by Katy Knapp
Daily Lobo
UNM President Louis Caldera will probably not get a $25,000 bonus this year.
He said the decision to not award him a bonus is not final and may be discussed at the next Board of Regents meeting in September.
"The whole process is sort of winding down," he said. "It hasn't come to a close."
Caldera asked the regents last month in an executive session to take his bonus of $25,000 from him and apply it toward other areas of the University, he said.
"I'd rather see the money made available for programs and scholarships," he said.
The regents approved Caldera's compensation of $338,500 last September, which included a $25,000 bonus. The regents also rescinded an executive bonus plan at this month's meeting, which would have given certain members of the administration bonuses for special achievements.
Regent Mel Eaves said the board will probably approve removing Caldera's bonus during the next regents meeting.
"I hate to pre-judge what the board will do, but the view will probably be the same that it would be inappropriate to give him his bonus in light of removing the executive bonus plan," he said.
Caldera said with that plan off the table, he felt right giving up his bonus.
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The president also came under fire in June, when he proposed a controversial policy that would make it more difficult to get into UNM by raising admissions standards. Opponents of the policy said it would disenfranchise minorities who statistically receive lower SAT and ACT scores. The regents didn't agree with the proposal and asked Caldera to look at other options.
Removing Caldera's bonus had nothing to do with his performance in the past year, Eaves said.
Caldera also said he asked the regents to receive a compensation increase of 3.5 percent a year - which is about the same percentage other UNM employees receive.
"I don't want to receive more than faculty does," he said. "What the faculty gets is good enough for me," Caldera said.
In spite of everything, Caldera said he is proud of his staff and all they have accomplished this year.
"I'm just going to keep working hard to make UNM the best university it can be," he said. "We can hold our heads up high."
