A Western New Mexico University Board of Regents approved the possible addition of 20 new degree programs, accepted a donation of property, and passed the mid-year budget adjustment request, the first quarter financial certification, and a revised version of the Five-Year Capital Outlay Projects document, also hearing updates from campus leaders during their meeting on Thursday, December 12, on campus.

Dr. Jack Crocker, WNMU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, presented the five-year degree plan, which includes three new master’s programs, baccalaureate degrees in outdoor leadership studies and political science, five new minors, several certificates and Applied Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees.

WNMU Vice President for Business Affairs Kelley Riddle presented the Mid-Year Budget Adjustment Request for Fiscal Year 2020, Fiscal Year 2020 Quarter 1 Financial Certification and Revised Five-Year Capital Outlay Projects and Institutional Capital Projects and Infrastructure Projects, all of which the regents approved unanimously.

The regents also voted to accept a donation of property from a group known as Lucky Strike. President Dr. Joseph Shepard said the donors are extremely generous. “Their interest is in tying in the Continental Divide Trail with a Spur Trail. From our standpoint, we look at it from an outdoor rec perspective.”

The regents voted to bestow WNMU fall 2019 commencement speaker James R. Smith an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. “Jim Smith is an institution within an institution,” Regent Jerry Walz said.

In Old Business, the regents were provided with a draft of the university president’s performance evaluation for consideration before the January meeting. “This is changing the president’s evaluation form from a slightly more general form to one that’s deeply tied to short term goals that we want to achieve within the strategic plan,” Regent Dr. Mary Hotvedt said.

The WNMU Board of Regents will meet next on January 30 in Santa Fe.