The Higher Learning Commission accreditation team welcomed 10 displeased community members who came to voice concerns about the University's role in areas around campus.
The evaluators led several open forums Monday, allowing students, faculty, staff and community members to share their perspectives on how the University is accomplishing its mission.
The community forum focused on the HLC's fifth accreditation criterion: engagement and service.
Evaluator Donald M. Marshall began the meeting by asking the attendees how the University engages the community.
The response from all members in attendance was, "Not well."
Mark Radford, a UNM neighbor, said the families that live close to the University have deep ties to the school but are not usually its allies.
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"The relationship between the administration of the University and the surrounding communities has been deeply strained," he said.
Radford presented and read a letter to the HLC evaluators. He spoke of an ongoing struggle between UNM and its neighbors over the development of the North Golf Course and Barren Fairways.
Noreen Bladergroen, alumna and UNM neighbor, said there is a disconnection between UNM and the status of education statewide.
"It is disconcerting to hear that there is not a sense of collaboration with the education community," she said.
Bladergroen said the University's internal issues between faculty and administration show that it does not keep its word, making UNM an untrustworthy partner.
"The University does not appear to use the theories that it teaches," she said.
Judith Bennahum, former dean of Fine Arts, said state funding presents the biggest problem for UNM.
"The minute we make money for endowment (funds), our budget is slashed for the next year," she said.
Bennahum said the financial situation at UNM is pathetic and affects the University's administration.
"The heart of it is money," she said. "Money is everything."
Carolyn Gonzales, University spokeswoman, said UNM has worked for years to help the communities it serves.
"The school of Architecture and Planning does so many outreach programs with the city and with communities around the state," she said.
Community members agreed they had heard of some outreach programs but said the University has not publicized its community efforts.
Marshall said the community members' concerns are common during the accreditation process.
"We have this type of meeting at every one of these visits," he said.
Marshall said the HLC is looking for a variety of examples of community outreach. He said the team had already heard of positive ways that UNM programs have an impact in the state.
Marshall said HLC evaluators meet with everyone on campus to get a big-picture concept of how the University affects the people it interacts with.
"There are some very positive aspects of outreach that UNM is involved with," he said.
