Good morning. I hope you had a grand Thanksgiving holiday.

We had some outstanding news before the break. The New Mexico Board of Finance approved UNM’s 2007 institutional bond issue last week. This $143 million issue is focused on classroom modernization and academic facilities as well as renovation and improvements to the Pit and University Stadium. Our Board of Regents will be voting on bond approval December 6.

As we look forward to this bond issue, UNM’s finances are in fine shape. Bond rating agencies, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s, have given UNM a strong Aa3/AA rating. I’m asking our independent auditors to do a public presentation to the Regents on UNM’s 2007 finances. That could happen in January. I will also direct these auditors to undertake a long-term projection of the university’s future finances. I want everyone to be as confident as I am about the university’s financial future.

I am traveling to Mexico this week where I will have the distinct honor of keynoting the Latin American Conference of the International Association of University Presidents. I will talk about new strategies of finance and performance in higher education competitiveness. The conference is in Guadalajara.

If you’re like me, you have to work extra hard to stay healthy and not gain weight over the holidays. Lucky for us, UNM’s Employee Health Promotion Program will provide a boost to our best intentions. Starting this week, a program called “Maintain, Don’t Gain” will get employees through the next six weeks with special classes in nutrition, stress management and exercise. There will also be email tips to keep you motivated. For more information and to register, go to http://hr.unm.edu and click on EHPP, then Maintain, Don’t Gain. Good luck.

Finally, UNM’s holiday season kicks off this Friday night, November 30, with the traditional Hanging of the Greens. Join UNM carolers and enjoy the thousands of luminarias decorating campus thanks to Mortar Board and our student organizations. You’re also invited to stop by University House for a cup of posole and some hot chocolate. The festivities start at 6:00 p.m.

Have a great week.
David J. Schmidly

Good morning.
A number of us are headed up to the Farmington area today on the northwest leg of our statewide tour. On the way, we will stop at Jemez Pueblo for a meeting with Governor Gachupin and the Jemez Tribal Council as we renew and invigorate our partnerships with tribal leaders. UNM has a long-standing partnership with San Juan College, so we’ll be meeting with their leadership, and we’ll also tour the facilities housing our Extended University programs in Farmington. Round it out with a reception graciously hosted by Regent Jack Fortner, and this should be a long and productive day.

I was delighted to see the CNM expansion election win approval by substantial margins. This positive vote is vitally important to the future presence of UNM in Rio Rancho and signals an acceptance of the partnership we have forged with CNM. Congratulations to CNM President Kathie Winograd and her team on a job well done. This is just the beginning of the exciting future of higher education in Rio Rancho.

At last week’s Regents’ meeting, we were able to report good progress in a couple of major areas. Special consultant to the President Carolyn Thompson updated the Regents on the presidential work plan and reported that our work toward reaching the 12 goals set by the Regents is already 20% complete, with good progress being shown in 42% of the tactics and some progress being made in 23% of the others.

Interim Provost Vi Florez reported on significant progress in the research area. Comparing the July – October period from FY 2007 and FY 2008, we are showing a 26.7% increase in the number of proposals and a 12.4% increase in the number of awards. The value of the awards is also up 35.9%. That’s excellent news. You’ll recall that the Research Study Group listed a number of recommendations for the research area, and I’m pleased to report that five of the thirteen have been completed, while the rest are in progress. As you can see, we have listened to the recommendations of the faculty and they are paying off.

We’ve reached #5 on our list of “Five Important Things To Know About UNM.” UNM is going to be accountable. We vow to be transparent, for what we say is what we will do. We will be guided by the twelve Regents’ goals and continually mark our progress in achieving them with clear measurements. We will post a five-year report card that will tie our productivity and financial data back to those goals. Still to come, we will develop learning outcomes upon which we will measure our goal for student success. Being accountable will be everyone’s job. As Ernest Hemingway wrote in Green Hills of Africa – “Every damn thing is your own fault, if you’re any good.” I challenge everyone in our UNM community to be accountable in our work, our teaching and our studies.

It’s a short week. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
David J. Schmidly

Good morning.

