Good morning.

Today is launch day for UNM’s strategic framework rollout and the beginning of a series of campus engagement events that will get all of you talking about the mission, vision and values of this institution. The future begins today and we want you to be a part of it.

First, some housekeeping items: the link to the strategic framework on the President’s web page can be found at http://www.unm.edu/president/documents/Strategic_Framework.pdf, while our environmental assessment, which identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the university, can be found at http://www.unm.edu/president/documents/Environmental_Assessment.pdf.

These are the documents that will focus our discussions over the next several weeks. Later today, you will get an e-mail letter from me in which I talk about the framework and how it will help guide all of the planning each of your departments will undertake in the next few months. Finally, reserve April 8 from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on your calendar for a live web cast during which I will talk about how each of you can become engaged in and contribute to the strategic planning process.

As I mentioned last week, I want to focus our attention on ways I see us working together to achieve our vision for UNM’s future. This week, I’d like us to think about how our individual behaviors, and especially the ways we choose to treat our colleagues and our students, communicate so much about who we are as an institution.

All the fancy words in the world about our values will not replace a smile, a helping hand, a gesture of kindness, or a respectful attitude. Every encounter and conversation each of us has every day is an opportunity to live by our principles. I would like to challenge each of us to spend some time thinking about how we can bring our values to life through our interactions with each other every single day.

Last week, we introduced our new Provost, Suzanne Trager Ortega, who we’ll be seeing a number of times over the next few months as she prepares for her work here. I know you will join me in welcoming her. We’re also in the middle of campus interviews for the finalists for both Vice President for Enrollment Management and Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. Please take the time to meet these individuals. You can find out more about them at http://www.unm.edu/~market/cgi-bin/archives/002776.html#more and at http://www.unm.edu/~market/cgi-bin/archives/002778.html#more.

Finally, when the weather warms up this nicely, I start thinking about spending more time at the ballpark. Tomorrow night, April 1, is a grand opportunity for UNM students, faculty and staff to take in a baseball game. Our Lobo baseball team will play the Albuquerque Isotopes at Isotope Stadium beginning at 6:05 p.m. Show your valid UNM ID at the Isotopes box office and you can get in for only $3. Take the time to support our home teams and enjoy spring.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Good morning.

With the legislative session and the budget summit behind us, and our budgeting process well underway, it is now time to refocus on our longer-term vision for UNM’s future. Over the next weeks and months, everyone on campus will have the opportunity to learn about and become engaged with the Strategic Framework that will be guiding our work. My goal is to grow a culture that will inspire all of you – faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners.
Together we will connect with UNM’s mission, put our core values into action and enthusiastically contribute to achieving our vision. We will do so in the spirit of collegiality and trust. In the coming weeks, I plan to use my Monday morning message to share with you the ways I see us working together to create our future. It is a goal that will require our collective energies.

One of the ways to grow a culture of inspiration and enthusiasm is to celebrate our successes and good work. The Provost’s Committee for Staff is taking nominations for the outstanding staff awards – both individuals and work groups that exemplify University values and are dedicated to outstanding service. This is a great opportunity for you to recognize the contributions of your colleagues. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. this Friday, March 28, and should be submitted online at: http://www.unm.edu/~pcs/.

UNM Campus Police were recognized last Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officials for the great work of Ultra, the police dog. Last summer, Ultra helped the agencies find stolen explosives stashed on the West Mesa. Also, more kudos, as New Mexico’s Attorney General has selected UNM’s domestic violence policy as the model for the state. It has been sent to police departments and communities statewide as a good example to use as they create or modify their own policies.

Another of our Regents’ goals has been realized with the formal approval of the UNM Parent Association. Regent President Jamie Koch has signed a memorandum of understanding with the association that gives parents a voice in university governance. Parents have always been one of UNM’s key constituencies. Now we are giving them a formal role. To find out more about parent relations, go to: http://parent.unm.edu/.

Here’s a reminder to mark May 3 on your calendar. UNM Athletics is partnering with the American Cancer Society for the Coaches vs. Cancer Gala at the Embassy Suites. Athletics VP Paul Krebs, Coaches Steve Alford and Don Flanagan and their wives are chairing the event and invite you to join them for a grand evening. More details to come, but call soon to reserve tickets from the American Cancer Society at (505) 260-2105.

Thanks again to Lobo women and men for an exciting basketball season. Thanks also to our wonderful Lobo fans. You really rocked the Pit!

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Good morning and Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of you who are Irish or make claims to be for the day.

I want to take this time to thank all of you who have contributed to our budgeting process. It was gratifying to hear the really thoughtful ideas from faculty, staff and students that focus on helping our students succeed. I’ve had frank and insightful conversations with leaders and members from all of our constituencies. I understand and appreciate their issues and I’m confident that they understand the particular difficulties we face in crafting this year’s budget.

Last Wednesday, the Regents approved my recommendation for faculty and staff compensation, which was to give an average 2% increase to staff and 3% to faculty. Everyone on this campus appreciates the hard work of our staff. They comprise the engine that keeps this institution running. The University, however, is facing an immediate and serious problem – the loss of faculty. I appreciate how Staff Council President Vanessa Shields framed the discussion about compensation. The extra 1% for faculty compensation is the University’s effort to try to address issues of parity. I thank our staff for understanding that we have to do whatever we can to keep our faculty, even in rough economic times.

