The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents voted to review the university’s policies and procedures, reaffirmed the importance of the university’s international partnerships and heard from faculty, staff and student leadership representatives during their meeting, conducted in a hybrid manner, Friday, January 19, 2024. They also allowed substantial time for public comment.
With no old business to consider, the regents spent a portion of the meeting hearing updates from across campus as presented by WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard, Vice President of External Affairs Dr. Magdaleno Manzanarez, Faculty Senate President Dr. Scott Smith, Staff Senate President Adele Springer and Associated Students of WNMU President Elizabeth Gonzales.
Regent Chair Dr. Mary Hotvedt presided over the meeting from Miller Library along with Student Regent Trent Jones, with Regents Dr. Lyndon Haviland and Dal Moellenberg joining virtually.
During his report, President Dr. Joseph Shepard noted that recent media coverage of the university’s graduation rate is misleading because it only reflects students that graduate within four years of enrollment, and many WNMU students are nontraditional and require additional time to earn their degrees.
Also in his report, President Shepard noted recent and ongoing improvements in the Campus Recreation Center, including a recently installed climbing wall and a temporary fix to the swimming pool’s filtration system that will avert an expected months-long shut-down. President Shepard continued his report by informing the Regents of the new EV chargers on campus, paid for in part by Freeport-McMoRan, and provided updates on other campus construction projects.
President Shepard also summarized the various requests the university is making of the 2024 legislative session, including increased faculty and staff salaries and capital requests for a new Career Technical Education Center, a new building for the New Mexico Center of Excellence for Early Childhood Education, and carbon neutrality initiatives.
Dr. Shepard yielded some of his time to Dr. Manzanarez, who provided updates to the board on the university’s international initiatives. WNMU currently has Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with 81 international institutions, including 16 indigenous universities in Mexico. “As far as I know,” said Manzanarez, “we are the only university in the United States that has formed a consortium with all those universities in Mexico.”
WNMU also has 25 MOUs with a number of U.S-based community colleges, according to Manzanarez.
Under new business and as a point of information, Hotvedt asked Shepard to explain how the WNMU Strategic Plan is used for budget planning and assessment. The board reaffirmed their commitment to the current Strategic Plan.
“I believe that using the Strategic Plan as a specific metric for measuring Dr. Shepard’s performance and the performance of the university is a valid method, because it allows us really very detailed metrics against which we hold him accountable and hold ourselves accountable,” said Regent Haviland, “It is also the metric against which we judge the budget and the budget’s allocation and execution.”
Following a recommendation from Dr. Shepard, the board voted to approve a review the university’s policies and procedures at all levels of the university, including the board’s policies and procedures. “I understand that the travel policy in its current form actually predates President Shepard’s tenure,” said Regent Moellenberg, “I think it is a good time to review it.”
Also under new business, the board voted to reaffirm the university’s commitment to international partnerships, and it voted to continue international travel in light of this commitment.
Noting that the meeting was well attended and she understood many people present wanted to comment on recent university news coverage, Regent Chair Hotvedt suspended the usual order of business to allow for public comments before turning to financial business.
While one community member spoke critically of WNMU President Shepard, numerous people from the university and the broader community spoke in support of Dr. Shepard’s leadership. Local accountant, business owner and former Silver City Mayor Mike Morones praised Shepard’s efforts to improve the connections between the university and the town. “The relationships between the university and the town of Silver City … are so vastly improved over my lifetime here,” he said.
Under financial business, Vice President for Business Affairs Kelley Riddle informed the board that while Fiscal Year 23 Audit Report has been submitted, the Office of the State Auditor had not yet authorized the university to release the Audit Report, so action on that item was tabled. She then presented the Quarterly Financial Certification for the second quarter of the current fiscal year, which the board approved.
The board also approved a Capital Project Transmittal to demolish three university-owned residential properties that are in hazardous conditions and the cost to renovate exceeded cost benefit.
The Board of Regents will next meet in March or April at a date to be determined.