AUGUSTA — Maine voters will be considering three separate bonding requests for higher education on next week’s ballot.

The approach by state education leaders differs from a year ago, when a single bond proposal for three state institutions was rejected by a narrow margin.

Voters on Nov. 5 will be asked if they support a $15.5 million bond issue to improve laboratory and classroom facilities in the University of Maine system, along with a separate but similar $15.5 million proposal for the community college system.

A third question asks if voters back a $4.5 million bond to support construction of a new science building at the Maine Maritime Academy.

The Portland Press-Herald reports that the targeted bond requests were made after the single request for all three institutions failed last year.