Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Regents of the University of New Mexico

February 17, 2007, 9:00 a.m.
Student Union Building, Sandia Room

The Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico met in Special Session on Saturday, February 17, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. in the Student Union Building Sandia Room on the campus of the University of New Mexico. Monday, January 22, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in the Regent’s Conference Room, in Scholes Hall on the campus of the University of New Mexico.

Attending:
Regent James Koch, President
Regent Jack Fortner, Vice President
Regent Carolyn Abeita
Regent Raymond Sanchez
Regent John “Mel” Eaves
Regent Don Chalmers
Regent Dahlia Dorman
Sandra Begay-Campbell
Rosalyn Nguyen

Regent Koch called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. A quorum was established. A motion to adopt the agenda was made and seconded, and unanimously approved.

(1st Koch, 2nd Eaves).

A motion to close the meeting to discuss limited personnel matters pursuant to Section 10-15-1, H (2), NMSA, 1978, relating to the selection of the President of the University was made and seconded, and unanimously approved at 9:01 a.m. (1 st Koch, 2 nd Eaves)

At 12:04 p.m. a motion was made and seconded, and unanimously approved, to re-open the meeting and certify that only those matters described in Agenda item 2, relating to the selection of the President of the University, were discussed in Executive Session. (1st Fortner, 2nd Sanchez)

Regent Koch voiced the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Regents to select Dr. David Schmidly as the 20th President of the University of New Mexico. The roll was called to vote for Dr. Schmidly as President.

Regent Koch, yes; Regent Fortner, yes; Regent Eaves, yes; Regent Sanchez, yes;

Regent Chalmers, yes; Regent Abeita, yes; Regent Dorman, yes.

A motion to select Dr. David Schmidly as the 20 th President of the University of New Mexico was approved unanimously. (1st Koch, 2nd Fortner).

Comments:

After tabulating votes and comments from all of the forums, Regent Koch said that 91% of the UNM constituents who participated in the forums favored Dr. Schmidly. We look forward to a dynamic presidency.

Regent Koch thanked the staff involved in the Search including Interim VP of Human Resources, Carolyn Thompson, Kevin Stevenson, President’s Staff, Dr. Breda Bova, Senior Advisor to the President, the Human Resources Staff, Student Union Building Staff, and the Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Regent Raymond Sanchez, and Regent members Sandra Begay-Campbell and John “Mel” Eaves. The Search Committee included 22 members, and was a balanced representation of the New Mexico and UNM communities.

Regent Fortner noted that the Deans and University Community supported the five candidates as a whole. I have been on the Board of Regents for 9 years, since 1998, through the terms of President Gordon, Garcia, Caldera and Harris. This search process has been open, fair, and the candidates met with all who asked to meet. We received a lot of opinions. We are at a critical point in UNM’s history. We did not have an inside candidate. Acting President David Harris has done a great job. The Regents were looking for a candidate with experience in higher education, health sciences, research, athletics, and capital campaigns. This is our opportunity to select a sitting president from a major university. There will be no need for on the job training, Dr. Schmidly will step right in.

Regent Eaves provided explanation of the locked box use to gather input from each University constituency at every interview process, including Executive Cabinet, Staff, Faculty, and Students. These are actual votes, and are significant because they reflect individual reactions.

Regent Sanchez noted the process was open; we are pleased with the process, and the results and recommendations provided by the Search Committee. Dr. Schmidly met all criteria and has expressed a commitment to diversity development of administration, faculty, staff and students. Dr. Schmidly knows the Southwest, and is very interested in learning more about New Mexico. I thank Regent Koch for the honor to serve as Chair of the Search Committee whose recommendations helped the Regents to finalize a leader with vision, experience, and ties to New Mexico. It all came together.

Sandra Begay-Campbell reported that the process was fair and open, and appreciated being included in the special meeting together with Rosalyn Nguyen. As a member of the Search Committee, and former Regent, I have given an opinion, but no vote. Dr. Schmidly is a taxpayer of New Mexico, and he will listen and have ties to all parts of New Mexico. He is a leader. Thank you to Regent Koch for including former Regents as part of this historic meeting.

Rosalyn Nguyen said I agree with Sandra, and am happy to participate, and also echo what the Board of Regents has stated regarding this spectacular candidate, who has a commitment to minorities and women. Dr. Schmidly has a good track record, and will be positive for UNM.

Regent Eaves noted how striking the unanimity behind the decision is. 22 Search Committee members came to the same conclusion we came to today. Campus interviews showed support for Dr. Schmidly: Deans, 100%; Executive Cabinet, 100%; HSC Administration and Clinics, 100%, HSC Open Forums, 91%, Staff, 87%; Students, 89%, Faculty, 71%. The numbers are compelling. Each candidate had separate interviews with the Regents and Dr. Schmidly was the best choice. Unanimous is the key and there was tremendous support on the UNM campus for Dr. Schmidly. He is the only candidate that is a complete package, and rill require no on the job training, has roots in New Mexico, and fits the bill we described exactly.

Regent Chalmers echoed the process that Regent Koch and Regent Sanchez initiated. It went off flawlessly, was an arduous task, but was inclusive, and at the end of the day, it worked. We are in total agreement about the best of five wonderful candidates, and the one who stood above the rest. Dr. Schmidly’s experience, service as a division one president including a medical center, research, and lives here. He has a vision of where UNM can go to a higher level recognizing the great strengths UNM has and that it will take dollars and a track record at raising dollars to get there. I look forward to a successful presidency.

Regent Abeita reported I joined the end of this search process as an incoming Regent. I commend everyone for the open process. I did have concerns regarding diversity. All five candidates had strengths, but the total view Dr. Schmidly has including the quality and leadership are excellent. I look forward to working with him on the work to be done, and the positive changes to be implemented.

Student Regent Dorman noted that I too came into the process at the end, as incoming Student Regent. I commend the Search Committee for identifying five quality candidates, and for the strength of the process, including the open forums. Dr. Schmidly’s experience as a sitting president will enable him to hit the ground running, and provide the stability UNM needs. As a minority woman, his record in supporting minorities recommends him.

Regent Koch said in closing, all Regents and University personnel had an opportunity to attend interviews for all candidates. I went to every single candidate interview and every campus forum. It has been an open process. Without any question we have a 91% approval rate for Dr. Schmidly and we look forward to a dynamic presidency. I want to thank the Regents.

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:28 p.m. was unanimously approved. (1 st Koch, 2 nd Eaves)