Maine University Removed George Mitchell from Named Entities
The board voted to rename a research center and student scholarship following a review by an appointed task force.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Higher Education
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The University of Maine System Board of Trustees has voted to remove George Mitchell's name from a sustainability research center and a peace scholarship. The decision follows a task force recommendation that cited the need to maintain public trust.
Why it matters
The removal aims to preserve the university's reputation after Mitchell was mentioned over 300 times in Department of Justice files released earlier this year. Though he was never directly linked to child sex abuse, the task force concluded that keeping the names would adversely reflect upon the institution.
A task force review found that nearly three-quarters of public comments favored removing Mitchell's name. The 93-year-old's name had appeared over 300 times in federal documents released in January.
The players
University of Maine System Board of Trustees
This governing body holds the authority to establish and rename academic departments, centers, and scholarship programs across the state university system.
George Mitchell
The 93-year-old former political figure had his name associated with several Maine institutions before public scrutiny emerged regarding his inclusion in federal legal files.
Waterville School Board
This local education authority previously acted to distance itself from Mitchell by renaming an elementary school in the spring of 2026.
The details
The university has rebranded the research entity as the University of Maine Center for Sustainability Solutions and the exchange program as the University of Maine Peace Scholarship. This transition concludes a review process that began in February 2026 and will require several months to update all campus signage and digital assets.
Timeline
January 30, 2026: The Department of Justice released files mentioning George Mitchell.
February 2026: The university established a task force to evaluate naming conventions.
February 27, 2026: A portrait of Mitchell was removed from the Maine State House.
March 9, 2026: The Waterville School Board voted to rename an elementary school.
September 28, 2026: The Board of Trustees voted to remove Mitchell's name.
Culture Shift
This move marks a departure from the historical practice of honoring long-serving public figures, aligning the university with the precedent set by the removal of Mitchell's portrait from the Maine State House earlier this year.
Students and faculty can expect to see updated branding on websites and physical campus signage over the coming months as the transition process is finalized. These changes are administrative in nature and do not alter the current functions or offerings of the sustainability center or the student exchange scholarship.
The takeaway
The university's decision highlights how institutional leaders are increasingly re-evaluating long-standing honorary titles in response to shifting public sentiment. Maintaining public trust now often requires proactive reviews of legacy names when new information enters the public record.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving policies surrounding campus naming conventions in the Higher Education section.
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