100% of increase in tuition to go toward scholarships and on-campus student work opportunities

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents met in regular session this morning, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014.

The first item of business was to review the date for the next meeting. The regents annually meet in Santa Fe during the legislative session. The date set was Jan. 29, 2015, at Gallagher and Kennedy offices near the Round House. The date was chosen, according to WNMU President Joseph Shepard, because the previous day is Grant County Day at the Legislature, and the Prospectors' reception is the evening of Jan. 28, so area representatives would be in town.

Miguel Narvaez, representing the International Studies Program, said the program began last August to push the university into a global presence. With more virtual classes available, Western is in a good position to take advantage of an increasingly global economy.

The program's first objective is to create a presence in the global community, to identify and coordinate new opportunities, attract new resources, create new models for funding, offer opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, and bring more foreign students to the U.S.

He cited a statistic that being bilingual can add 50 percent to salaries, which is one reason to push to get Western's students involved.

Narvaez said the program also provides assistance to foreign students and faculty on campus.

The program is one of 16 in the U.S. involved in the Global Education Consortium and is trying to become part of the International Academic Partnership.

Western was selected for the GEC because of its proximity to the border.

"We have more than 140 students here right now learning English on campus," Narvaez said. "We are pushing internationalization. We also have a collaboration with a university in France with the College of Education."

He said the program is developing its own academic programs. "Our students are asking about opportunities for them to go abroad."

Western has signed 12 memoranda of understanding, with another eight in progress. The program is looking at sending students and faculty across borders.

Manuel Rodriguez is director of Western's Language Institute, which he said provides intensive language training for students. It also offers Spanish language training for medical and other professions at the Deming campus.

The program has classes in Silver City, Deming and Columbus, NM, as well as three campuses in Mexico, including one in Sinaloa and one in Ciudad Juarez.

He cited the revenues from the programs at almost half a million dollars.

Regent Tony Trujillo said he has long advocated Western's proximity to the border as an opportunity.

Regent Chairwoman Janice Baca-Argabright said she found the program impressive and that "Western should be proud to be a part of it."

Gabby Begay, president of student government, said the group has been busy. A symposium was held, which involved students from La Plata Middle School, Silver High School, and a school in El Paso, Texas.

"We sponsored a tailgate at the last football game," she said. "We held an event at McDonald's to raise money for scholarships. We presented at the Prospectors Legislative Communication Forum requesting $500,000 for security cameras across campus."

She also noted the bylaws have been revised, and student fee packets sent out.

Trujillo commended Begay and her group for the professionalism of their presentation at the forum. "I'll offer my help in Santa Fe."

Donna Rees, Staff Senate president said: "To say the Senate has been dynamic in the past six months is an understatement. The president resigned and two more vacancies occurred. We are electing a new Staff Senate president and three new senators we will swear in on Jan. 7. On behalf of the staff, I want to thank Dr. Shepard for the opportunities to meet with the candidates for the vice president of business affairs. I think Dr. Findley will do a good job."

Sherry Bassi, Faculty Senate vice president, said the faculty has worked with Shepard and Jack Crocker collaboratively in the program prioritization process.

"Every faculty member had input," Bassi said. "I leave Dr. Camacho's report for you, and I will answer any questions. Program prioritization is in the office of the president. At the department level, the faculty senate had five core questions."

Shepard said he thought the faculty members were underestimating their role in the process. They looked at every program. "They challenged us at every step, but in a positive way. I compliment the faculty members for keeping things on task. It's about lives and jobs."

Basso said Shepard and Crocker made themselves available at every Faculty Senate meeting and answered questions.

Vice president of external affairs Magdaleno Manzanares said Shepard asked him to oversee the Applied Technology, which has a new chairman, James Ortiz.

Manzanares reported the department had received a $50,000 grant and this year was offered $60,000 and then asked if the department could use $100,000 more.

Assistant Vice President of Business Affairs Kelley Riddle gave the budget report. She said actual revenues are better than budgeted, and expenditures are about the same as the budget. "However, we are not making the 3 percent minimum fund balance, but we should be OK at the end of the year, because we have time to get there."

Shepard said the university pays close attention to that number. "We have $2.9 million in reserve, and can move money from the reserve if we have to. About $12.7 million has been spent and we're almost halfway through the year. As I see it, I'm comfortable with the numbers, but we need to hold tight until we achieve our goals."

Trujillo asked if the big driver is student enrollment.

"Student enrollment and state payments, which are lagging," Shepard said. "Our enrollment is very similar to last year, with 70 fewer students."

Assistant vice president of Business Affairs Stan Peña said, in capital projects, the university is celebrating Phase II of Light Hall, which is giving great benefits. "We are moving into Phase III, preparing to renovate classrooms. Jaynes Corp. is moving along. Faculty and classes are moving to other sites on campus. The student recreational facility is also moving ahead, with the maximum allowable price of $2.7 million. We will finish $1.2 million of a past general obligation bond, moving into summer, before the new general obligation bonds begin."

Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Jack Crocker said he wanted to go over two items. "I want to give you the process for the program prioritization. It points out the collaboration that occurred. As Shepard said to me, he would have rather not had to go there, but it was necessary. We used quantitative, where we looked at data for every program, and qualitative, where we asked how did the program start, what is it doing, is it doing what it should be doing and if not, what can be done."

