AUGUSTA -- Accepting her formal installation as the University of Maine at Augusta's president on Sunday, Allyson Hughes Handley told audience members that her honeymoon period might be coming to an end.

If it had not already concluded, that period came to an all but certain end on Monday, when University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude announced the system would institute a series of cost-cutting measures in advance of a tight budget season.

At its offices in Bangor, the system will regulate building temperature, leave vacant positions open, delay employees' merit raises and limit travel, printing, mailing and overtime expenses.

Pattenaude asked the presidents of the seven system campuses to take similar measures.