Comments for President's Blog http://blogs.unm.edu/president Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:06:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on Monday Morning Message - April 20, 2009 by Kay Jantz http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/04/20/monday-morning-message-april-20-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Kay Jantz Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:23:45 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=537#comment-117 Dr. Schmidley, Please forgive my lateness on this response to your letter. I was reviewing your comments on this particular week's letter from you this morning and feel compelled to respond. I could not help but appreciate you were to meet with Deans and Dept. Chairs to "go about the business of strengthening our communication and engagement processes." The one concern I have in this effort on communicating and engaging the various departments is how much will be lost in the dissemination of this meeting to faculty & staff or will it even come down the ranks from the leadership levels to the very lowest of levels as it so often does not. Please heartily encourage your Deans and Department Chairs across all campuses including HSC, I emphasize HSC, to not pick and choose what they share. Honest and full disclosure is something we all have deserve to receive just as the public has the right to expect. I pray there will be complete disclosure and inclusion of this group's meeting via one of your weekly letters or a simple Public Affairs e-mail regarding what was or was not accomplished. Respectfully, Kay Jantz, Admin Assist 3, Staff Council Representative of Precinct 25 Dr. Schmidley, Please forgive my lateness on this response to your letter. I was reviewing your comments on this particular week’s letter from you this morning and feel compelled to respond. I could not help but appreciate you were to meet with Deans and Dept. Chairs to “go about the business of strengthening our communication and engagement processes.” The one concern I have in this effort on communicating and engaging the various departments is how much will be lost in the dissemination of this meeting to faculty & staff or will it even come down the ranks from the leadership levels to the very lowest of levels as it so often does not. Please heartily encourage your Deans and Department Chairs across all campuses including HSC, I emphasize HSC, to not pick and choose what they share. Honest and full disclosure is something we all have deserve to receive just as the public has the right to expect. I pray there will be complete disclosure and inclusion of this group’s meeting via one of your weekly letters or a simple Public Affairs e-mail regarding what was or was not accomplished. Respectfully, Kay Jantz, Admin Assist 3, Staff Council Representative of Precinct 25

]]> Comment on Monday Morning Message - February 23, 2009 by President's Office http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/02/23/monday-morning-message-february-23-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-100 President's Office Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:50:18 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=280#comment-100 World leaders will draw their share of critics, and President Fox is no exception. The question is should critics be able to prevent controversial figures from speaking at our University? With all due respect, I think that if President Fox’s critics would reconsider, they would agree that in an open, public University like UNM, even controversial voices deserve to be heard. World leaders will draw their share of critics, and President Fox is no exception. The question is should critics be able to prevent controversial figures from speaking at our University? With all due respect, I think that if President Fox’s critics would reconsider, they would agree that in an open, public University like UNM, even controversial voices deserve to be heard.

]]> Comment on Monday Morning Message - March 2, 2009 by Jeremy LaFaver http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/03/02/monday-morning-message-march-2-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Jeremy LaFaver Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:18:42 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=285#comment-88 Having left the University only a month ago with mixed emotions, I simply want people to know that this is the kind of leadership that UNM needs right now. Sure, you may not agree with all of the President's positions, but if anybody is to lead by unanimity, nothing would ever get done. I wonder, at what time people will realize what I always knew to be true: that this President does what he truly feels is the best for the institution. There are no sinister motives behind this man, believe me. For the sake of an university that means a lot to me and to my family, I wish President Schmidly and the rest of the UNM leadership nothing but the best. Sure, we've run on some hard times lately, but it's nothing compared to what some people have faced across the country. A lot of what we can deem to be beneficial (at least in these economic times) is owed to this President's leadership. I look forward to the day when many more people will come to the same realization that I had for a few years. Best of luck, President Schmidly. Keep your chin up. You're doing a commendable, and honorable job! Having left the University only a month ago with mixed emotions, I simply want people to know that this is the kind of leadership that UNM needs right now. Sure, you may not agree with all of the President’s positions, but if anybody is to lead by unanimity, nothing would ever get done. I wonder, at what time people will realize what I always knew to be true: that this President does what he truly feels is the best for the institution. There are no sinister motives behind this man, believe me. For the sake of an university that means a lot to me and to my family, I wish President Schmidly and the rest of the UNM leadership nothing but the best. Sure, we’ve run on some hard times lately, but it’s nothing compared to what some people have faced across the country. A lot of what we can deem to be beneficial (at least in these economic times) is owed to this President’s leadership. I look forward to the day when many more people will come to the same realization that I had for a few years. Best of luck, President Schmidly. Keep your chin up. You’re doing a commendable, and honorable job!

