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By Alan Bennett, Assistant Director of Communications, UNE March 20, 2026, The University of New England announced today that 166 graduating physicians have matched to residencies in Maine, New England, and beyond, with over 50% heading to primary care posts amid a national shortage of primary care providers. The Match Day celebration was held at UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, which is home to Maine’s only medical school located in the recently inaugurated Har

March 11, 2026, the below message was sent directly to the Biddeford Buzz from University of New England President Dr. James Herbert regarding the proposed research pier on the Saco River. Dr. James Herbert, President of the University of New England "Dear Members of the Biddeford Community, In recent months there has been significant discussion about the University of New England’s proposed research pier on the Saco River. I understand that projects affecting our waterfront

By Deirdre Stires, Contributing Writer March 5, 2026, For the second year in a row, University of New England students will help the Biddeford Pool Conservation Trust plant dune grass along a section of beach in Biddeford Pool to help make the beaches more climate resilient. On Tuesday, March 10, from 11:30 to about 1:40 p.m. about 16 students from Assistant Professor Will Kochtitzky’s Geographic Information System (GIS) course will aid Biddeford Pool Conservation Trust Presi

By Liam LaFountain, Mayor of Biddeford March 1, 2026, On Monday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m., the Institutional Zone Review Committee will hold its first  public hearing at City Hall . The meeting begins the public input phase of a broader review of  how Biddeford regulates institutional development.  For many residents, the term “ Institutional Zone ”  may not be familiar. In practical terms, it is  the zoning framework that governs development at the University of New England’s B

The event, part of UNE’s enhanced workforce-ready initiatives, left many students with newfound confidence in breaking the ice By Deirdre Fleming Stires, Contributing Writer UNE February 25, 2026, In a crowded communal area in the University of New England’s Ripich Commons on the evening of Feb. 18, the University's first Career Connections Mixer got off to a rousing start. And the impromptu conversations between employers, alumni, local civic leaders, entrepreneurs, faculty,

February 18, 2026, at last night’s city council meeting, Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever informed councilors and the Mayor, that according to a memo she received from Alan Thibault (UNE Vice President for University Operations), the University of New England is "considering working with Unitil on an extension of the natural gas main from downtown to the UNE campus." VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED HERE: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DZ5FiBJRr/ The full memo shared by City Manager D

By Deirdre Fleming Stires, Contributing Writer February 14, 2026, The University of New England’s dining service provider, Parkhurst Dining, set out to raise $10,000 last fall for Maine's only full-service children's hospital through a fund-raising campaign that culminated in a holiday lunch served on UNE”s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences. UNE's Parkhurst Dining team more than doubled last year's fund-raising effort in the Caring for Kids campaign. In the end, UNE’s P

By Mackenzie Schors, Biddeford Buzz Contributing Writer Now celebrating their 10 year anniversary, UNE has been hosting their annual “Teddy Bear Toss” (TBT) game every year since 2017 - Here’s a glimpse into what TBT weekend looks like for the community and the UNE Nor’easters: February 11, 2026, What began as a small, community-focused initiative in 2017 has grown into one of the University of New England’s most beloved traditions. This year marked the 10th anniversary of

February 6, 2026, Student providers from the University of New England’s doctoral College of Dental Medicine and undergraduate Department of Dental Hygiene welcomed 85 elementary- and secondary-age students from Maine Regional School District (RSU) 23, serving the community of Old Orchard Beach, to the University’s Oral Health Center on Friday, Feb. 6, for UNE’s fifth annual “Give Kids a Smile” event. Eighty-eight students from RSU 23 received a full slate of preventive denta

January 28, 2026, Following the approval of a 180 day moratorium by the Biddeford City Council pertaining to development for the University of New England (UNE), the University reached out to the Biddeford Buzz and issued the following statement: "While we do not think the development moratorium is necessary, UNE respects the council’s decision. We appreciate the opportunity for thoughtful dialogue about the future of our campus and its role in the community, and President He

