Budget:  We’ll Know This Week

Governor Bill Richardson has been seeking comment around the state on the budget cuts approved in the recent special session of the Legislature.  He’ll announce what he’s going to do this week.  As you recall, in the special session, higher education I&G took a 4% cut, with 2% of that to be returned in the form of one-time stimulus money.  Higher education special projects took a 6.5% cut.  There’s been a lot of speculation about what the Governor intends.  Once we know for sure, all of the planning that has been going on will kick in, and shortly we will have scenarios ready for consideration by the Regents.

The Regents’ regularly scheduled meeting is tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the SUB Ballroom C. There will likely be discussion about the budget, though it’s unknown if the Governor will have announced his decision by then.  As they say, stay tuned.

Congratulations, Cheo!

We’ve been informed that our own Dr. Cheo Torres has been nominated as a Pillar of the Profession by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the NASPA Foundation.  Cheo is being recognized for his many years of outstanding service to students, and UNM is privileged that several of those years have been spent with our students.  The NASPA Foundation is also building an endowment in Cheo’s name that will benefit research in student affairs issues.  We cannot be more proud of him.

UNMH an Energy Winner

It’s worth mentioning again that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has named UNM Hospital as a winner of one of its prestigious ENERGY STAR awards.  The ENERGY STAR is the mark of superior energy performance and identifies UNMH as one of the most efficient buildings in the nation by preventing the release of greenhouse gases and protecting the environment.  Last Friday, I presented the ENERGY STAR plaque to UNMH CEO Steve McKernan at the hospital’s monthly Board of Trustees meeting.  The attractive plaque is now prominently displayed in the Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion.  Congratulations to UNMH!

Performance Reviews

It’s that time again.  As we approach the end of 2009, UNM staff should begin compiling performance review self-assessments. Performance reviews are a vital source of feedback for employees, and they provide departments an opportunity to review accomplishments while planning for the future. In calendar year 2010, there will be two changes to the Performance Review process.  Next year’s form will reflect the updated University Values, and include a new section for “University Required and Job Specific Training.”  For more information, including a timeline, information session dates and times, and links to the forms, please visit http://hr.unm.edu/consulting/perfrev.php.

Engineering Open House

The School of Engineering is hosting an open house this Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Centennial Engineering Center.  UNM students who are curious about engineering can stop by to see demonstrations of robots, video games, alternative energy and medical diagnostics.  Student projects will also be on display.  The open house ought to be fun and interesting.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Special Session Results

During the special session last week, the NM Legislature approved cuts of 4% for higher education I&G for the current fiscal year, coupled with a 6.5% decrease in funding for special projects. To somewhat offset the pain, lawmakers returned the equivalent of 2% of I&G cuts in one-time stimulus funding. The Governor has ten days to consider this solvency plan, but now is the time for us to finalize scenarios for consideration by the Regents. Provost Ortega and the deans have been planning for the inevitable for several weeks. Our goal is to preserve as much as possible services that impact students.

Stimulus Funds for Energy Projects

On a positive note, UNM’s sustainability efforts will soon get a boost. Earlier this month, Governor Richardson announced that more than $24 million in stimulus funds will go to schools, colleges, tribes and agencies to improve energy efficiency. UNM will be getting $358,000 of that amount for energy efficient lighting and for solar system upgrades.

United Way Kickoff

Tough economic times can bring out the best in people; and we remember that community success only comes in working together and caring for one another. Our 2009 United Way campaign kicks off today with the theme “UNM Lives United.” Our goal of $1 million is the same as last year, but what we seek is more participation from our campus community. How much you give is not important. It is the giving that counts, for every contribution big or small, will help more than 100 social and nonprofit agencies the United Way supports in central New Mexico, such as at-risk children, the elderly, victims of family violence and other neighbors in need.  Donors can designate dollars for UNM programs.  So when your donation form comes this week, please think about community and contribute.

