Official to meet with UNM-G Faculty Senate

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — One of the top officials for the University of New Mexico said Monday he plans to come to Gallup next week to sit down with leaders of the UNM-Gallup Faculty Senate to try to resolve the dispute between the faculty and the school's director.

The Faculty Senate last week voted a resolution of no confidence in the school's director, Beth Miller, citing a number of grievances and concerns.

Reed Dasenbrock, UNM's provost and executive vice-president of academic affairs, said he knew the Faculty Senate was planning to meet last week, but he was surprised that the senate passed the kind of resolution it did.

While a copy of the resolution was faxed to him on Friday, he said he couldn't consider it official until it was sent to him by the senate, which is expected to happen this week.

His immediate reaction to reading the resolution, he said, was that it was evident that "there needs to be more communication among all of the parties."

When he does meet with the senate leaders, he said he hopes to be able to clear up some misconceptions that were apparent by some of the concerns listed in the resolution.

For example, the senate resolution criticized Miller for not informing the senate of plans not to renew the contract of the school's Dean of Instruction, Christine Marlowe, and then for not coming to the senate when she decided to offer Marlowe the opportunity to extend her contract to January.

The senate resolution claimed that was a violation of the faculty handbook, which requires the director to consult with the senate.

"That is simply incorrect," said Dasenbrock who added that while it was all right for the director to keep the senate informed of personnel actions, seeking their advice was against university policy because of privacy issues.

He also said another concern expressed by the senate also showed a misunderstanding of how the university operates.

The senate resolution criticized Miller for continuing with building projects at a time when revenue and school enrollment is declining.

Dasenbrock said that capital improvement funds provided by the state can only be used for building construction or renovation. It can't be transferred to the operating budget to make up for any deficits.

He said Miller continues to have the support of his office and the university, especially in her efforts to handle the current financial problems of the branch.

Miller said that the school is facing a revenue shortfall this year of more than $530,000, which is why there are discussions of budget cuts and a reorganization that will hopefully bring the branch in line with its revenue.

"I would hope the faculty," said Dasenbrock, "would realize the importance of bringing the budget back into balance."

He pointed out that the branch is no different than someone who continues to spend more than he makes, relying on his credit cards to pay his bills.

"Sooner or later, he's going to have a big problem, and that's the problem we are facing," he said.

Miller also on Monday received the support of Teresa Dowling, the chairman of the branch's advisory board.

She said she was surprised to hear about the senate resolution, especially since no one from the faculty had ever come to the board expressing any of the concerns mentioned in the resolution.

"The meetings are open and anyone can attend and express concerns," she said.

She said she didn't know at this time what actions the board would take but stressed that if the Faculty Senate wants to bring its concerns to the board, it is welcome to do so.