As alumni of Unity College, now known as Unity Environmental University (UEU), we form a collective voice seeking to ensure the highest standards of governance, transparency, and ethical conduct in the administration of our alma mater.  Signers of this petition support the following:

In alignment with the expectations of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), we believe in the importance of inclusive and transparent processes in key administrative decisions, including using best practices in presidential searches.  We note with concern the appointment process for the current President, Melik Khoury, and respectfully request a review to ensure it adhered to the best practices in higher education, as well as the Unity College bylaws in place at that time (2016). Transparency in such processes is crucial to maintain trust and integrity within the educational community.

Additionally, we urge a review of all board members affiliations to ensure no conflicts of interest, particularly in light of proposed significant utility projects in Maine that may impact the Unity campus and community.  We believe in the necessity of maintaining clear ethical boundaries to uphold the institution’s mission and values.

There is speculation surrounding a large anonymous donation of an estimated $450,000 that was allegedly used to fund the Deep Dive research project aimed at determining the future and direction of the college.  We ask that this donation and expenditure be reviewed to ensure that there were no conflicts of interest among those involved and that it wasn’t more of a loan with any future promises to be repaid through services, rent, or other means.  

Concerns have been raised regarding changes in governance structures and bylaws that potentially centralized decision-making power and altered the traditional stakeholder representation, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We request a reevaluation of these changes to ensure they serve the best interests of the Unity community encompassing students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

The decision to relocate the university headquarters and current attempt to sell the main campus in Unity Maine with a sudden shift towards online modalities, marks a significant change in Unity’s educational approach. While we understand the need for adaptation in changing times, we advocate for a dialogue on these decisions to ensure they align with Unity’s history of hands-on, experiential learning.

The utilization of alumni career successes and personal stories in university promotions is a matter of pride for the Unity community.  However, we advocate for UEU to receive the explicit permission from alumni for any such uses to ensure accuracy and respect for individual achievements.

Alumni have expressed concern that their college transcripts will now be titled from Unity Environmental University, although they attended or graduated from Unity College some years ago.  They feel there is a significant difference in the new online version of the school which does not represent the education and experience they received.  We advocate for an option so that Unity College students can request their transcripts to be titled from Unity College if they so desire.  

Finally, the economic and social contributions of Unity College to Waldo County and the broader community cannot be understated. The potential effects of a college leaving a small town include loss of jobs/increased unemployment, loss of supporting local businesses, a decrease in property values, a loss of community services provided by the college, possible decrease in tax revenue impacting public services and infrastructure, as well as fewer cultural and educational opportunities for local residents.  We seek reassurance that the evolution of the university will continue to honor its commitments stemming from the last 55+ years to the local community, as well as the economy in Waldo County and the Town of Unity.  

Our call for investigation and review is guided by principles of accountability, integrity, and the pursuit of truth. It is in the spirit of constructive engagement that we put forth these concerns, hoping for a collaborative path forward that honors the legacy of Unity College and future of Unity Environmental University.

Accordingly, we are asking the Maine Attorney General’s office, the Waldo County District Attorney’s office, our legislative representatives, the Maine Department of Education, and other regulatory authorities to take a hard look at what has transpired over the past several years.