An April survey of 1,255 Maine residents — including an oversample of 55 Biddeford residents — gives the University of New England some encouraging news
By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
Earlier this year, University of New England officials expressed frustration and said they felt as if they were being publicly attacked because of their plans to construct a 180-foot research pier on the Saco River. Today, those same officials are touting the results of a recent opinion poll that shows “strong public support for the school’s mission and reputation.”
The poll – conducted over a six-day period in April – provided insight from a very small sample of 1,255 Maine residents, including an “oversample” of 55 Biddeford residents.
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Over the last two years, the university’s plans to construct a 180-foot research pier on the Saco River has reignited tensions between the school and its host community of Biddeford.
Both sides have filed court challenges involving the proposed pier. A few weeks ago, the university’s president described his school’s relationship with the city as “broken.”
Although the pier debate has sparked passionate public commentary and impacted the city’s political landscape – including a somewhat tense citizen’s grievance meeting in October – UNE officials say the recent poll shows strong public support for the school.
In a press release sent to area media outlets earlier this week, the university said ratings were “especially strong among residents in Biddeford and Portland, the communities closest to UNE’s campuses.”
The poll also included an “oversample” of 200 Portland residents, nearly four times more respondents than the oversample of 55 Biddeford residents.
“The fact that UNE has earned such high marks for reputation, integrity, and community impact among the residents who know us best is something we don’t take for granted,” state UNE President James Hebert. “[The poll] reflects years of investment in our communities, and it gives us a clear roadmap: the more we engage, the stronger that trust becomes.”
The opinion poll was conducted by Emerson College Polling, using a “mixed-mode methodology,” which combines landline telephone interviews, mobile phone outreach and online survey panels to help ensure broad demographic representation.
Poll Findings
Highlights from the poll show that 71 percent of Portland residents who participated in the poll and 68 percent of Biddeford residents who were surveyed hold a favorable opinion of UNE.
54 percent of those who were surveyed across the state report being familiar with UNE — familiarity rises to 70 percent in Portland and 85 percent in Biddeford.
In the survey, 81 percent of Biddeford residents who responded to the survey rate UNE’s overall reputation as excellent or good, while 62 percent of that same group said UNE operates with integrity and honesty.
UNE points to what they described as “exceptionally low levels” of negative public sentiment toward the university. Only three percent of Biddeford residents who participated in the survey reported an unfavorable opinion of UNE.
In their own press release, the polling firm that conducted the survey said the results place UNE “among a relatively small number of universities that have successfully built strong name recognition and goodwill in their own backyards.”
Next Steps
UNE officials say the survey identified a significant opportunity to strengthen community engagement.
Sarah Delage, a university spokesperson, said UNE plans to use the survey findings to guide future communications and community engagement efforts, including expanded public programming, educational events, community partnerships, and opportunities for residents to connect directly with UNE faculty, students, researchers and healthcare professionals.
VIEW/DOWNLOAD poll results
ABOUT THE POLLING FIRM | Emerson College Polling (ECP) is a charter member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative, a leading professional organization of public opinion and survey research professionals. ECP publishes not only its full topline results, but also its full crosstabs for each survey, aiming to ensure that data is easily accessible and available to researchers.
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