Latest news with #WesternNewMexicoUniversityBoardofRegents
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Western New Mexico University Board of Regents announces search for president
SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) – The new members of the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents held their first official meeting Wednesday and provided an update on their plans to find a president for the university. Former WNMU President Joseph Shepard stepped down in January amid allegations of improper spending at the school, which Shepard has denied. A state audit revealed that WNMU spent more than $200,000 on travel and lodging from July 2018 to June 2023. The audit also found credit card spending totaling more than $145,000, which included furnishings for the president's residence. Story continues below News: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham authorizes National Guard deployment to Albuquerque Trending: NMSU: 6 international students' visas revoked by federal government News: Suspect in custody after fleeing from police in a U-Haul with people in the back Education: Curanderismo in the classroom: Albuquerque high school teacher introduces students to Mexican folk healing The Board of Regents Wednesday announced that they would begin a search for an interim president, and they plan to seek proposals from national talent search firms to begin recruiting for the permanent president position. The board also accepted the 2023-2024 FY Audit Report, which 'found no major irregularities' and has already been accepted by the Office of the State Auditor, according to Vice President of Business Affairs Kelley Riddle. At the meeting, Riddle also told the board that a special forensic audit required by the State Auditor is underway and will be completed by June 30. The audit is being conducted by Jaramillo Accounting Group. As WNMU moves forward with new board members who were appointed by the governor, the New Mexico Department of Justice is continuing its legal efforts to recover $1.9 million that was paid to Shepard as part of a buyout approved by the former group of regents. Shepard and his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. A hearing to address that motion is set for June 16 in Luna County District Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bills, constitutional amendments addressing regent appointments and training move forward
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez (right) and Rep. Javier Martínez (left) discuss legal against Western New Mexico University Board of Regents and outgoing President Joseph Shepard during a news conference Jan. 9, 2025. The Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced a proposal to overhaul oversight of university boards of regents in New Mexico Wednesday. Co-sponsor Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) presented House Joint Resolution 12 to members of the House Education Committee, who passed it unanimously. The resolution, supported by Attorney General Raúl Torrez, would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment that codifies regents' fiduciary duties; moves proceedings for removing regents from the state Supreme Court to district courts; and allows the attorney general or a majority of the board to initiate removal of a regent. HJR 12 now heads to the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee. The resolution is one of four bills and resolutions introduced thus far addressing the role of regents, how they are chosen and how they are prepared for serving in their roles. The legislation follows Western New Mexico University board of regents' authorization of a $1.9 million payout to outgoing university president Joseph Shepard, who is accused of wasteful spending and improper use of university funds. Several regents resigned in the aftermath. Senate Joint Resolution 7, co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces) and Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque), proposes an amendment to the New Mexico Constitution requiring the governor to select a regent for nomination from a list provided by a nominating committee for each university or community college. SJR 7 was passed unanimously through the Senate Rules Committee Friday, Feb. 7. Steinborn told Source that he thinks SJR 7 is the most important of his two regents bills because it gets to the crux of who is appointed to make decisions at universities and how. He said he has been working on this initiative for many years. 'Since my very first session, when I saw just how politicized these regent positions really were,' Steinborn said. 'I felt like we needed a better system – of taking these jobs really seriously, to make it based on merit, of who actually had the most to offer our universities.' Senate Bill 19, also sponsored by Steinborn, also passed through the Senate Rules Committee Friday with a unanimous vote and now heads to the Senate floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NM AG files amended WNMU complaint
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez (right) and Rep. Javier Martínez (left) discuss legal against Western New Mexico University Board of Regents and outgoing President Joseph Shepard during a news conference Jan. 9, 2025. In an amended complaint filed Wednesday in New Mexico's Sixth Judicial District, state Attorney General Raúl Torrez expanded upon his original allegations last month against former Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard and the university's former Board of Regents. The new filing added an adding an aiding and abetting claim to the complaint, as well as another violation of the state Constitution by the board via its agreement to defend Shepard against future claims. That indemnity clause, the amended complaint stated, violates the constitution by obligating the state 'to a contingent liability of an unlimited amount for an unlimited term. Shepard took over as WNMU president in 2011, and was terminated by the board last December after the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor published a report detailing the misuse of hundreds of thousands of public funds. That report followed a December 2023 investigation by Searchlight New Mexico on the university leadership's lavish spending. The case was referred to the State Ethics Commission. Shepard ultimately received a $1.9 million severance package that Torrez unsuccessfully tried to halt. The amended complaint restates the prior claims of breach of fiduciary duty, lack of consideration, unconscionable contract terms, violations of the Anti-Donation Clause, violations of the Open Meetings act, and unjust enrichment. Earlier this week, Torrez and state lawmakers announced a proposed constitutional amendment to strengthen oversight of university regents and administrators. 'Public officials and university administrators have a legal and ethical responsibility to act in the best interest of the institutions they serve, not their own financial gain,' Torrez said in a statement accompanying a news release announcing the amended complaint. 'This case underscores the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in higher education governance, which is why we are taking bold legislative action to prevent similar abuses in the future.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
