MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
March 12, 2007
9:00 a.m. – noon, Student Union Building Ballroom A
Regent Luncheon noon – 1:00 p.m. Sandia Room
ATTENDANCE:
Regents present:
James H. Koch, President
Jack Fortner, Vice President
Carolyn Abeita, Secretary-Treasurer
John “Mel” Eaves
Raymond Sanchez
Don Chalmers
Student Regent Dahlia Dorman
Acting President present:
David Harris
Incoming President present:
Dr. David J. Schmidly
Vice Presidents present:
Dr. Paul Roth, Executive Vice President, Health Sciences Center
Reed Dasenbrock, Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs
Michael Kingan, Vice President of Advancement
Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, Vice president of Student Affairs
Carolyn Thompson, Interim Vice President Human Resources
Vice Presidents unable to attend:
Terry Yates, Vice President, R & D
University Counsel present:
Patrick Apodaca, University Counsel
Regents’ Advisors present:
Virginia Shipman, Faculty Senate
Vanessa Shields, President-Elect, Staff Counsel
Joseph Garcia, President, GPSA
Brittany Jaeger, President, ASUNM
John Garcia for Roberto Ortega, President, UNM Alumni Association
Robert Bovinette, Chair, UNM Foundation
Others in attendance:
Members of the administration, faculty, staff, students, the media and others.
Regent Koch presided over the meeting and called the meeting to order at 9:05am.
CONFORMATION OF QUORUM and APOPTION OF AGENDA, Regent Koch
Motion approved unanimously to adopt today’s agenda and confirm a quorum (1 st Chalmers, 2 nd Eaves).
APPROVAL OF SUMMARIZED MINUTES of the February 14, 2007 UNM BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING and the SPECIAL MEETINGS February 17 and February 23, 2007
Motion approved unanimously to approve the Summarized Minutes of the February 14, 2007 UNM Board of Regents meeting and the Special Meetings February 17 and February 23, 2007. (1 st Sanchez, 2 nd Abeita ).
ELECTION OF 2007-08 OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS
Motion approved unanimously to elect James H. Koch as President of the Board of Regents; Jack L. Fortner as Vice President of the Board of Regents; Carolyn J. Abeita as Secretary Treasurer. (1 st Eaves, 2 nd Fortner )
ADOPTION OF BOARD OF REGENTS 2007 MEETING AND COMMITTEE SCHEDULE
Motion approved unanimously to adopt the Board of Regents 2007 Meeting and Committee Schedule (1 st Koch, 2 nd Fortner)
Regent Koch noted that on the outside Boards, Carolyn Abeita serves on Carrie Tingley Advisory Board, Jack Fortner serves on Clinical Operations Board, Mel Eaves serves on the Sandia Foundation, and Don Chalmers agreed to serve on Lobo Energy Board.
The BOR Committee Meeting schedule is for your approval. There was no discussion, and the schedule was approved.
ADOPTION OF POLICY CONCERNING PUBLIC NOTICE OF REGENTS’ MEETINGS
Motion approved unanimously to approve the resolution determining Annual Notice Requirements for Board of Regents Meetings. The Board hereby determines that the notice requirements for meetings of the Board as set forth in Regents’ Policy 1.3, Sections 2, 3, 4, are reasonable when applied to this Board. The Board hereby reaffirms and ratifies the provisions of Regents’ Policy 1.3, Sections 2, 3, and 4 in all other respects.
(1 st Eaves, 2 nd Sanchez) University Counsel Patrick Apodaca provided background information as related tothe New Mexico Open Meetings Act.
