Present: Julie Morales, Zane Howard, Kathie Gilbert, Donna Rees, Faye Vowell, Chris Casey, Tony Macias, Carmen Maynes.

· Student government is underway with Great Race preparations. They have added two new senators: Hector Guerro and Jeremy Guin. The student fees committee has met and memos have been sent out to everyone involved in student fees. They are trying to meet and get fees determined by February 19. Furnishing fee committee will meet this week and determine how to spend this money. The Mustang should be out tomorrow. Student government will be lobbying in Santa Fe--Jeremy Rutherford has been there about three times and Zane Howard will be going next weekend. ASNM has not done very much this year, but has set up an agenda for lobbying. WNMU contacted NMSU and have worked collaboratively with them regarding lobbying. Student government has contacted men's basketball players regarding their testimony but have received responses from only three and will not use this testimony if more information is not received.
· Donna Rees was in Santa Fe at legislative dinner and talked with Don Tripp and Lee Rossen regarding more funding for WNMU. She met with Patty Lundstrum from McKinley Co. also regarding formula funding and talked with Irvin Harrison who is a new representative.
· Donna Rees is going to Albuquerque to a BIA meeting. The BIA is meeting with all of their contractors.
· Donna Rees has been invited by the Gallup Advisory Council to meet on March 18 regarding student concerns.
· Donna Rees is working with Andy Hernandez to set up group Asset testing (February 14) with Deming teachers. Faye Vowell stated that it looks like SOE faculty will also be doing a mass advising day on February 22 for at least people in the Master's program and we may do something for the Associate's degree people also. Deming may develop like Gallup in terms of enrollment and need for support people. We expected some increase, but right now we have $100,000 more in tuition than expected. Deming currently has 350 students and may go to 500. We will have to consider enrollment management in Deming.
· Julie Morales is working on the Answer Book ,an annual publication for students, and on the West Wind which will be out next week; she asked for contributions.
· The most recent Community Relations meeting was a positive experience. The parking lot by the FACT was discussed and information will be given to the community.
· Castorena's parking lot is being paved and will be finished in about 2-3 weeks. Faye Vowell suggested a sign be placed to indicate where traffic should enter the remaining west parking lot. Concerns were expressed regarding traffic in the parking lot. The following streets have been improved with a grant and matching funds from WNMU: paved behind Juan Chacon, parking lot at Castorena, road past the library between PD and Harlan Hall.
· Diversity training for the athletic dept. and business department is scheduled on April 1. It will be an all day training by an organization that the NCAA uses.
· The Fire Marshall was on campus last week. It was the best inspection we have ever had--some heaters were confiscated and some places need to be cleaned. He will be back to follow-up on issues this week. The Fire Marshall was pleased with what he saw. There were issues in Juan Chacon, Michael Metcalf's area, etc. Fire alarms and fire extinguishers were in good shape. He was pleased with what he saw in maintenance and feels that we have made a lot of progress.
· Last weekend women's basketball played Oklahoma Panhandle and won both games and girl's softball won all three games. Men's basketball is home this week. Woody Hahn will be presenting women's softball team with banner at Thursday evening game.
· An issue brought up last semester regarding concurrent students not being able to access computer lab because of no ID has been resolved. Concurrent students will be given a special ID that will allow them to access the computer labs. The question was raised as to where lists of privileges that were available to faculty, staff, and students could be found. Appropriate people need to check on how current these listings are and possibly put them in the catalog. Donna Rees is making special IDs for Deming students and merchants in the community that offer discounts. Chris Casey suggested a fundraising idea similar to what Silver and Cobre schools have. Merchants are listed on the back of their IDs that offer discounts.
· Kathie Gilbert reported on a meeting to discuss preparation for Quality New Mexico award. The group went through Baldrige criteria. She will be requesting department chairs to set a special department meeting between the 15th of February -15th of March to look at Criteria I under AQIP "Helping Students Learn."