Mile of Coins

While on the topic of giving, the Student Veterans of the University of New Mexico are raising money for a newly-established scholarship fund. Once again, they host the “mile of coins” on Smith Plaza on Veterans’ Day.  They’re asking students and UNM organizations to begin collecting coins that can be placed side-by-side on November 11.

Fuentes Lecture

As part of the semester-long Lobo Reading Program focusing on immigration and Mexican relations, we welcome renowned Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes to campus this Friday evening for the third and final lecture of the fall series hosted by the Provost’s office.  Fuentes presents, “Mexico in a Nutshell,” a vision of the country’s culture, history and society from the pre-Hispanic epoch to the present.  The lecture will be followed by a book-signing.  It all begins at 6 p.m. this Friday in the SUB ballrooms.

ISTEC General Assembly

The 17th General Assembly of the Ibero American Science & Technology Consortium (ISTEC) gets underway today at UNM. The goal of this week-long international conference is to position New Mexico as a gateway for science, technology, education and innovation for Ibero-America, while promoting UNM as a premiere academic and research institution. The General Assembly brings prestigious leaders from industry, government and academia to our campus, and we welcome them.

Celebrating Tony Hillerman

The UNM Foundation and HarperCollins Publishing celebrate the life of Tony Hillerman and the landscapes made memorable in his books in an event on November 5 at 6 p.m. at the Student Union Building.  Following the tribute, there will be an exclusive endowment reception at Zimmerman Library to benefit the Hillerman/McGarrity Creative Writing Scholarship in UNM’s Department of English. It promises to be a memorable evening.  For all of the details, please go to, http://www.unm.edu/~market/cgi-bin/archives/004398.html#more.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Health and Wellness Announcements

Health and wellness top the list of UNM announcements and happenings this week. The UNM community congratulates Dr. Melanie Royce, UNM Cancer Center and the Department of Internal Medicine, for being one of only 11 physicians nationally at the 63 NCI Cancer Centers to win an NCI Clinical Team Leadership Award. This highly competitive award is supported by stimulus funds and will provide funding for Dr. Royce and her team to advance cancer clinical trials. This is great news, especially for women in New Mexico and across the nation who are affected by breast cancer.  Congratulations, Dr. Royce.

This week is Preventive Health Week at UNM.  Starting tomorrow, October 13, the Division of Human Resources will bring in several health services to provide seasonal flu shots, cholesterol and glucose testing, bone density heel scans, and many more tests. On Wednesday, UNM and community wellness resources will gather for the Road to Wellness Fair.  Visit http://hr.unm.edu/ehpp/initiatives.php for the details. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities.

Our focus is on prevention when addressing the flu. Several clinics for the seasonal flu vaccine are scheduled.  To find dates and locations, just go to the http://unm.edu website and click on the green H1N1 icon. These clinics are for regular seasonal flu vaccine only; we have not yet received word on when we will be receiving the H1N1 vaccine.

Siren Test

There will be a test of the UNM siren system this morning at 11:02 a.m.  As a test, no action is required. During a real incident, a siren alert means to shelter indoors and await further instructions, which would come via the TextMe system, email alerts and on the web.

United Way “Tee Off”

UNM’s United Way campaign, “UNM Lives United,” begins with an eye toward increasing on campus participation so that we match last year’s $1 million goal. This Friday, Oct. 16, the campaign “tees off” in the 8th annual UNM Golf Fiesta at the UNM Championship Course.  The tournament is open to all students, faculty, staff, retirees and alumni. Tournament sign-in begins Friday at 11:30 a.m. with the shotgun start scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

Special Legislative Session

Governor Richardson has called a special legislative session to begin Saturday, Oct. 17.  The legislature will be wrestling with strategies to address the state’s financial deficit. Most likely, the University will be facing a mid year rescission.  I will communicate with the UNM community as we learn about the outcomes of the special session.

Have a good week,

David J. Schmidly

We’re pleased to welcome Spanish royalty to campus this morning. Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Asturias, will preside over the fourth meeting of the advisory council for The Prince of Asturias Endowed Chair in Information Science and Related Technologies.