]]> Comment on Monday Morning Message - February 23, 2009 by Max http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/02/23/monday-morning-message-february-23-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Max Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:12:50 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=280#comment-77 http://www.petitiononline.com/NoFox/petition.html To: UNM Administration We the undersigned members of the UNM community wish that Vicente Fox be “disinvited” from being honored at UNM and speaking at graduation for the following reasons: • Racist statements such as: "There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States." • To squash social protest in San Salvador Atenco, Fox deployed security forces that imprisoned women, and raped and tortured them with impunity. • Fox presided over federal police violating the human rights of teachers and indigenous protesters in Oaxaca—what Amnesty International called “excessive use of force (including lethal force), arbitrary and incommunicado detention, ill-treatment and torture, threats, harassment of human rights defenders and journalists, and violations in due process and the right to fair trial.” • Fox and his party were complicit in trying to bar a popular opposition politician from competing in the 2006 election. When that met international protest, Fox illegally interfered in the election. No way should UNM honor Fox for being democratic. http://www.petitiononline.com/NoFox/petition.html

To: UNM Administration
We the undersigned members of the UNM community wish that Vicente Fox be “disinvited” from being honored at UNM and speaking at graduation for the following reasons:

• Racist statements such as: “There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States.”

• To squash social protest in San Salvador Atenco, Fox deployed security forces that imprisoned women, and raped and tortured them with impunity.

• Fox presided over federal police violating the human rights of teachers and indigenous protesters in Oaxaca—what Amnesty International called “excessive use of force (including lethal force), arbitrary and incommunicado detention, ill-treatment and torture, threats, harassment of human rights defenders and journalists, and violations in due process and the right to fair trial.”

• Fox and his party were complicit in trying to bar a popular opposition politician from competing in the 2006 election. When that met international protest, Fox illegally interfered in the election. No way should UNM honor Fox for being democratic.

]]> Comment on The Voluntary Furlough Program by President's Office http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/02/09/the-voluntary-furlough-program/comment-page-1/#comment-54 President's Office Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:21:56 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=276#comment-54 Thank you, Norman, for your questions. While the Voluntary Furlough Program won’t begin until next July and many of the key details are being worked out in the meantime, I don’t believe anyone currently contemplates that we would impact participants’ health and tuition benefits during times of voluntary furlough. After all, these individuals are trying to give something back to the University; we don’t want to force them to make additional sacrifices beyond the very generous one they have already made. As for the circumstances of your furlough - the amount of time you could take, in what blocks of time, and so on - these are matters that will obviously vary from department to department, and will have to be worked out with your immediate supervisor. More information will be available shortly. Thank you again for your interest. Thank you, Norman, for your questions.

While the Voluntary Furlough Program won’t begin until next July and many of the key details are being worked out in the meantime, I don’t believe anyone currently contemplates that we would impact participants’ health and tuition benefits during times of voluntary furlough. After all, these individuals are trying to give something back to the University; we don’t want to force them to make additional sacrifices beyond the very generous one they have already made.

As for the circumstances of your furlough - the amount of time you could take, in what blocks of time, and so on - these are matters that will obviously vary from department to department, and will have to be worked out with your immediate supervisor.

More information will be available shortly. Thank you again for your interest.

]]> Comment on The Voluntary Furlough Program by Norman Lieber http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/02/09/the-voluntary-furlough-program/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Norman Lieber Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:31:35 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=276#comment-42 Hello, Dr. Schmidly. I have a few questions regarding the Voluntary Furlough Program: Will benefits (health, tuition, etc.) be impacted? Will those benefits be available during an employee's furlough? What is the maximum amount of time an employee may take furlough leave for the fiscal year? Must the furlough leave be taken in one continuous block of time or can it be taken a few days (weeks?) at a time interspersed through-out the year? Hello, Dr. Schmidly. I have a few questions regarding the Voluntary Furlough Program: Will benefits (health, tuition, etc.) be impacted? Will those benefits be available during an employee’s furlough? What is the maximum amount of time an employee may take furlough leave for the fiscal year? Must the furlough leave be taken in one continuous block of time or can it be taken a few days (weeks?) at a time interspersed through-out the year?