INTRODUCTION OF PRESIDENT DAVID J. SCHMIDLY, Regent Koch
Regent Koch introduced incoming President David J. Schmidly and noted that
all of you know it is obvious we have hired someone who starts June 1 st, 2007 with a great deal of experience at Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and really has the knowledge and background to run a university like this. It is obvious to me that the choice we made was outstanding. He has already communicated with the students, faculty, and staff. He has a transition team, and keeps Regents informed on what he is doing via email. We are so fortunate that we chose a person like David Schmidly and it is obvious to me that we
have that person here today, he is not supposed to start until June 1 st, but he is here today
He knows how to run a university. I am looking forward to following his leadership, and I know the other Regents are as well. We are going to learn a lot, because a lot of us on the Regents are not always that well informed on Higher Education, and now we have a true leader who we can follow, take direction from. It is exciting to me, I gave him a list of people to call, and he called. In the legislature to help UNM, and we have a person who understands how to do these things, we are fortunate. This is the first Regents Meeting he has come to, and maybe we won’t have to have any more Regents meetings, we can just retire from this, but I wanted to say how fortunate we are. We have a signed contract. We welcome you and we appreciate this being the first meeting you came to, and we look forward to having a lot of fun.
I present Dr. David J.Schmidly.
Introduction of President David J. Schmidly
Dr. Schmidly responded he is very humbled by this opportunity. I look forward to working with everyone. You have such a great community here, a great university, every day I discover more positives about the University of New Mexico. For me, I am coming home, this is the only place I own a home now, and you will have a hard time getting me out of here. With a little luck maybe I can be as successful as Coach Flanagan and Coach, I want to add my sincere congratulations to you and your team, and I really appreciate your comments about these young women being student athletes, I think that is so very important that they perform as well in class as they do on the court. And if we all do our jobs as well as you have Coach, we are going to have quite a University here. Let me just say that I am wearing my Lobo tie today, and that it has come full circle for me.
I was a Lobo in high school, so I am coming back to red as my primary color, so I am excited about that and I am looking forward to working with everyone, to building a good team. You build a good university just like you build a good basketball team, and the key
word is team. That means Regents, everybody in the administration, faculty staff, students, all of us working together on one common purpose. There really is only one purpose, we are here to serve students, and this University is about students. If we keep that in mind, and do our business in the right fashion, then we will succeed.
Thank you, I am glad to be here.
INTRODUCTION OF COACH DON FLANAGAN, Regent Koch
Regent Koch commended Coach Don Flanagan for the outstanding job he has done for UNM, and Regent Eaves also commended Coach for all his good work for UNM student athletes. Notes it seems like you are here every year for an award for the great job you
do for women’s basketball. You are the only Coach to receive the Regents’ Award,
and I do not know what else we could give you, but maybe we have to figure something out. You are a great coach, mentor, leader and it is so much fun to watch you coach.
The audience clapped for Coach Flanagan. It is the effectiveness of the coach when
times are tough that make a real team. Regent Eaves joined Regent Koch in honoring Coach Flanagan who then thanked the Regents, noting he had a great group of student athletes. “Congratulations to our team”! Dr. Breda Bova was with us, giving our students exams they were required to take, she was very busy keeping our students good academics and athletes. I also have a great coaching staff, and there is a lot of work that
goes into these games. I appreciate all the support from the Regents, UNM community and Albuquerque community. Regent Eaves noted he has been at all the games, and I want to say that Don is really a treasure. He is the most successful coach I have seen,
and it is hard to compare you with anyone else. He tells the students what they have done right. He knows how to recruit, and has a pipeline going to keep the team strong.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT, David Harris, Acting President
Saturday, will conclude the 2007 Legislative Session. HB 2 already sits on the Governor’s desk. Capital Outlay Numbers will be known today or tomorrow,
and we are already busy at work on our Budget Summit, scheduled for March 30. We have briefed President Schmidly this morning. We are generally doing very well
financially at both main campus and health sciences and generally the budget picture for next year looks pretty rosy.
APPOINTMENT OF Dr. Breda Bova as CHAIR, PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION COMMITTEE, Regent Koch
Motion approved unanimously to approve the appointment of Dr. Breda Bova as Chair, Presidential Inauguration Committee. (1 st Koch, 2 nd Abeita)
Breda Bova thanked Regent Koch, and noted that she and Dr. Schmidly will be meeting to discuss plans for the inauguration and will get back to the Regents at the next meeting. It will be a campus wide event including all constituencies, Popejoy is confirmed for Sundays in September, and we are reviewing protocols. Regent Koch expressed his appreciation to Dr. Bova for taking this assignment on, and we look forward to participating.
