News and Events - University
Credit Union Supports President's Discretionary Fund
Over the years the University
Credit Union has supported the University of Maine in a variety
of ways -- from establishing and maintaining the “Look-Out”
lounge on the first floor of the Memorial Union, to backing
new-student programs, from sponsoring athletic and cultural
events, to underwriting income tax preparation service for
students.
Now the 40-year-old non-profit
institution has stepped forward once again to help the
University, this time with a $15,000 pledge to the President’s
Discretionary Fund.
“We wanted to the Administration to
direct the funds where the need is the most,” says Matt Walsh,
president and CEO of UCU.
“We wanted to ensure that the President
could use these funds to help the University’s priorities and
put it toward unmet needs in any category, whether it was
facilities, student scholarships or professorships.”
The UCU gift comes as part of Campaign
Maine, the University’s six-year, $150 million comprehensive
fundraising campaign.
With 19,000 members, offices in Orono,
Bangor, Farmington and Portland, and a variety of new electronic
services, the University Credit Union has a come long way since
it opened in 1967 in the basement of Coburn Hall.
“On payday, the lines used to be down
the hall and out the door,” Matt says he was told by a long-time
faculty member.
A 1992 graduate of UMaine with a degree
in business management, Matt has been with the credit union
since 1997.
“It has been a great experience working
at UCU on campus. Continuing to grow this institution better to
serve our members, system-wide, has been very rewarding.”
As with all credit unions, the UCU is a
not-for-profit institution owned by members and, thus, is able
to return profits to members in the form of lower fees and loan
rates, higher savings rates and free or low cost services.
“The biggest difference between us and
others,” says Matt, “is that I frequently talk to members who
want to share a thought about how to serve them better. Our
board of directors and senior management listens to every one of
those members and, more often than not, we’ll make changes based
on their suggestions. How many financial institution customers
can pick up the phone and talk to their president?”
Located on the University campus on Rangeley Road since
1988, the credit union has added a variety of services, but
stands by its original mission: to provide members, through
their input and ownership, personalized financial services,
while promoting the value of education in Maine.
“We’re committed to helping promote
and ensure that the University community is solid and continues
to flourish,” Matt says.
To that end, the UCU has supported:
·
The UMaine Alumni Association
·
The UMaine Athletics Department as a Corporate
Sponsor
·
Events at the Maine Center for the Arts
·
The Rudman Conference Room at the University of
Maine System headquarters in Bangor
·
Student orientations
·
The Bion and Dorain Foster Student Innovation
Center
·
The Mel McClure Scholarship Fund in honor of the
former UCU director and UMaine accounting professor
·
The Maine Book, an encyclopedia of names and facts
associated with UMaine athletics
In addition to bolstering UMaine, the
UCU helps out in the community by sponsoring wellness programs
and book giveaways at public schools and an annual golf
tournament to benefit Special Olympics, as well as by donating
to food pantries.
More information about the University
Credit Union can be found at http://www.ucu.maine.edu/
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