]]> Comment on Monday Morning Message - January 5, 2009 by Glen Effertz http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/01/05/monday-morning-message-january-5-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Glen Effertz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:07:23 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=222#comment-21 I'm going to trot out my credentials as a UNM English major here and suggest that you (and the Journal) may be relying too much on your spell checker. "Intercession classes" would be where students are taught how to intercede. What I think you meant was "inter-session" classes. I’m going to trot out my credentials as a UNM English major here and suggest that you (and the Journal) may be relying too much on your spell checker. “Intercession classes” would be where students are taught how to intercede. What I think you meant was “inter-session” classes.

]]> Comment on Monday Morning Message - January 5, 2009 by Danny Lee http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2009/01/05/monday-morning-message-january-5-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Danny Lee Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:34:33 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=222#comment-17 I was glad to see your recognition today that "nobody has a monopoly on good ideas". In fact, industry has recognized this for many years, and most successful companies include a suggestion scheme as part of their HR strategy. The savings realized by such schemes can total millions of dollars a year. The staff and students of UNM comprise some of the best minds in the US; yet we have no structured way for good ideas to flow to the top of the organization where they might be evaluated and implemented. Often innovative thought is stifled by the organizational structure of the university; and sometimes the best ideas for improvement and cost-saving originate outside the department most directly affected. Adding a meaningful suggestion scheme that would allow a free flow of ideas within and between departments could realize substantial savings. I urge you to review the commercial success of such initiatives, and determine how such a system might be leveraged to benefit the UNM community. I was glad to see your recognition today that “nobody has a monopoly on good ideas”. In fact, industry has recognized this for many years, and most successful companies include a suggestion scheme as part of their HR strategy. The savings realized by such schemes can total millions of dollars a year.

The staff and students of UNM comprise some of the best minds in the US; yet we have no structured way for good ideas to flow to the top of the organization where they might be evaluated and implemented. Often innovative thought is stifled by the organizational structure of the university; and sometimes the best ideas for improvement and cost-saving originate outside the department most directly affected. Adding a meaningful suggestion scheme that would allow a free flow of ideas within and between departments could realize substantial savings.

I urge you to review the commercial success of such initiatives, and determine how such a system might be leveraged to benefit the UNM community.

]]> Comment on Monday Morning Message - December 22, 2008 by Patricia Mathews http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2008/12/22/monday-morning-message-december-22-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Patricia Mathews Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:31:08 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=212#comment-16 I suggest you and everyone else involved in publicizing those classes check a dictionary for the terms "intercession" and "inter-session." They have different meanings. I suggest you and everyone else involved in publicizing those classes check a dictionary for the terms “intercession” and “inter-session.” They have different meanings.

]]> Comment on Monday Morning Message - December 15, 2008 by Betty Fry http://blogs.unm.edu/president/2008/12/15/monday-morning/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Betty Fry Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:35:19 +0000 http://blogs.unm.edu/president/?p=25#comment-10 I watched the Town Hall comcast. It was brutal. I do not fault President Schmidly for listening selectively and responding selectively so that he could stay on message. But in this format I hope that no reasonable comment or question will get dismissed without thought. In the Town Hall meeting somebody commented that UNM's priorities had strayed long before the announced economic crisis. I did not hear a reply. This comment deserves an answer. And I add this question: What is a realisitc vision of UNM as a public institution with funding problems? UNM has promises to keep to its students. Is this perhaps not an ideal time to compete with peer institutions, whoever those may be? If other peer institutions have 28 vp's and provosts and associate vp's and provosts, should we care? Should we shape our school to serve the not-so-wealthy state of New Mexico and put aside the loftier plans that stress the budget inappropriately? I watched the Town Hall comcast. It was brutal. I do not fault President Schmidly for listening selectively and responding selectively so that he could stay on message. But in this format I hope that no reasonable comment or question will get dismissed without thought. In the Town Hall meeting somebody commented that UNM’s priorities had strayed long before the announced economic crisis. I did not hear a reply. This comment deserves an answer. And I add this question: What is a realisitc vision of UNM as a public institution with funding problems? UNM has promises to keep to its students. Is this perhaps not an ideal time to compete with peer institutions, whoever those may be? If other peer institutions have 28 vp’s and provosts and associate vp’s and provosts, should we care? Should we shape our school to serve the not-so-wealthy state of New Mexico and put aside the loftier plans that stress the budget inappropriately?

]]>