Regent's family presented with medallion

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents had something to address before the end of the school year: The glaring absence of regent Susan Tatum.

Board president Dan Patterson reminded the board that Tatum had “departed earlier this year (February) to her home in heaven,” and presented her husband Ed Tatum and daughter-in-law Christina Tatum with the medallion she wore at ENMU’s commencement ceremonies.

“This medallion is symbolic of her contributions to higher education and academia, and it’s worn with pride. She’s missed. I know she’s looking down,” said Patterson.

Ed Tatum related to the board an example of his wife’s unwavering dedication to the university.

“She was in a hospital in Scottsdale, still working on things the university needed and stuff she wanted talk to you about, until a couple days before she passed away,” he said.

Also at the meeting:

• Board members approved the emeritus status for two retiring faculty members and one already retired faculty member.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Jamie Laurenz requested emeritus status for Elementary Education Professor Jerry Everhart (retiring after 22 years at Eastern New Mexico University), History Professor Gerald Gies (retiring after 22 years), and Biology Professor Marv Lutnesky (retired in August 2016 after 24 years at ENMU).

• Board members approved seven changes in ENMU’s academic catalog.

The emergency management certificate program and the option of family consumer sciences as a major were removed.

“In short, the reason we’re asking to remove those is there’s no student demand or interest in those programs,” said Laurenz.

Four new degrees were added to the catalog: Associate of Science in electronic engineering technology, Bachelor of Science with a major in bioinformatics, Bachelor of Science with a major in agricultural education, and Bachelor of Science with a major in culinary arts.

The name of the Bachelors of Occupational Education degree was changed to Bachelors of Career Technical Education.

• Board members approved the spring 2017 graduation list at the Portales (481 graduates) and Roswell (183 graduates) campuses.

• Board members approved fee increases for four courses at the ENMU-Roswell: Nursing ($21), respiratory therapy ($21), emergency medical services (various increases ranging from $15 to $225), and the introduction of a $150 fee in emergency medical services.

• Board members approved the inclusion of a certificate of employability within the 2017-2018 ENMU-Roswell catalog.

ENMU-Roswell Vice President of Academic Affairs Ken Maguire said the program trains students to become a medical scribe, a position in high demand in the medical field.

Also approved was the addition of a health care clerk certificate within the university’s Youth Challenge training program.

• Board members approved the deactivation of ENMU-Roswell’s industrial engineering technology programs due to low admission.

• Board members approved the ENMU-Roswell operating agreement.

The document, which establishes the relationship of the community college board and ENMU, has not changed since it was brought before the board two years before, according to ENMU-Roswell President John Madden.

• Board members approved two new policies.

The first policy, relating to social media, established ENMU social media pages as exclusively relating to “retention, recruiting, and for other kinds of activity requests,” Executive Director of Planning and Analysis Patrice Caldwell said.

The second policy related to the use of service animals on campus, and established that they must be harnessed, under the control of their handlers at all times, and must comply with local, state and federal laws.

• Board members approved the amended constitution of the Associated Students of Eastern New Mexico University.

• Board members approved the university’s five-year capital projects plan.

The top priority of the 2017-2018 year is a the renovation of the Roosevelt Science Center, said Vice President for Business Affairs Scott Smart.

He added that the five year plan will “set the stage for the next GO (general obligation) bond project at the university, which seeks funding from the State of New Mexico.”

Smart recommended seeking funding for the Roosevelt project (estimated to cost $17 million) through the GO Bond process in two phases.

“If we’re successful in that project, it would hopefully receive $8 million on the 2018 GO Bond, and $8 million on the 2020 GO Bond, to fund what we believe is an adequate budget to renovate that facility for its intended purposes,” he said.