APPOINTMENT OF JERRY GEIST TO LOBO ENERGY BOARD
Motion approved unanimously to appoint Jerry Geist to the Lobo Energy Board.
(1 st Eaves, 2 nd Chalmers)
Don Chalmers recommended Jerry Geist, noting how qualified Mr. Geist is to serve.
COMMENTS FROM REGENTS ADVISORS
Virginia Shipman, Faculty Senate
to meeting with him when he is on campus. We are working on a more meaningful reorganization of our sub-committees.
Vanessa Shields, President Elect, Staff Council
Entering new territory with the use of web casts, most recently demonstrated
at Dr. Schmidly’s web cast meeting with students, and now staff.
Resolution 2007 #1 has been passed by UNM Staff Council addressing a smoke-free campus policy. It was approved, and re request that our recommendations be considered as UNM moves forward with decisions as they relate to this policy. We have also decided to participate in ASUNM Spring Storm. We are in electronic election phase coming up. We are gathering our information in preparation for the Budget Summit 3/30. Regent Koch noted we have advisors so they can participate in our meeting, and that you come, and on a regular basis and the Regents want and value your input.
Joseph Garcia, President, GPSA
Today the GPSA has great news. This past Friday the Legislature voted for statewide breastfeeding initiative HB 613 Breast Pump in the workplace law that was signed on Saturday by Governor Richardson. This initiative began as a GPSA Resolution. Lissa Knudson, a Graduate Student in Communications and Journalism and countless others including myself worked hard toward this. We also passed resolutions such as: promotion of a family friendly campus that goes hand in hand with the Breastfeeding initiative calling for improved benefits for graduate students. In addition to the Renewable Energy /sustainable use of resources at UNM connected to a Graduate student housing resolution calling on the University to make a concerted effort to consider graduate housing along with the comprehensive housing effort. We are currently authoring a safety and security resolution in support of improvements that support our UNM Police in their efforts to update and improve infrastructure. This is tied to a resolution supporting the revision of the Master Plan that includes a comprehensive/holistic approach to housing and most specifically with improved infrastructure comes improved student, faculty and staff performance, and thus increases enrollment.
Final points deal with access to higher education for people of color. This past Saturday I was at the Legislature testifying supporting a graduate student proposed (Louis Martinez, Water Resource Program) Graduate Student low interest loan to provide greater access to graduate and professional study, SB 832. We were unsuccessful, but this led to a question from Senator Rawson who asked, is it still the situation that most students are recommended to attend graduate and professional school out of state? I mentioned we had a Teleconference with Dr. Schmidly about this topic, and he supports changing the academic culture at UNM, bearing in mind the sociocultural/socioeconomic history of NM whereby people prefer remaining in NM, and that for many it may not be economically feasible to go elsewhere to study. Senator Rawson, who asked the question, stated that he saw that there was a need to change the academic culture of our state universities to promote graduate study by people from NM.
Finally, I would like to thank Amy Wohlert, who carries many responsibilities including Vice Provost, Dean of Graduate Studies and to support her efforts at creating more graduate assistantships to promote a more diverse graduate and professional student population at UNM. The GPSA always seeks a cooperative working relationship with the Regents. Regent Koch asked if GPSA was working on the no-smoking ban, Joseph Garcia replied not at this time. Regent Koch suggested that GPSA work with staff council to see their position. We would like to use graduate students to recruit undergraduates. We have worked with Pam Agoyo for candidates, and we are asking for your support. Graduate school enrollment is dropping, we all have the goal to increase minority graduate student enrollment. GPSA would like to work with you to achieve these goals.
Regent Koch was told our graduate enrollment was down, and we have been talking about this a long time now. We met with other universities to identify graduate students, met with President St. Johns. Enrollment has been flat, I agree with you, and thank you for your recommendations. Our freshman enrollment has been flat too.
