ENMU eyes virtual graduation ceremony

PORTALES — The last time Eastern New Mexico University regents met, they made a decision to postpone graduation ceremonies with the intent to either hold a replacement ceremony or cancel by Aug. 1.

A virtual graduation floated at Friday’s virtual regents meetings brings ENMU no closer to either option, but might offer some temporary relief.

John Houser, ENMU’s assistant vice president of marketing and communications, told regents the college is looking at a virtual ceremony that recognizes graduates while keeping expenses to a minimum.

Houser said Duane Ryan, director of broadcasting for KENW, has agreed to film a commencement ceremony at the studio that could be broadcast statewide on its television channels and online as well.

Segments would be filmed in advance with speakers and deans and edited together, and the broadcast could feature graduate names either in a ticker or a credit roll format. Houser said students could possibly submit a picture or have their student ID picture used. A slideshow hundreds of students could make for a lengthy celebration, but Houser said with a pre-recorded ceremony viewers could receive a precise itinerary of when segments would appear or view an archived version online at any time.

Houser said the ceremony is a concept, and he is waiting on student government and faculty senate to meet this week to provide feedback. He’s optimistic such a ceremony could be ready for broadcast by the end of May.

“This won’t preclude (us) from having a ceremony at another time,” Houser said. “We pushed it back to the end of May so we can have enough time to get the messaging out.”

In other business at the Friday meeting:

• ENMU Chancellor and Portales branch President Jeff Elwell commended staff and faculty for their work converting university operations to virtual formats.

Elwell said there were about 15 students in residence halls, 30 students and staff in the West Campus Apartments and 23 students in the privately owned San Juan Village. He estimates about 100 students who live off-campus have been coming onto campus parking lots to use wi-fi services, and credited IT Director Clark Elswick and his staff for boosting the wi-fi range.

He noted that the Portales campus only had two withdrawals out of thousands of students and more than 1,300 classes.

“Every comment I’ve seen on social media has been positive about the faculty,” Elwell said. “Some of them don’t like the online classes, but they’re happy with how we’ve responded to them.”

• Elwell said the ENMU system should receive $2.92 million from the CARES Act, with half of the amount earmarked for students. The amount is based on Pell Grant usage and other demographic factors, and can only be used for COVID-19 reasons. Elwell said he received the information during the meeting, and did not have more specifics.

• The Roswell branch preliminary 2020-21 budget was approved, with the caveat the college was instructed by the state to submit a budget based on the regular legislative session.

Regents Lance Pyle and Dan Patterson noted budget cuts were coming, and recommended money currently slated for staff raises be set aside as a separate line item.

An approval was made, contingent on the college keeping a working 2020-21 budget that does not exceed the 2019-20 budget.

• Roswell branch President Shawn Powell said the campus population is restricted largely to security and physical plant. Anybody who needs to visit the campus should clear the visit with a vice president and limit their time on campus.

The branch’s graduation will be converted to a virtual format, and any spring graduate may participate in the fall graduation.

For classes that require hands-on work, Powell said the plan is to issue a grade of “incomplete” and work with the students to make up the missing work when possible.

• Ruidoso branch President Ryan Karstens said the branch’s situation was very similar to Roswell. Students are experiencing stress being cooped up with their families, and Karstens said faculty and staff are working to use the technology to not only educate the students, but help them feel they aren’t isolated.

Karstens reported what he is optimistically calling a delay in registration for summer courses, and he hasn’t seen a wave of withdrawals for the current semester.

• A review was given by Karstens of the second phase of Ruidoso branch infrastructure improvements, and a bond sale was approved not to exceed $4.084 million to cover the project costs. Karstens is optimistic by the time the bid period happens in late spring that construction companies will be more than ready to take on projects.

• The board met in executive session for a pair of personnel matters, and took no action in open session.

The next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 8 at the Portales campus. The meeting was originally scheduled for the Roswell branch, but Regent Terry Othick said the main reason for the meeting location was the now-postponed branch graduation ceremony.