📰BIDDEFORD | Mayor moves to limit UNE Development January 15, 2026, According to reports and a memo sent to city council, newely elected Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain is proposing a "temporary moratorium" on development projects at the University of New England. Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain Reports also indicate that LaFountain is looking to nominate the University’s president (James Hebert) to serve on the City’s newly established ad hoc Institutional Zone Review commi

"My catchphrase is "God always provides" and he really does. I just can't thank you enough…" -Don Bisson, President & Manager Biddeford Food Pantry January 6, 2025, A picture can say a thousand words…. Or seven thousand three hundred and fifty! Well folks, we did it! You've not only helped us hit our goal, you've helped us smash it OUT OF THE PARK! Today, Don Bisson, President & Manager of the Biddeford Food Pantry, was absolutely overjoyed as we presented him a check for the

-UNE medical students continue holiday giving tradition in partnership with Biddeford Primary School- December 19, 2025, Students from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP) KAPPA Chapter continued a longstanding holiday tradition on Friday, Dec. 12, hosting their annual Holiday Giving Tree toy drive on UNE’s Biddeford Campus to support local families through the Biddeford Primary School. Now in its seventh year, the drive ha

Please note, some local sources are incorrectly referring to this committee - THIS IS A INSTITUTIONAL ZONE REVIEW COMMITTEE, NOT A "UNE REVIEW COMMITTEE". December 18, 2025, On Tuesday, the City Council authorized the creation of an ad hoc Institutional Zone Review Committee. This committee was formed for the purpose of reviewing all Institutional Zone provisions of the Biddeford Zoning Ordinance, including but not limited to the Institutional Zone and the Institutional Maste

📰BIDDEFORD | UNE Responds to City’s Litigation December, 4, 2025, The following message was recieved from the University of New England regarding the City of Biddeford’s litigation pertaining to the UNE Pier. "The University of New England is aware of the City's litigation against the Saco River Corridor Commission. UNE respectfully disagrees with the City's position. As the Saco River Corridor Commission confirmed after seeking counsel from their lawyer at the Maine Attorne

📰BIDDEFORD | City of Biddeford Files Court Challenge for UNE Pier Approval BIDDEFORD, Maine (December 4, 2025) — The City of Biddeford has filed a Complaint for Review of Final Agency Action in Maine Superior Court seeking a judicial determination that the Saco River Corridor Commission's (SRCC) 2024 approval of a new pier at the University of New England (UNE) is unlawful and invalid. The filing asserts that the SRCC did not apply a binding 2001 permit condition requiring a

November 25, 2025, This morning, city hall personnel confirmed that Brian Phinney, Biddeford's Chief Operating Officer (COO), has formally announced his intended retirement from public service effective January 15, 2026. "Brian has been a huge help to me since I joined the City a few months ago, said City Manager Truc Dever." Dever went on to say, "I appreciate all that he has done for the City of Biddeford and for this community. I wish him all the best in retirement." In a

“I think it has been really successful. We are at the half way point of the time set aside and the students have already completed 2/3's of the entire workload”, said Delilah Poupore, Executive Director for Heart of Biddeford.  November 16, 2025, If you were downtown today, you may have noticed some younger looking individuals carrying around ladders, totes, lights, and some even climbing trees. Great news, this was not a rebellion!  UNE students hang lights from tress in dow

Have you ever had someone come up to you and question you about something, and rather than answer the question, you think, “who are you to even be asking me this?”...  Well, in the most anecdotal fashion, that’s exactly what happened at tonight’s UNE Pier appeal hearing; according to the Zoning Board of Appeals and city procedure, the individuals who filed the appeal, can not legally be recognized (qualified) as appellants, therefore, the appeal was denied. November 13, 2025,

"Instead of respecting the hard work of these residents and doing THE ONLY TASK REQUIRED OF HIM (UNDIVIDED ATTENTION TO THE SPEAKERS), City Solicitor Harry Center, instead chose to be on his cell phone and laptop. In fact, on two separate occasions, Mr. Center did not look up from his phone for over 2 mins. At one point, Harry even took his laptop off his desk, sat back in his chair, and proceeded to casually use it." We want to preface this by saying that this is not the nor