Doug Rock-Macqueen, undergraduate, ASUNM spoke about Spring Storm service event, and Isaac Padilla, Ph.D. student, Economics, spoke about graduate recruitment.
Brittany Jaeger, President, ASUNM
There was low turnout at candidate forums, but we are interested. The web cast production was very well attended by both ASUNM and GPSA.
David Harris added that Legislature HB 2, effort was launched to do 1.5% tuition credit, but we were able to convince them not to do tuition credit this year. In a year it would most unfortunate not to have a tax increase on students. I am pleased we were able to succeed in this effort. Regent Koch noted the legislative team including ASUNM lobbyist who did very well for ASUNM.
John Garcia, representing the President, UNM Alumni Association
Regent Eaves commended Karen Abrahams, Alumni for always doing a great job and especially in the pep rally prior to the game.
Regent Koch noted that the Advisors wanted to participate, and that is why
it is important you are here, and participate and being a good advisor.
Robert Bovinette, Chair, UNM Foundation
Regent Koch noted he gave Dr. Schmidly all Foundation information for his review, since he has intensive experience. Referring to your letter to the Regents; we may not need an advisor from your group, we need a consistent person to participate at every meeting. Dr. Schimdly will review the Foundation agreement, process. Regent Koch noted I have not responded to your letter until following this review process. We want advisors to participate, not have different people come very time.
COMMENTS FROM REGENTS
Regent Koch thanked Regent Raymond Sanchez for his participation as a Regent, and noted that even though he has other clients he has been a staunch supporter of UNM in the legislative process this session. Regent Koch thanked Regent Sanchez for the time he put in, and said many things have been successful because he was there in SF. It is important for UNM to have a Regent involved as much as Raymond is, and I thank you publicly. Regent Sanchez responded in thanks.
REGENT COMMITTEE REPORTS
ACADEMIC/STUDENT AFFAIRS & RESEARCH COMMITTEE, Regent Abeita
Motion approved unanimously to approve Dr. Scott W. Burchiel as the first chair holder for the DeSantis Chair in Pharmacogenomics at UNM. (1 st Sanchez, 2 nd Eaves)
Regent Sanchez recognized Nunzio DeSantis in the audience.
Motion approved unanimously to approve the Dual Status Masters in Public Health/MD Degree. (1 st Sanchez, 2 nd Eaves)
Motion approved unanimously to approve the Graduate Certificate in Instruction for Students with Intensive Social, Language and Behavioral Needs. (1 st Chalmers, 2 nd, Abeita)
Motion approved unanimously to approve the Associate Degree in Fine Arts-UNM Taos. (1 st Sanchez, 2 nd Dorman)
Motion approved unanimously to approve the UNM-Los Alamos Geographic Areas of Responsibility. (1 st Chalmers, 2 nd Eaves)
Motion approved unanimously to approve the UNM-Gallup Geographic Area of Responsibility (1 st Chalmers, 2 nd Eaves).
Motion approved unanimously to approve the UNM-Taos Geographic Area of Responsibility (1 st Chalmers, 2 nd Sanchez)
Motion approved unanimously to approve the UNM-Valencia Geographic Area of Responsibility. (1 st Chalmers, 2 nd Sanchez)
Motion approved unanimously to approve Honorary Degree Candidates (1 st Eaves, 2 nd Sanchez)
Larry J. Gordon, nominated to honor his long-term commitment to New Mexico the Southwest, and Nation through his leadership in public and environment health.
Frank I. Sanchez, nominated to honor his contributions to New Mexico and the Southwest in community organizing, political advocacy, philanthropy and public service.
Joe S. Sando, nominated to honor his contributions to Native American Studies, Pueblo history and the Spanish-Colonial history of the Southwest.
Information Items:
Enrollment Trends and Policy Issues, EVP and Provost Reed Dasenbrock.
(Report in book)
UNM enrollment is down slightly this year, and we project a slight increase, or flattening of enrollment. This is our current projection if we do nothing. Graduation of high school students is decreasing in NM. Rise in fees in the past years has had an impact. Tuition levels relate to tuition credit, which has led to the variable line on graph. Bridge scholarship for freshmen used to pay all costs, now $1000 cap. Success story numbers of students with the lottery have risen every year since 1997; we just hit a record number.