· The Assessment conference will be on February 27-28.
· The Quality New Mexico conference is March 13-14 in Albuquerque. Dr. Counts indicated that if someone wanted to go, he would support it.
· Carmen Maynes asked if comment cards were still being used. Kathie Gilbert said that they were and that they are being sent to the appropriate VPs. This information is transmitted electronically to Dr. Counts and the VPs. Faye Vowell suggested that maybe the Mustang could write an article regarding this as a mechanism to express ideas, complaints, etc. Kathie Gilbert would eventually like to have an electronic comment box--maybe on WNMU web page. She believes we would receive more responses. She would also like to encourage positive comments in the comment box. Another comments report should be out within two weeks.
· Tony Macias has hired a Title V funded Business mentor facilitator--Terry Rios. She is working with peer leaders and mentors and will be conducting evaluations of this part of the program.
· Next week, Tony Macias will be in Las Cruces at the Assessment conference; the group that made presentation in Denver will be presenting.
· Tony Macias will be going to Santa Fe with the Prospectors to meet with Governor and Lt. Governor to lobby.
· The Electrical curriculum was approved by C & I, the VPAA and the President and will be going to Board of Regents at its meeting this week. The Construction curriculum has been submitted to C & I for review.
· Faye Vowell asked about WIA people being called up to go to the Middle East. Chris Casey stated that the WIA would probably take care of students on a case-by-case basis. As far as WNMU goes, we will reverse all charges so the students will not owe WNMU money. If students have Pell or FAFSA, Financial Aid will have to make these decisions on a case-by-case basis. Kathie Gilbert suggested that an article be prepared for the paper regarding this process and placed in Mustang also.
· Manny Salas passed away Sunday. He worked for ABE for about 6 years. Services are pending.
· Carmen Maynes will be in Santa Fe for the Board meeting on Thursday This meeting we have the following items on the agenda: audit, electrical program and certificate program approval, and emeritus status for Dr. Rapp. Three new regents will be joining the Board: Sharon Zuniga, Tony Trujillo, and Bud Davis.
· Carmen Maynes has been asked to be a member of a mediation board for the Town of Silver City.
· Carmen will be working with Peggy Lankford on committees to renovate the cafeteria and for the renewal of cafeteria contract.
· The Community Service requirement for Gen Ed will be coming up for a vote at General Assembly. Currently community service is not required.
· The fall student evaluations will go out today. There were some difficulties with the process and are working to see that problems are resolved.
· Faye Vowell had a meeting with faculty who are interested in promotion and tenure.
· Faye Vowell attended AASCU VPs meeting in Mobile, Alabama. She felt that NM is much better off than the rest of the nation regarding budget. Some schools are taking 10-15% budget cuts.
· Faye Vowell also participated in a North Central visit to a school in Wisconsin. She handed out a brochure from an organization that works through issues of racism and diversity using diversity circles. (A diversity circle is a group of 8-12 people from different backgrounds and viewpoints who meet several to talk about an issue. Everyone has an equal voice and people try to understand each other's views. They do not have to agree with each other. The idea is to share concerns and look for ways to make things better.) Course credit is given for workshops offered through their continuing education. Faye Vowell would like for the Cabinet to begin to think about a process similar to this to address issues that have surfaced to have a productive outcome. Kathie Gilbert would like to see this diversity circle concept be a joint effort among groups in the community and the university. She knows that some communities have employed this process and have had very positive results. Kathie Gilbert stated that the facilitator be able to handle hostile and difficult situations. Faye Vowell stated that there should be training for facilitators. The Multicultural Council needs to be involved. The consensus of the group is that this is a constructive process. Donna Rees stated that this would be a good way to involve community. Faye Vowell asked that all Cabinet members take it back to their units and see if there is interest in this process. Dr. Gilbert also suggested working through the Multicultural Council to begin this process. Zane Howard said that it would need the support of all units on the campus.