The Western New Mexico University board of regents passed the Revised Capital Projects Transmittal for World Of Wings Café to Einstein Bros. Bagels; decided to award the WNMU president’s bonus only on his annual evaluation for 2018-19 per his current contract and forego any additional bonus outcomes; and approved a new mileage reimbursement rate and meal per diem policy for the university at their meeting on the main campus on Monday, September 17. Collective bargaining negotiations are still underway between WNMU and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, so a new agreement was not ready for approval by the board and the item was tabled.
Vice President for Business Affairs Kelley Riddle presented the Revised Capital Projects Transmittal for World Of Wings Café to Einstein Bros. Bagels, which is slated to open later this year in the Brancheau P.E. Complex. The total project budget is $921,613, and WNMU’s current food service vendor, Sodexo, will be contributing $412,500 of the total cost, Riddle said.
Regent Chair Janice Baca-Argabright said she and Student Regent Arlean Murillo met in August to discuss the WNMU president’s performance goals and outcomes. The board also discussed this topic in the executive session earlier Monday morning. During the regular session, Murillo moved that there would be no additional performance goals set and the president will receive a bonus based on his annual performance evaluation.
In a roll call vote, regents Jerry Walz, Murillo and Argabright voted “yes” on the motion, while regents Dr. Carl Foster and Dr. Dan Salzwedel voted “no.”
Dr. Salzwedel said that his vote in opposition is not a reflection of his support for WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard. “I strongly support our president. He is the very best in higher education in the state. I lay this responsibility on us as a board for not vetting this in the beginning,” he said.
President Shepard presented the university’s proposed mileage reimbursement rate and meal per diem policy, which will be implemented on October 1. The in-state travel per diem was increased to $135 per day while the out-of-state travel per diem bumped up to $215 per day. The new policy ups the mileage rate to $0.50 per mile.
The next WNMU board of regents meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 13, 2018.