I thank our Regents for taking steps to compensate our lowest paid employees and to increase funding for our part time faculty and graduate assistants. We will also be working with the Regents to determine exactly what our unencumbered fund balances are. We will continue working on the goals the Regents have set for us without placing an undue burden on our students. I especially want to thank student leadership for again stepping up to the plate and realizing that the future strength of this institution depends in part on future tuition increases.

We will continue to do everything we can to provide the best possible compensation package for our faculty and staff. I’m pleased that our health benefits have stabilized, thanks to the diligent work of our HR folks. It is a tough year economically, and we’re doing the best we can. Our goal is to pay our employees as much as possible, knowing that it will never be what they truly deserve.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Good morning.

The search for UNM’s Provost is entering its final phase as we begin to meet the finalists for the position, starting today. Dr. Tito Guerrero III, who currently serves as the Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity at Texas A&M, will be on campus today and tomorrow for a series of meetings that include public forums with faculty, staff and students. Find out more at http://www.unm.edu/news/08MarNewsRelease/08-03-06Guerrero.htm. Dr. Suzanne Trager
Ortega, Vice Provost and Graduate Dean (and Professor of Sociology) at the University of Washington, will be interviewing on campus this Thursday and Friday. The schedule for her public forums will be released this afternoon. Schedules for other Provost finalist visits will be released as they become available.

I’ve mentioned before how important the position of Provost is on a campus. In my opinion, this is the most important individual to be hired at UNM. More than anyone, the Provost provides critical leadership in all aspects of the university’s education, research and service missions. This person plays a key role in leading students, faculty and staff toward meeting UNM’s goals and their own ambitions. So I encourage you to meet with all of these finalists.

As you know, interim provost Vi Florez has announced she has withdrawn from the search. For many years, Vi has been my personal friend and professional colleague, and I hold her in the highest possible regard, both personally and professionally. We’ve spent many hours together discussing how to best utilize her formidable talents. I will continue working with her to find a leadership opportunity that will enable her to continue putting her mark on this University.

This Wednesday, UNM Regents will set tuition, fees and compensation for the coming year beginning July 1, 2008. We will then tackle the job of balancing needs and resources as we build the coming year’s budget. This is when the spirit of cooperation and understanding will be needed most. I am confident that this spirit will guide our work in the coming weeks.

Thanks again to all of you who voted in the Rio Rancho municipal election last week. Our Higher Education Initiative was approved by nearly 63% of the vote, which is a great mandate as we take the next big steps in establishing a four-year campus there.

Here’s a reminder that UNM will be hosting the Sungshin Women’s University Korean Cultural Exhibition Friday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in Rodey Theatre. Tickets are free, but seating will be limited. So don’t wait too long to pick up your tickets at the UNM Bookstore ticket office.

The Mountain West basketball tournament begins this Wednesday. We’ll be joining a great group of the Lobo die-hard faithful in Las Vegas to root on our men and women. Both teams are looking strong entering this tournament, which we hope is just the next step to the Big Dance.

Have a great week.
David J. Schmidly

Good morning.

Tomorrow is the municipal election in Rio Rancho, which is major for UNM as voter decisions will determine our future path in establishing a campus there. The Higher Education Initiative will provide a quarter-cent increase in the gross receipts tax that would go toward establishing the infrastructure at the UNM site next to the City Center. If you live in Rio Rancho, I encourage you to go out and vote your conscience on the Higher Education Initiative. It’s important.

Governor Richardson is scheduled to be on campus this morning to sign several bills, including the General Obligation Bond package, which includes a number of UNM projects. He’ll be at the SUB atrium around 11:30 a.m. As always, thanks to the Governor and the Legislature for all that they do for UNM.

I want to thank everyone who participated in last Friday’s Budget Summit for the interest and thoughtful commentary. In all of my years in academic administration, I found this process to be the most open and involving. The Regents will settle on tuition and compensation at their March 12 meeting and their decision will drive our budget recommendations.

Meanwhile, we are keeping an eye on our federal priorities in what promises to be a tough budget year nationally. I spent a good part of last week with our Congressional delegation in Washington D.C. Thanks to the UNM Alumni Association for helping me host the annual Capitol Hill Reception, which was a great success.

Another important search is getting underway – this one for the Vice President of Research. Being a major research university, this is one of UNM’s most crucial leadership positions, as this individual will work with the faculty on the discovery of new knowledge. Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Michael Dougher is chairing the search committee, which will soon be getting its charge and setting the process in motion. Meanwhile, the searches for Provost, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Vice President for Equity and Inclusion are well underway.

In a couple of weeks, UNM will be hosting the Sungshin Women’s University Korean Cultural Exhibition. The group is touring a limited number of American college campuses, and we are lucky to get them here. The event will be Friday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in Rodey Theatre. Tickets are free, but seating will be limited. Before we make tickets available to the general community, we want to give you an opportunity to pick up yours, starting today, at the UNM Bookstore
Ticket Office.

This Friday afternoon, March 7, you’ll have the opportunity to mix and mingle with the Lady Lobos basketball team at their last official practice for 2008. United Way’s Women in Philanthropy group will be accepting new and used children’s books for the Albuquerque Family Advocacy Center. It begins at 2 p.m. at the Davalos Center. Help support United Way and our Lady Lobos.

It’s also the final week of the regular season. Tomorrow night is Senior Night at the Pit for the men’s basketball squad. The Lady Lobos play their final home game Saturday afternoon. Go cheer them on as they build momentum for the Mountain West Tournament.

Have a good week.
David J. Schmidly