I send greetings from New York City, where I’m joining our interim Provost and hundreds of our higher education colleagues for the annual conference of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges – NASULGC. Over the weekend, I attended the annual meeting of Urban Serving University Presidents, where we continue to explore our role in coming up with solutions to urban issues and ways to maximize urban strengths. On Wednesday, I’ll be in
Washington, DC, discussing UNM’s federal priorities with our Congressional delegation.

Back on campus, meanwhile, there is much to report. The “visioning charrette,” which is focused on updating UNM’s master plan, started yesterday and will continue through Wednesday afternoon when a final report will be made. Thanks to Architecture and Planning Dean Roger Schluntz for leading this timely effort.

Last week, I mentioned that the search for the UNM Provost is well underway. In addition to that national search, we have also launched the national searches for Vice President for Enrollment Management and Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, the leadership position growing out of our institutional diversity efforts.

We’ve also commenced a couple of internal searches for which the Provost is seeking applications from senior faculty as well as nominations. One is for the Acting Dean for Graduate Studies, which will be a two-year assignment while Dean Amy Wohlert focuses on her duties as interim dean of the Anderson School of Management. The second is for Acting Dean of University College. Dr. Peter White has announced his intention to return to the faculty. The acting dean’s duties will start in January 2008, with a national search planned for Fall 2008.

This week, faculty and staff can expect to receive a copy of UNM’s Drug-Free Campus policy. I urge you to read it and discuss with your colleagues UNM’s commitment to an environment that pursues its educational and research mission free of drugs and the illegal use of alcohol.

You have no doubt heard the debate over the proposed development of a portion of the North Golf Course property, which would support academic renovations listed in our upcoming institutional bond issue. The Regents have yet to take any action. However, we feel it is important for you to have the facts to date that can be found in this FAQ: http://www.unm.edu/president/NorthCourseFAQ.pdf

Finally, number four on our list of the “Five Important Things to Know About UNM” is that we are positioned to address the crucial priorities of the state and the nation. These are student success, research excellence, healthy communities, and economic and technology development. You will also recognize these as our major goal areas, around which we are aligning every aspect of this institution.

Remember to turn in your United Way pledge.

Have a good week.
David J. Schmidly

Good morning.

I’m pleased to report that the search for the Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs is well underway. In my opinion, this is the most important individual to be hired by this institution. More than anyone, the Provost provides critical leadership in all aspects of the university’s education, research and service missions. So it is important for all of us to pay attention to and get involved in the process.

The search committee, which is chaired by Dr. Julia Fulghum, is committed to bringing a highly qualified and diverse group of candidates to campus early next semester. Right now, I strongly encourage the faculty to submit nominations of people they think are qualified to provide academic leadership at UNM Here’s the Provost Search web site: http://www.unm.edu/president/provostsearch.html

One of the goals set for me by the Regents is to “review and refine the mission, vision, and strategic plan for the University of New Mexico.” To accomplish this and to ensure alignment of UNM’s many planning processes, we are working on a “Strategic Framework” that will serve to articulate, clarify and communicate who we are and what we aspire to be as a university.

I’ve asked Carolyn Thompson in her new role as Consultant to the President for Strategy and Goals to lead this initiative. I’m anticipating that we will have the basic framework designed by the end of this semester with opportunities for campus-wide engagement occurring in the spring.

If you haven’t yet sent in your United Way pledge form, please take a moment and do so now. We’re making a big push to reach our goal of $515,000 and 1,000 participants. Together, I know we can do it. Together, we will realize that “giving makes life better.” It all starts with you.

We’re up to #3 on the list of “Five Important Things To Know About UNM.” This university provides an outstanding ROI (return on investment) for New Mexico’s taxpayers. In UNM’s 2007-2008 budget of $1.84 billion, the recurring appropriation from the State is less than $350 million. So for every recurring $1 appropriated by the State, UNM leverages approximately $5. UNM also brings in nearly $300 million annually in outside funding for research. We have to leverage our resources in order to fulfill our commitment to our students, and we do so quite well.

Finally, it will be UNM Faculty, Staff and Branch Campus Day at the UNM-Colorado State game this Saturday, November 10. For the first time, faculty and staff can purchase discounted tickets for a single game - $7 for both adult and youth - at the Pit Ticket Office or at the UNM Bookstore. Game time is 1 p.m.

Have a great week.

David J. Schmidly