UMaine announced Thursday that it’s laying off staff and faculty as it faces a $19 million shortfall.

The university will eliminate a fifth of all vacant positions, consolidate some course sections, and decrease instructional budgets.

UMaine’s president said in a letter that operating costs have risen faster than state funding or tuition revenue, and that federal changes have impacted financial aid and funding for research/

The university is set to present its budget proposal for the next fiscal year to the board of trustees in January.