In an unanounced closed meeting Friday, the UNM Presidential Search Committee reviewed the "small number" of presidential evaluations completed by the University community after each of the five finalists' campus forums conducted throughout April.
Larry Willard, president of the Board of Regents and a member of the search committee, said the committee received very few evaluations "considering the number of people we have here on campus."
Willard said he thinks the low number of evaluations reflects "people pretty much had their questions answered" about the candidates and "they felt comfortable with the process."
Friday's search committee meeting did not produce a report or summary of the evaluations, Willard added.
Though a quorum, which requires the University to give public notice, was present for at least part of Friday's meeting, the University did not give notice to the community.
According to the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, if a closed meeting is called when the body is not in open meeting, reasonable public notice must be given.
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"In retrospect, public notice of a closed meeting should have been given," said Nick Estes, head of University Counsel.
He added that he did not see any negative ramifications of the meeting not being announced because the committee took no action.
"I'd even go so far as to say I don't see that any harm was done, but that doesn't mean we're not sorry," Estes said.
Willard said that after a closed Monday meeting of the full board aimed at discussing the qualifications of the five finalists, the regents still have complete confidence in the qualifications of all the candidate.
Despite the Faculty Senate voting three of the five as unacceptable, Willard said the candidates "came across as even stronger" after visits to campus and interviews with members of the search committee.
In particular, the Senate has concerns about candidate Louis Caldera. Caldera, who has no teaching experience at the university level, does not meet all the qualifications for UNM president, the Senate contends.
Among the qualifications for the University's next president are academic credentials to include teaching, research and service in a college or university setting that merits appointment to the ranks of the senior faculty in an academic unit.
He said that in his opinion, Caldera meets the academic credentials criterion, but he declined to elaborate.
Willard said he has spoken with Gov. Bill Richardson regarding the search and that the governor is "very excited." Richardson is not advocating one particular candidate, Willard added.
The search committee plans to name the next president at the regular Board of Regents meeting on May 16, Willard said.
