I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Top brass at the University of New Mexico seem to be bowing a little to the pressure from faculty as well as lawmakers to reign in administrative spending.
President David J. Schmidly announced Monday a series of actions to move resources into teaching and research and away from nonacademic administration. UNM will cut nonacademic administrative spending on the university’s main campus by 15 percent over the next three years, while adding at least 10 additional full-time, tenure-track faculty positions during the same period.
Additionally, Schmidly announced an indefinite freeze on pay increases for top administrators, including himself as well as the vice presidents, plus a freeze on all increases for nonacademic staff making more than $125,000 annually through the 2009-10 fiscal year.
He also announced that a university-wide policy on awarding “deferred compensation” as a component of salaries would be developed and given to the Board of Regents for approval.
Over the past year, Schmidly has been criticized by faculty for an expansion of administrative staff at the expense of faculty, including a 71-percent increase in executive salaries since 2002. In the past month the $428,000 salary plus $50,000 in deferred compensation drawn by UNM Executive Vice President David Harris has caused an uproar.
In a letter announcing the changes, Schmidly said the changes come on the heels of the university’s successful reigning in of spending to meet the challenges of the economic crisis.
Two state legislators said in a press release that the changes were a step in the right direction.
“This is a great first step and good news for those of us who have been concerned about executive compensation. The university’s willingness to assess and adjust its business model is appreciated by all,” said state Sen. Cisco McSorley, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and represents the Albuquerque neighborhoods immediately adjacent to UNM.
“Though I had concerns about executive compensation, I am heartened to see that the university is taking the lead and revisiting old policies,” added state Rep. Larry Larranaga of Albuquerque.
