Regents President Jamie Koch has been talking about changing committees for a while, but they were finally approved at Tuesday's meeting.
The regents approved adding one faculty and one staff representative to the Student and Academic Affairs Committee. Faculty Senate President Ed DeSantis and Staff Council President Steve Borbas will be added to the committee.
Borbas called the addition of the representatives creative thinking by the regents.
DeSantis said the addition is a breakthrough.
It carries both a symbolic and a real meaning for him, he said.
"It's a public acknowledgement of how important it is for faculty to be involved in policy and decision making on campus," he said.
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He said faculty can now be heard, particularly on decision making that has been going on for years.
Borbas said the additions show how involved the regents are in the University.
"They will hear much more about staff issues and discussions the staff has," he said.
Prominent issues for staff at the University are compensation, health care and benefits, continued education and the work-life balance, Borbas said.
"They'll surely hear about it," he said. "I have the opportunity to bring up these issues and have a discussion on them."
Both representatives have voting powers on the committee, but not at the full board meeting.
"They can participate, but they can't bind the regents," Koch said at a special regents meeting on Thursday.
The representatives will not participate in executive sessions, which are generally closed to the public.
The addition of the representatives eliminates reports from Faculty Senate and Staff Council at the full board meeting.
Issues brought up in committee are reported to the full board by the chairperson.
"I want to make it clear items have to be done by the regents," Koch said Thursday.
A student representative was not added because student Regent Andrea Cook is on the committee.
Two operational clinical representatives were also added to the Health Sciences Committee.
At the Thursday special regents meeting, Koch said he wanted to add people to the committee to get more timely information to the board.
The individuals on the committees will serve a minimum of one year. The regents will review the addition of representatives to both committees in a year, Koch said Thursday.
DeSantis said the regents should be commended for their decision.
"It a significant effort by the regents president and the regents to acknowledge the participation of faculty in decision that affect the University as a whole," he said.
Regents meeting notes
The Board of Regents approved the following items Tuesday:
GPSA constitutional amendments.
UNM Los Alamos branch operating agreement.
Master's degree in computer science.
Disposal of equipment that is worn out, unusable or obsolete.
The electrical services agreement between PNM and UNM.
The conversion of the existing gymnastics building to a basketball practice facility.
Phase one of construction of a new education building for the Health Sciences Center.
Renovation of the softball facilities.
The adoption of final bond sales resolution for the UNM Hospital west wing project.
Permanent appointments and reappointments to the UNMH medical staff.
Action to make revisions to the regents manual was deferred.