This endowed chair, funded by Spain’s electric utility Iberdrola,is shared by the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science.  Dr. Fernando Pérez-González recently began his tenure as the second Prince of Asturias Professor.

We’re also delighted to host the Ambassador of Spain to the United States at today’s meeting, as well as our good friend, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain Edward Romero who spearheaded the effort to have the Prince of Asturias Chair located at UNM.

Athletics Issues

Reports of an altercation involving Lobo head football coach Mike Locksley and an assistant coach spread throughout the media last week and have caused much concern and debate in the UNM community.

Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs has rightfully asked the Division of Human Resources to conduct an official investigation and to provide direction on appropriate actions.  He is also contracting with UNM’s Counseling, Assistance and Referral Service to assist in the evaluation and in identifying potential solutions.  This is consistent with provisions in UNM policies 3215 (Performance Management) and 2210 (Campus Violence).  You can find these at:

http://www.unm.edu/~ubppm/ubppmanual/3215.htm and at

http://www.unm.edu/~ubppm/ubppmanual/2210.htm.

The University takes this issue seriously.  We want it settled as quickly as possible and the investigation will be done thoroughly.

Lobo Ads

We are fully aware that many in the UNM community found the Route 66 television ads that included the Lobo mascot to be in questionable taste and not in line with the mission and values of this institution.  As soon as these concerns were made known, UNM Athletics worked with Route 66 to revise the ads. The old ads were pulled off the air a week ago.

Admissions Requirements

The University of New Mexico is considering modifying UNM admission requirements to maximize a student’s opportunity for success. Proposed requirements would de-emphasize standardized test scores, like the SAT and ACT, emphasize a student’s preparation in high school and reward dual credit, AP, and other rigorous courses. 

The Regents want the proposed modifications to be thoroughly discussed and understood. We are seeking comment from students, parents, educators and interested citizens from around the state.  To review the proposed requirements and comment, please go to www.unm.edu/admissions/arp/.  The deadline for comment is November 15, 2009.

Happy Anniversary, El Centro!

El Centro de la Raza is celebrating 40 years of working with and for the students of the University of New Mexico.  Their Adelante celebration is being observed today and tomorrow with a number of activities at the SUB.  A full schedule of events is on El Centro’s website at http://www4.unm.edu/elcentro/.  On behalf of the entire university community, congratulations to El Centro de la Raza for decades of wonderful service.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Master Plan Comment Extended

Institutional Support Services asked that final consideration of UNM’s Master Plan update by the Regents be postponed until a later date, and I agree.  The plan was to be on tomorrow’s Regents’ agenda, but it will now be delayed so we can gather more input, especially from faculty.

The University had numerous meetings with neighborhood associations and campus constituents, with insightful input from many who have a great interest in the plan.  However, given recent feedback from the faculty, ISS suggested that a delay will allow for more internal dialogue which can only enrich the ideas the plan outlines.

Input on the Budget

Provost Ortega and I want to thank deans and chairs who participated in a thoughtful discussion last week about the budget challenges facing the university. We heard about the probability of another mid-year state budget rescission and the real possibility of further cuts beyond that. More will be known after the state legislature meets in a special session next month.

The deans and chairs talked about a number of options the university might consider to prepare for the cuts, whatever those cuts may be.  Their suggestions will be folded into a number of scenarios for the Regents to consider.

Tracking for H1N1

Last week, UNM began tracking workforce absences due to illness as a way to provide our Emergency Operations Center with information to help identify trends and early indicators that H1N1 and seasonal flu may be spreading across campus. As you know, the threat of the flu is real and has already affected operations on several campuses across the country.  We haven’t seen any great surge in illness here yet, which fortunately gives us more time to learn from the experiences of other institutions as we plan and prepare.

