Gov. Bill Richardson said he wants to change the way funding decisions are made for UNM.
The governor told UNM faculty, staff and students on Thursday he wants to eliminate the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education in favor of creating a cabinet-level secretary to administer New Mexico's 26 colleges and universities.
The commission, whose members are appointed by the governor, regulates and oversees all of the state's postsecondary institutions. It makes higher education funding recommendations to the Legislature.
"Higher ed is not at the table," Richardson said. "Higher ed is not discussed with funding priorities, and that needs to happen."
He pointed to criticism of the pay for part-time instructors as a reason to create a cabinet position for higher education.
Bryan Konefsky, a part-time media arts instructor, criticized the compensation for adjunct instructors during a question-and-answer period.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"We're the voiceless workers," he said.
Adjunct instructors work on a semester-to-semester, contract basis. They do not receive health insurance and make one-third of what tenured faculty make for performing the same job, Konefsky said.
If somebody at the cabinet mentioned this during budget talks, it would be easier to address, Richardson said
Two members of the commission's 15-person board are students. One is a nonvoting member.
Richardson said he will have "some student representation" in his new structure, which includes a department of higher education.
UNM is also governed at the local level by its board of regents.
While the regents determine tuition and fees for each school year, the University's budget is set by the Legislature.
Richardson wants to keep universities' board of regents, he said in a news release.
Richardson also said he wants to tie state funding for colleges and universities to graduation rates. The current funding formula is based on enrollment.
"Our fundamental goal of our education system should be graduation from college," he said.
The state will give colleges incentives to help target low-income students, he said.
"We will give you more funds to train and help those who are having trouble graduating right here," Richardson said.
He also said he plans to increase outreach programs to middle and high school students and standardize the course numbers and titles of freshmen and sophomore courses.
His proposals came out of his Task Force on Higher Education. Richardson created it in March to reform higher education.
The Legislature would have to approve the creation of a secretary of higher education. It begins its 60-day session Jan. 18.
Last year, voters approved the creation of a cabinet position to administer public education. Under the constitutional change, the state Board of Education became an advisory body.
How higher education could change
Gov. Bill Richardson has proposed five changes to how New Mexico administers and funds colleges and universities.
Create a Secretary of Higher Education
The governor says he wants to get rid of the board that oversees the state's colleges and universities and turn the regulation of higher education to a member of his cabinet. The elimination of the Commission on Higher Education would mean the loss of two student representatives on the board, which makes funding recommendations to the Legislature.
Tie college funding levels to graduation rates
Richardson says he wants to link state funding to graduation rates. University funding is currently based on how many students a school has. He said he plans to give colleges incentives to help them graduate low-income students.
Create a statewide system for transfer credits
Richardson is proposing a statewide system for freshmen and sophomore courses so students can transfer credits between New Mexico schools more easily. The system would standardize course numbers and titles. Right now schools determine their own course information and evaluate how a student's work transfers from other schools.
Expand outreach programs
The governor says he wants to expand mentoring and tutoring programs for middle and high school students. He is recommending the state use interest earnings from the surplus in the Lottery Success Scholarship Fund to pay for the programs.
Form a Department of Higher Education
Richardson says he wants to form a Department of Higher Education to oversee the 26 colleges and universities in the state and, with the Secretary of Higher Education, take the place of the Commission on Higher Education.
