Notes from Oct. 1999 Regents Meeting

SOCORRO, N.M., October 20, 1999 -- The New Mexico Tech Board of Regents during a meeting on Monday, October 18, voted to delay taking action on a proposal presented by the university's Faculty Council to raise admission requirements for entering first-year students to include a minimum high school grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5, instead of the currently required 2.0.

After the regents discussed the proposal and assessed the university's current admission requirements and retention rates, Tech Board of Regents Chairman Robert E. Taylor characterized the board's plan to postpone action on the proposal until its March 2000 meeting as ". . . not to be interpreted as a 'No,' but rather as a continuation which will allow the board more time to better understand all the variables involved."

During discussion of the proposal, Taylor further echoed Regent Sid Gutierrez's sentiment that the New Mexico Tech governing board's primary concern is to raise the retention rate at the state-supported university and that raising admission standards may help in this regard.

In other matters considered during the meeting, the Tech Board of Regents unanimously voted to prepare and adopt a deliberate schedule for the board to systematically examine and consider a possible name change for the institution.

Tech President Daniel H. López also noted in his announcements to the board that "very preliminary" enrollment figures for next year's summer session and fall semester show a small increase in applications and paid applicants.

López further briefed the regents on recent federal appropriations which were passed for New Mexico Tech research projects for Fiscal Year 2000. The appropriations, which include funding for new projects, as well as continued funding for programs already in place, total nearly $22.5 million of "flow-through funds" of which nearly one-half of the amount is considered direct income to Tech.

The Tech Regents were also informed that Catherine T. Aimone-Martin, associate professor of mineral engineering at Tech, was granted a sabbatical leave for the next academic year.

In other official actions taken during the meeting, the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents also unanimously approved granting emeritus status to Clyde M. Dubbs, a longtime Tech math professor who retired earlier this year.

During the board meeting, the Board of Regents also were given a detailed financial summary report of the university's budget after the first two months of the fiscal year by W. Dennis "Denny" Peterson, Tech's vice president for administration and finance.

In other financial matters, the regents approved the second-lowest bid for a construction contract to build a new student apartment complex on the university campus. The second-lowest bid was accepted over the lowest bid because of state laws which allow in-state contractors a five percent adjustment advantage over out-of-state contractors.

The Tech Board of Regents also approved the acquisition of additional water rights to meet future needs of the university.

In addition, the Board of Regents voted to establish a tuition and fee policy and approved a policy as drafted by Tech's Office for Administration and Finance. The board also approved several pages of revisions to the New Mexico Tech Employee Handbook.

The New Mexico Tech Board of Regents ended their monthly meeting with a detailed briefing on progress being made on the university's Strategic Plan, specifically in the area of quality of life for students.

The next New Mexico Tech Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Monday, November 15, at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel in Albuquerque.