The state of New Mexico State University

Regent Infirmity

The state of New Mexico State University

No Aggies, no New Mexicans, and no Guts!

By Stephen L. Wilmeth

            Could such an admission be possible?

            The conclusion there was common ground in the view of one Jeff Steinborn, he of New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and Rewilding advocacy, and this southern New Mexico rancher was unsettling. If such a thing could happen, would there be other allegiances? The begrudging common theme was the disgust with the regents of New Mexico State University.

Mr. Steinborn, in his role as a state legislator from Las Cruces, had advanced the suggestion at least a portion of that board should be elected rather than appointed by the governor. He was contemplating crafting legislation to get that accomplished. His posture was predicated on his outrage regarding the indecisiveness and seemingly amateurish handling of recent board actions.

I agree wholeheartedly with his deduction.

Where I part with his approach is the role the governor should continue to play in the selection process. Right, wrong or indifferent the will of the governor should be maintained. I am a staunch believer the reversal of state legislative authority to seat our two senators in favor of a popular vote was a grave mistake. That constitutional amendment ultimately took away the control of senators seated by the state and redirected their allegiance to reelection fund contributors. If Mr. Steinborn’s approach is passed, he will successfully redirect the appointment of regents similarly, and, in this current New Mexico … the seating of university regents will be transferred to the environmental vote.

Common Ground

The frustration with the Regents, though, remains common ground. It started long before their recent year insistence to seat a female president regardless of the pool of candidates. That president, Barbara Couture, shared only in a background in land grant universities by her alma mater, Nebraska. She certainly wasn’t an Aggie.

Couture came to the university following a recent cavalcade of academic gigolos who used the school for a bush league bridge to the big time. She may have had the same course in mind, but she wasn’t a bridge builder, either. She expanded the divide between the school and contributors to a point most communication ceased. Those all important resources were let down or humiliated to the point they quit trying. She wasn’t any more accomplished in working with the state legislature.

She had the same problem with various schools within the university. That point is highlighted by the letter of resignation that at least one Dean carried on his person each and every time he attended a staff meeting. It was anticipated but remained unknown when and where it might be needed.

The growing debacle can be traced similarly in other directions. The most high profile hickies took place in the failure of the school to take action on the certification and ultimate loss of its nursing program certification in its community college affiliation, in the highly publicized national athletic conferencing embarrassments, and in the announcement of being placed at the highest rungs of the most dangerous universities in the nation … great stuff for recruiting material for sure!

The expanding symptoms, though, were also scattered across time. As schools like Eastern New Mexico University were gaining recognition as wholesome places for parents to send their kids, New Mexico State was earning demerits. It wasn’t just the most dangerous campus rating that caught attention. It was the private discussions that were taking place among industry colleagues that were more worrisome. Concerned parents were talking about the more wholesome environments in other campus settings. They were talking about the departure of the Ag school to fulfill its role as the land grant mission provider to New Mexico.

The school seemed to be more willing to seek exotic collaborations like the 2011 agreement signed between a Mongolian University for faculty and student exchanges than reaching out to New Mexico producers. Relationships that actually address constraints experienced by state producers are as scarce as parking spots on the campus reserved for visitors requested to attend occasional meetings.

The school year of 2010 became a watershed year at the university. Enrollment was down 2.8% while the family choice universities, ENMU and Texas Tech, were up. That was concurrent with the relentless legacy building projects that can only be deducted as negative functions of agriculture enrollment and importance. Agenda 21 sustainability was starting to filter into the open vernacular.

Then, a real agenda underpinning was revealed. In December, 2011 the school announced it would distribute millions of dollars in year end bonuses. At a time when the nation and the parents of thousands of students were wondering how they were going to even make ends meet, President Couture and the Board of Regents were worried about the morale (and devotion) of their staff. A total of $3.9 million was passed out in front of the watchful, incredulous eyes of tax payers.

Such benevolence was, of course, followed by demands for tuition increases the following semester. That was also the beginning of athletic conferencing changes that solidified the realization that NMSU had no idea how to engage much less manage negotiation and affiliation directions. It made the school look foolish and inept.

Leadership at New Mexico State was in tatters.  

It was then President Couture went missing. She was reported to be on leave, but no details were forthcoming. That was followed by the announcement that the Board of Regents had parted amicably with the president for the exchange of $453,000 tax payer dollars. When pressed the explanation was that it was a private matter that the covenants of the agreement disallowed any details.

Holy cow … Mr. Steinborn and I are mutually disgusted on a shared matter.  

The Woes unaltered

Several months ago, the Regents embarked on the mission to replace Couture. They scheduled public scoping and debate sessions around the state. They pledged to make the selection process a hallmark victory for NMSU’s future.

I attended the meeting on the campus in Las Cruces. As far as I know, I was the only agriculturist among the attendants. I didn’t glimpse a single agricultural colleague. What was very apparent was the abundance of faculty and cooperators who were there to defend their programs and their contracts. I not only felt like an outsider, I was an outsider. The view, for all intents and purposes, was from the outside looking in to a behemoth university system adrift.

Then, weeks later, the announcement came. The Regents decided to hire a gunslinger to find the right candidate. A professional headhunter was engaged and another $90,000 was palmed by somebody to find a candidate.

Judgment in this matter is now appropriate and abundantly justified. Word around is the presidential candidate is already targeted which, in itself, is another NMSU normal and tedious procedural tendency, but that isn’t the central concern. The salient concern must be redirected to the Regents. They are the sworn leadership which is now openly making a mockery out of a great university.

There is not an agriculturist amongst their ranks. The question must be asked. Did they discover in the public meetings they couldn’t make the best decision because they lacked leadership from that component of the land grant universe or are they just tentative and incapable of making a decision? If they are indeed from leadership elite, why would they contemplate delegating assistance in making such a critical decision?

            The fact is the time has come for the governor to take this bunch to the woodshed. If they were in private business, they would be justifiably sacked.

            Salt in the wound

            The departure of Duwayne Walker from the football program has become a parting salute to the Couture legacy. Within days of the all important recruiting class signing period, Walker turned tail and ran from the school and its athletic problems. Salt was rubbed into the festering, raw wound on the crimson Horseshoe.

            In the wake, though, a possible best case candidate seemed to surface in the newly tagged head coach. Coach Doug Martin initially said the right things. He told the community NMSU wasn’t a rebuilding candidate. It was a class university that needed polishing. Many folks basked in those words with immediate and renewed hope. It transcended even beyond the football field, but, alas … his recruiting class was announced

            Not a single New Mexico athlete was among the young men recruited to play football at the school! When asked why he suggested some paltry reasoning that New Mexico boys are too hard to judge.

            Yes, Martin … we have always been, and too many times we have been badly underestimated. If you want community buy in, recognize it is time to posture the school for what is best for the state not an unattainable model that clearly isn’t working.

            Yes, Jeff and I agree. We see this one similarly.

            Stephen L. Wilmeth is a rancher from southern New Mexico. “Governor Martinez, it is time to act.”