I encourage units on campus to participate in this simple tracking system. It asks for no identifying information, just numbers of ill employees by unit.  It uses existing technology and gives us an additional tool to help manage what may turn out to be a challenging flu season.

United Way on the Way

The official launch won’t be until the end of October, but work is already underway on UNM’s 2009 United Way Campaign. The $1 million goal is the same as last year, but this time our efforts will be to increase on-campus participation.

The chairs for the 2009 campaign are Steve McKernan, UNM Hospital; Nancy Ridenour, College of Nursing; Doug Brown, Anderson School of Management; and Paul Krebs, Athletics. 

Graduate and Professional School Fair

Our undergraduates should start thinking now about getting graduate or professional degrees. Alumni and community members may already be thinking about going back to school for another degree. It’s a good plan because educational attainment directly impacts your earning power and the array of jobs open to you.

This Thursday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., more than 80 schools and colleges from across the country will send recruiters to the SUB ballrooms to talk to you about their graduate and professional programs. Go by to get the information that could influence your future.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Thank You, UNMH

I want you all to know how impressed I am with the level of compassion, service and professionalism at UNM Hospital. As many of you may have heard, I was admitted there for a short while a weekend ago.  They took very good care of me, and moreover, I saw the same level of wonderful care being given to every patient. On behalf of my family, I want to publicly thank the doctors, nurses and staff of UNMH.  Our University can take great pride in this top-notch operation.

Budget Challenges

If you’ve been following the news over the past couple of weeks, you know that New Mexico’s budget outlook remains grim. According to the most recent estimates, the State anticipates a revenue shortfall of about $433 million for the current budget year – the one that just began in July. In addition, the revenues for the previous budget year did not come in as expected, so FY 2009 is suffering an approximate $309 million deficit.

So New Mexico will have to plug an anticipated budget hole of more than $700 million, making it imperative for Governor Richardson to call state lawmakers into special session in October to deal with the problem.

During the coming weeks of September, we will be engaging deans, department chairs and the university community in planning for another budget rescission and the very real possibility of a cut in next year’s budget. Our goal is to navigate these troubled waters with minimum impact on our people and our mission.  We will seek input from all campus sectors to find the most sensible ways possible to cope with the reductions.

For updates, visit the Budget Impact website on the UNM homepage.  We welcome your comments, will answer your questions and address any rumors as quickly and efficiently as possible.

H1N1

As predicted, the start of the new school year set off a flurry of media reports about the flu, as many universities are experiencing outbreaks of varying degrees. As I mentioned last week, planning and preparations for the flu on our campus have already been established.  For the latest information, visit a special website, called “Flu Info,” which will be accessible on the UNM homepage early this week.

Helping Prevent Substance Abuse

College is a wonderful time for academic discovery and personal enrichment.  It can also be a stressful time, requiring students to strike a balance between social activities and academic pursuits – and avoid situations where their health and safety are at risk with alcohol or other drug abuse.

If you or someone you know is facing a problem with alcohol or drugs, UNM is here to help. Call Student Health and Counseling at 277-4537 or visit the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention. The website is http://www.unm.edu/~cosap.

Anyone can develop a problem with alcohol or drugs, but it takes strength and fortitude to tackle the problem head-on.  We’re always here to help.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

The Semester Begins

It feels like the energy level on this campus has increased tenfold overnight. Welcome University of New Mexico students to the 2009 fall semester.  We’re about to begin an incredible journey.

Yesterday’s convocation and Freshman Family Day was a grand kickoff for our new freshmen and their families. We expect new students to settle in over the next few days, find your classes and embark on the next stage of your educational careers. The demands will be greater and so will be the rewards.  We wish the very best to all of our students as you embark on another year of challenge and opportunity.

Welcome Back Days is a grand tradition where all are treated to free food and free stuff all week, so enjoy. We kick it off with the President’s Ice Cream Social on the lawns near the Duck Pond around noon today. Come by to cool off and say hello.

