald, Oct. 11, 2026
University of Maine System agreement announcement, May 26, 2026