Cabinet Minutes for 19 February 2002

Present: Chris Farren, Peggy Lankford, Donna Rees, Jerry Harmon, Pat McIntire for Gwen Cassel, Kathie Gilbert, Mike Metcalf, Steve Reed, Chris Casey, Julie Morales, Christie Miller, John Counts

President Counts exhibited the plaque given to WNMU by Phelps Dodge in appreciation for the help we have given them.

President Counts gave us a brief update on activities at the Legislature--30 day session this year. Thank our legislators if you see them. Sharon Zuniga did a fine job representing the Associated Students of New Mexico in regard to a bill to relieve students from having to pay gross receipts tax on books and other study materials.

The bill for the operating budget is in the governor's hands. He has until 6 March to act on it. The bill contains a flat budget for Western-flat budget means what formula calls for A later bill calls for a .02% budget decrement. In our case, that amount to around $30,000. So our budget for next year will be pretty tight.

On the capital side, WNMU has $5 million dollars in GO bonds pending including 1.6 million for PD construction. CHE got about 2/3 of what it asked for in IT. If the GO bond passes, we will get around $70,000 which will be earmarked for IT for the ACTIVE learning project.

A special bill for $250,000 to assist displaced miners also went to the governor.

This is assessment week. Testing will be on Wednesday and Thursday. Students are being responsive.

The AQIP Quarterly Meeting was held last Monday. It will meet again in early April to finish reviewing assessment measure. The group discuss ways to open up the budget process more.

Kathie Gilbert and President Counts are going to the Newcomers Club on Thursday to give them an update on WMNU activities.

Next week the New Mexico Higher Education Assessment and Retention Conference will be in ABQ next week; WNMU will be well represented.

Employee survey questions have been sent to a new person in Las Cruces. Kathie is asking for an estimate for creating Scantron sheets to collect the raw data. Faculty on campus would then analyze the data. This procedure would save the University money.

Kathie Gilbert will be off campus until March 28.