A Crowded Campus

You may find yourself jockeying for position in the ice cream lines because there are many more students on campus than last year. Our unofficial first day enrollment numbers show a 6.4 percent increase in new freshmen and a projected 103 percent increase in National Scholars from fall 2008. The University is also showing impressive gains in graduate students with a 23.1 percent increase in headcount and in the number of transfer students – a 36.8 percent increase.

Among the ever-growing numbers of National Scholars on campus and brand new to UNM this semester are National American Indian Scholars.  UNM launched this new program, in partnership with the American College testing program, or ACT, to attract the nation’s top American Indian students.  Eight scholars have been accepted and we welcome them to UNM.

The Enrollment Management Division has been working hard and also working collaboratively with units across the University to bring in these record numbers of students.  Our job is now cut out for us, but it is great to have swelling numbers in our Lobo Nation.

Need a Job?

Students interested in working part-time on campus will have the opportunity to meet with UNM department and program representatives during the third annual Student Job Fair this Friday, August 28, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Duck Pond.

Students who take advantage of employment opportunities on campus maximize their opportunity for success, so I encourage you to get more connected with the campus through the UNM job experience.

You can see the array of job opportunities and participating departments by going to

http://www.career.unm.edu/students/career_fairs.php/ Thanks to the Graduation Task Force Student Engagement Committee, UNM Career Services and all participating departments for making these opportunities available.

Viral Warfare

As record numbers of students pour in, we are preparing across campus for the flu.  Whether it’s H1N1 or seasonal flu, it has the possibility to be miserable.  Outbreaks have already been reported at the University of Alabama, Mississippi State and at my former institution, Oklahoma State.

Students living on campus are getting the message about hygiene and how to avoid the flu. Our faculty will be addressing the issue in their classes. Everyone will be encouraged to get vaccinated as vaccine supplies become available.

Emergency management personnel from both main campus and the HSC have been activated in preparation for the outbreak that is sure to occur here sooner or later.  Our people are following the lead of the Center for Disease Control and are preparing guidelines for all campus sectors. Get acquainted with CDC recommendations at www.flu.gov. Bottom

line, flu will happen. We will be prepared.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Welcome Faculty

With one week before the start of the fall semester, I welcome our faculty back to campus and welcome new faculty to the UNM community.  A sense of anticipation comes with preparation for classes.  At this time of the year, anything and everything is possible.  Let us work together to make this a fulfilling and productive time for our students and for ourselves.

My 2009-10 Plan of Work: An Overview

Last week, UNM Regents approved my work plan for the coming year.  Access to the entire document is on the web at www.unm.edu/president/; look under Current Items. Of the 13 goals the Regents gave me, I chose five for special emphasis this coming year.  I will discuss these at length over the next several weeks, but here is a brief preview:

Accountability:  We must continue to develop an organizational and leadership infrastructure at UNM that creates and reinforces a culture of accountability, continuous process improvement and transparency, with measurement and results-driven performance.

Academics and Student Success:  A primary focus will be to establish an integrated system of services to prepare, recruit, enroll, develop, retain and graduate both undergraduate and graduate students at the University of New Mexico, with special focus on the recruitment of high-achieving students and national merit scholars.

Fund Raising:  UNM has had wonderful success in the past several years and this must continue.  We must apply knowledge and expertise to design, organize, launch, and actively participate in a comprehensive fundraising strategy and executable program that produces positive results for UNM.

Rio Rancho Campus:  As the first building goes up, we must develop the vision, curricula, and programs for UNM’s Rio Rancho campus that will serve the needs of the community and enhance the overall strength and vitality of the University of New Mexico.

Relationship and Communication with the Board of Regents:  We will continue to explore ways to improve governance and communications practices at UNM to ensure transparency, inclusivity of ideas from the UNM community, and clear understanding of respective roles.