Students who continue to earn lottery, continue to graduate. But students not in lottery vary in graduation rate results. Success rate of lottery students is 94%. If they stay in lottery, they graduate. Most students are not in lottery, graduate students are not. Total number is really over 40%, and sections of those students, and those that never get lottery must be extremely low. Regent Chalmers requested a report those numbers and noted
that is an important number for us to understand to address how to improve that graduation success rate.
Non-credit and Master Degree Enrollment plummeted due to tuition. Staff has requested a more consistent tuition remission policy. We lose funds if we lose students, and there is a group of non-degree that we do not want to lose. Masters degree students have to be addressed as well. ASU wants to be at the top of the bottom 1/3 of schools re: tuition. We do not have a strategy about where we want to be in the market on tuition. We have set tuition each year in response to cost pressures, but we do not have a comprehensive position about where we want to be in the marketplace. We are slightly higher than NMSU, but we have not addressed marketing comprehensively. Out of state tuition is higher than our competitors. Our tuition is very low, but yet expensive for NM residents. We are cheaper than our peers, but cost is a real consideration for our students.
Do we set a policy when tuition is raise to use a % of increase for need based students? Demographics show perceptual decline in high school graduates until 2019, drop is occurring now. ACT takers are going down faster than high school graduates. This is the marker of potential applicants. This is the scariest statistic. Regent Eaves asked what affect for-profit higher education has had on public universities, they have been successful. For profit do not get the full-time freshmen. Regent Chalmers believes we can do significantly better, and cost is less, so it is a factor that applies. Market share of NM ACT takers, 17% in 2001, to 23%, is an increase. UNM gets a good share of these students.
Policy issues: Are we comfortable with retaining our market share? We will look to incoming President Schmidly for direction. We have not had clear policy direction. We have had strong 3 rd semester retention. Regent Fortner asked is the increase as a result of financial aid, is it real? Lottery students need to keep registered and maintain grades. Question is what other type of scholarships are available, and would incentive similar to consecutive semesters increase the graduate rate? We need to do a better job on the students who have lost the lottery. We started summer success scholarship to pay for one course, which has had positive results. A strategy is needed to address non-lottery students, to reach out, not just wait for those students to contact financial aid.
Regent Chalmers asked about scholarships available that are not used, noting there is private money out there for scholarship and we have to find, and market it. How can we affect policy to move these initiatives forward?
Regent Koch noted that the Provost has presented this information to Dr. Schmidly, and it will be up to him to review and bring back to Regents for recommendation. I expect we look to leadership from Dr. Schmidly on direction to solve these questions.
Graduation Task Force Report, Associate Provost Wynn Goering.
(Report in book)
The Graduate Task Force was charged to devise practical strategies to achieve degree completion at UNN, from basic freshmen to sophomore retention and graduation rates which are the two main indicators. We do well from freshmen to sophomore, but graduation rates are below benchmark numbers. By statute we report progress of students who begin as freshmen at UNM. In about 6 months when next data collected, it will be reported that graduation and retention rates are up. Understand that UNM graduations rates are not terrible. We graduate students at about the rate you expect students to graduate. However, we are not satisfied to be like everyone else, and we need to increase both our expectations and results.
Are the benchmarks we report for ourselves, the appropriate ones? UNM benchmarks have been in place for a number of years, and are approved by appropriate state agencies. We are proud to be a school with equal access to all students. Degree completion is our goal. Some things that get in the way of that access and completion are practical items, like schedules, billing, and support. UNM generates 32,000 bills for students and yet we are not organized to do it very well. UNM Registrar, Financial Aid and Bursar report to four different departments, and still we are surprised when students call to tell us they had trouble getting a straight answer and service. We need to address this problem. I am amazed that anyone other than a national merit scholar could actually negotiate this process.