"We added program enhancement to the mix," Shepard said. "What is the future of the program? That added a lot of valuable input."

Crocker held up a large notebook holding the data on every academic program. "As you know data can be questioned. Every department had a chance to clarify the data. Each department gave a written review answering the five questions. We, Dr. Shepard and I, each met with each department and were able to discuss the reports. On Nov. 11, he sent a reply to each department. They were red, yellow and green. The red showed the data needed wasn't there, so the program should be discontinued or removed. Yellow programs were in need of further review. Green programs are doing well, but always have room for improvement. Dr. Shepard instructed us to create a website to access all the information. I would like to thank the faculty and faculty Senate. It was a defined process that has taken place."

"The other item is looking at reducing the number of hours needed for a degree," Crocker said. "We need to make handbook changes and it will be changed to a minimum of 120 hours, from what was 128 hours, for most degrees. Student Affairs and Business Services also presented a report on program prioritization."

Foundation Executive Director Vance Redfern said, during the past year, the foundation has increased its assets by 17.6 percent to just under $8 million. At the gala, more than $20,000 was raised for student scholarships. The next fundraiser will be the Masquerade Ball on April 11.

He said the audits had had no findings for nine years in a row.

"I am retiring, and the next director will report directly to the president," Redferm said.

Regent Jerry Walz thanked Redfern for his knowledge and dedication. Trujillo said the foundation has been an incredible, integral part of the university. "I appreciate what you've done."

Student Regent Camille Hawkins said: "Because of your foundation, we've had scholarships."

Shepard noted that when Redfern came on board, clean audits were not being delivered. "You have built trust. The donors want to know where their donations are going."

Shepard also announced the new Business Affairs Vice President Brenda Findley would start work at the beginning of the New Year. She comes from the University of North Georgia.

"Today is graduation for more than 200 graduates," Shepard said. "Lt. Gov. John Sanchez will be the speaker. During the past year, we have done program prioritization, balanced the budget, and perhaps most importantly, we have received affirmation of the accreditation process. We are moving to an open process, which we are allowed to follow for 10 years. We have to be continuing to improve. I want to thank the voters for approving the GO bonds, which bring about $6 million to Western, $2 million of which will go to the museum for much needed renovation. The fitness center is coming along, although we may have to push the volleyball and basketball facility to the future. I want to compliment your crew, Mr. Peña, for making the campus look good.

"As most of you know, this past semester, I have taught remedial math," Shepard said. "The greatest accomplishment is to watch students move to the next level. It's about education, don't forget."

In new business, Shepard spoke about the tuition increase and the tuition guarantee together, although they were approved separately.

"Too many schools do their tuition raises in April or May," Shepard said. "I think parents and students should know now so they can plan for next year. I'm asking for a 5 percent increase in in-state tuition. We are one of the universities with the lowest amount of scholarships and the lowest amount of jobs. 100 percent of this increase will go toward scholarships or job opportunities, which will provide $350,000 in less bad debt that is not paid back. We want to recruit and retain the best and brightest. Note this is just tuition, not student fees, which will be determined in February or March."

He said the university had an unmodified audit report, which is the best that can be received, "but the auditors were interested in how we structure our debt. We're dividing tuition and fees. The 5 percent increase for instate tuition will still have us substantially below the national average. Our out-of-state tuition is higher than other peer universities, but out-of-state students do pay instate tuition for 1-6 credit hours."

Shepard then talked about the tuition guarantee. "If you work hard, you won't see another tuition increase during your time at Western. You must take 15 credit hours a semester or 30 over a year, including summer sessions. As long as you take that many, your tuition will not go up. At the graduate level, it will be nine hours a semester or 18 per year to keep tuition from going up."

Walz asked if there would be ample resources for loans and instate scholarships.

"100 percent of the increase will go to scholarships," Shepard said. "Now we have direct lending from the federal government. During the recession, students took out higher loans than they needed, and now we have a 28 percent default rate. But with this tuition increase, we will also have more job opportunities on campus."

Trujillo said he has always maintained that Western has to be affordable. "To see the increase go back to scholarships and to guarantee the tuition is outstanding. Parents and students can plan ahead."

Crocker presented two sabbatical leave requests. "Manda Jost of natural sciences is working on a textbook, and Ann Harvey in education has done outstanding reading research and is also planning a textbook."

The sabbaticals were approved.

Riddle presented an asset disposal request with a value of $102,476 in 2001-2010 computers.

During the regents' information session, Associate Professor of Spanish Maria E. Trillo said she was coming to request support for students who want to study Spanish at the major and minor level as well as at the Master's degree level.

"We received red in the program prioritization," Trillo said. "In 2014, we have five new majors in Spanish. One scholarship dried up, but we have a new one from Casa de la Cultura. We have three new students in interdisciplinary studies at the master's level. You will guarantee low enrollment for those trying to graduate this year. One is a Fullbright scholar, one is doing research in Spain and one is trying for credentials in the U.S. from Mexico. We have only one full-time faculty member. Please support those trying to finish their degrees. It is difficult for people to find our programs."

Baca-Argabright thanked Trillo for bringing the issue to the regents' attention.

The regents then took turns congratulating the graduates and wishing happy holidays to those gathered. They left to attend an announcement from Lt. Gov. John Sanchez.