Milestones

‘Tis the season for celebrating the longevity and great work of several of our most prominent programs.  Twenty five years ago, the NM Legislature funded UNM’s Center for High Technology Materials.  The return on that investment has been a hundred-fold in student success, startup companies and grant funding.  Our best wishes go to long-time director Steve Brueck and his colleagues for their remarkable achievements over the years.

Our Graduate and Professional Student Association and El Centro de la Raza are both celebrating 40th anniversaries - decades of work with and on behalf of UNM students, many of whom have gone on to do great things in government, business, education and service to their community and to the state.  Please join me in applauding this outstanding work.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

Another Foundation Record

I have dazzling and amazing news to report from the UNM Foundation.  Despite the troubled economy and everyone’s intent to do more with less, UNM fundraisers have been able to tap into the good will and genuine affection our donors have for this university.  They have raised $90,045,942.01 for FY09 – another record in what has been a long line of records.  When you think about it, they raised an average $1.73 million for UNM every week!  I call that amazing.

Of course, the Foundation and its Board would be the first to say they did not nor could not raise this kind of money if it weren’t for the jewel that is UNM and the lasting commitment and incredible accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students.  I agree with them completely.  However, I speak for the entire university community in saying, “Great Job and Thank You!” to the Foundation and everyone who contributed to this fundraising effort.  Take a moment to be truly proud.  You deserve it.

Gathering of Ecologists

It was wonderful to take some time last week to visit with many of my scientific colleagues at the annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, held here in Albuquerque.  More than 3,500 scientists discussed and debated a number of issues dealing with the future of our planet. 

UNM was the host institution and several of our faculty gave talks and presented papers. I was honored to present a paper on “Natural History: A View from the President’s Office.”  In it I explored the diminishing role of naturalists in current trends of higher education and argued strenuously about the need for their return to prominence in 21st century American academia.  I believe therein lies the advocacy for sustainability for our society and our planet. 

Regents Meeting

Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be the first regular meeting of the UNM Board of Regents for the new academic year.  It’s a very important meeting for me as the Regents will be discussing my proposed work plan for the upcoming year.  I also look forward to sharing my “Adelante Objectives,” which I’ll be discussing with you in the coming weeks.

Regents will also hear a presentation of the UNM Master Plan – an update that so many of you have been working on for nearly two years.  It will help frame the future of this University for the next decade or so.  I hope you will take the opportunity to learn more about the Master Plan and how this university plans to thrive within the city, state, nation and world.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly

There is cause for celebration here this summer.  After carefully checking and re-checking the numbers, we are confident that UNM has broken out of the enrollment band for the first time since 2003.

Ultimately, this should mean more state funds coming to the university.  This is how it works.  Higher education institutions receive state dollars from a funding formula known as a “base plus” model.  UNM has an enrollment base number, and when we increase that by three percent, we receive additional money for the extra enrollment.  The numbers are calculated by adding the total unrestricted credit hours for summer, fall and spring. Thanks to new students, higher student course loads and improved retention, we have broken the enrollment band.

We’ve achieved this success thanks to a team effort that involved all of the schools and colleges, as well as the faculty and staff.  Special recognition goes to Enrollment Management for its success in new student recruitment, focused messaging to students on increasing their course loads and more efficient processing that has helped retention.

New Mexico’s senior senator Jeff Bingaman has good news for UNM’s Nanoscience and Microsystems (NSMS) Graduate Program, announcing it has been awarded the highly competitive grant to provide fellowships for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN).  Nine academic programs take part in NSMS.

These U.S. Department of Education GAANN fellowships provide stipends of up to $30,000 per year for up to six UNM Ph.D. students. The grant program goes into effect next month and lasts three years.

UNM will be represented in Washington D.C. the early part of this week at the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities summer meeting. Among the many issues that challenge large urban institutions such as ours is their role in health workforce development. That will be discussed along with the ways we can cross-fertilize these efforts with our efforts in strengthening the overall education pipeline. We’ll also see how this all fits into the overall health reform agenda being discussed nationally. It promises to be a lively debate.

Have a good week.

David J. Schmidly