BANGOR (AP) – The University of Maine System and its employee representatives say furlough days have been dropped as an ingredient in budget-balancing.

System officials and employee bargaining agents issued a joint statement Friday announcing the mutual agreement.

According to the statement, a financial shortfall associated with state support levels and investment losses has largely been addressed for six of the seven universities through other cost reductions.

The joint statement cautioned that new financial challenges related to enrollments, net investment loss and other shortfalls must still be addressed.