Meetings watch: Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents

Eastern New Mexico University’s Board of Regents met Friday.

The business included:

• ENMU System Chancellor and Portales campus President Jeff Elwell presented the five projects the Portales campus planned to submit as top priorities for capital outlay dollars in the 2020 state legislative session.

Some of the items did not have specific dollar amounts attached, but Elwell noted the item was information only and the requests would have price tags when sent to legislators.

Projects included asbestos abatement and demolition of Bernalillo Hall, work on a keyless entry system for various university buildings, a power line replacement near the West Campus Apartments, a new stage at the University Theatre Center and infrastructure for an electrical engineering technology curriculum.

University Police Chief Brad Mauldin said the keyless entry system would provide many benefits, including quicker turnaround on unlock requests and the ability to instantly lock down buildings in a potential active shooter scenario.

Elwell wasn’t planning on making requests to potentially convert Harding Hall into a welcome center because even in the event the college gets $6 million in capital outlay it would still be hard-pressed to get the remaining money $2 million to $3 million through general fund dollars and private donations.

Regent Terry Othick felt the welcome center was a good idea to convert the unused residence hall into a center that would house many student service departments and solve the infrastructure issues they had at their current facilities, but it hasn’t gained public support because conversations never go beyond the words “welcome center.”

ENMU Regent Dan Patterson agreed, noting, “I’m concerned we’re putting off something that needs to be done; we can’t go with the wind all the time.”

• Elwell said following media reports about spouse Edwina Gower’s troubles in getting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library established in Roosevelt and De Baca counties, a couple of local entities with 501(c)3 status offered to help, and that the United Way of Eastern New Mexico will help with the effort.

The program sends books to children at no charge to families who sign up, with local donors funding the effort. About $65,000 has already been raised for the first three years of the program, with Gower estimating costs of around $40,000 per year depending on how many families sign up for the service. She said at the Nov. 1 regents meeting she was confident she could raise the rest of the money, but at the time lacked a 501(c)3 to run the money through.

United Way Executive Director Erinn Burch said Saturday the organization would act as more than just a fiscal agent for the program, and plans to aid in promotion and family signups. She said the United Way plans to start a signup process in mid-January.

Gower had sought permission to use the ENMU Foundation’s 501(c)3, but regents were concerned about that because even though they supported youth literacy it didn’t fall within the foundation’s parameters.

• Regents approved travel expenses for Elwell and Gower to attend a legislative dinner organized by Curry and Roosevelt counties in Santa Fe, with the ENMU Foundation covering the expenses.

The foundation has provided the university with $60,000 for such matters, but once the university takes the money it must be spent in line with university policy, which doesn’t recognize expenses for Gower as reimbursable because she isn’t technically an ENMU employee. Elwell noted Gower is more than a dinner guest at such functions, and noted a few small improvements like Department of Transportation signage for ENMU was acquired because of her conversations at legislative events.

The regents approved the request, but noted it needs to meet with foundation members to create a better approach to such requests.

• A consolidation of positions was approved for the Roswell campus. President Shawn Powell said the school has an interim vice president of academic affairs and a retiring vice president of student affairs. The college will instead have a vice president of academic and student affairs and an assistant vice president. The move wouldn’t change the financial picture, Powell said, but would lead to better collaboration.

• The board approved a list of various policy changes, including an alcohol policy reflecting the university’s recent approval for a governmental liquor license.

Possession of alcohol in residence halls remains a violation of university policy, and alcohol is only distributed at approved events.

• The board elected its slate of officers for the coming year, with Othick as president, Patterson as vice president and student regent Joseph Gergel as secretary.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 23 at the Hilton Santa Fe.

— Compiled by Editor Kevin Wilson