Student preparation continues to be a major issue. We use networks to reach into high schools to let students know what they need to be prepared. Regent Fortner noted we have been talking about working with pre-college curriculum since I have been here. Do we need to reach into schools, go to the legislature? What do we need to do to get it done? We will work with our admission materials, networks. Regent Chalmers noted we as a society are accepting that students do not have to work in their senior year, just socialize. We need to change our expectations. Regent Koch presented a report showing how different states have addressed this issue, with different degrees, including technical, community college, or university. Dr. Vi Florez did this report for me, and I have given this to UNM representatives. I have provided information to the Regents as well. We cannot change this system, K-12, but we can convince them to have different degrees. Alabama and TX does it. I request that UNM look at that study for review. Other states have some alternatives. Degrees are varied, technical, community college, universities, and it is an option for us to address.
We cannot do substantial progress until we improve teaching and learning. Long term resource planning and commitment, which are approved by the Regents. UNM will need to implement hiring strategy to represent underrepresented groups. Faculty are the primary models for students. UNM will also need to develop a core of full-time professional appointments for faculty dedicated to teach students. We have to change our approach to staffing undergraduate education. Costs rise faster than revenues in higher education. Full time faculty secure to teach and make them secure. This is an emerging majority flagship institution; we have a unique student body. We need to invest in recruitment, retention, graduate rates and include support at student levels. (e.g. college enrichment levels) Regent Koch thanked Dr. Goering for providing this report.
FINANCE AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE, John “Mel” Eaves, Chair
The March meeting was cancelled, there is no report.
HSC – HEALTH SCIENCES, Jack Fortner, Chair
Motion approved unanimously to approve the Permanent Appointments and Reappointments for Medical Staff, 2/2/07 (1 st Chalmers 2 nd Abeita).
Motion approved unanimously to approve Carrie Tingley Hospital Advisory Board Appointments. (1 st Koch, 2 nd Sanchez)
Regent Carolyn Abeita was appointed by Regent Koch to be the Regent member.
Dr. Michael McCutcheon for a two-year term expiring 12/08 (replacing Dr. Cronin)
Eleanor Katherine Bratton for a two-year term expiring 3/09 (replacing Robert Levy)
Dr. Nancy Greger for a term to expire 12/08, as an additional member.
The Regents requested an update on Stem Cell Research at a future BOR meeting.
Information Items:
Note the dedication of the new Children’s Hospital, Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion will be held on Saturday, 3/31/06. The new facility will add 158 new UNMH employees.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Sara Koplik, President, North Campus Neighborhood Association
On behalf of the North Campus Neighborhood Association, I would like to formally request that you establish a hundred year conservation easement from the existing footprint of the North UNM Golf course and the area commonly known as the Barren Fairways. If an easement is granted, our association would strongly support the development of Lands West. Additionally, we would seek monies through both public and private sources for the rehabilitation and improvement of the North Golf Course, the Barren Fairways, and other facilities that UNM would continue to manage.
It is our belief that such an action would be wise for many reasons. Economically it would dramatically increase the value of properties to the west and south of the gold course. Currently this area is used for parking, maintenance and storage. It could quickly become highly desirable real estate. Environmentally this action would help to combat air pollution, Albuquerque’s heat island effect, and protect wildlife. Socially and politically, the establishment of a conservation easement is deeply popular, and would create an extraordinary amount of good will. Such an action would secure your place in history as a leader and visionary. We hope that you will protect and preserve the largest green space in the center of our city. This action would enable you to reach out to the future and establish a legacy cherished by our great-great-grand children. Petition for the UNM Golf Course signed by 696 people on Sunday, 2/25/07. Attachment House Memorial 23, introduced by Senator Danice Picraux.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion approved unanimously to adjourn at 11:43 a.m. The Regents adjourn to a Luncheon with Dr. David Schmidly. There is no Executive Session. (1 st Koch, 2 nd Sanchez)
________________________________ __________________________________
Regent James H. Koch, President Regent Carolyn J. Abeita, Secretary/Treasurer
File: Regent Minutes 3-12-07