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One year after the creation of UNM’s Vision 2020, the regents continue to have positive outlooks on the plan.
In a special Board of Regents meeting held Friday at The Pit, the board expressed optimism about the plan.
UNM President Robert Frank said the plan is improving little by little over the years. Frank said that although Vision 2020 is not perfect, the University is working to refine the plan’s goals.
“It’s very fair to say that it’s a starting point,” he said. “We’re brand new to it, but we need to grow and keep working at it as we go down the road, and make it responsive to the needs of the University. It’s not perfect but this document will stick with us as we refine it.”
Frank initiated Vision 2020 after he took his seat as UNM’s president in June 2012. Frank held a listening campaign throughout the University community during the first 120 days of his presidency to develop the plan. The plan reflects the goals UNM plans to accomplish by 2020.
According to information handed out in the meeting, the plan includes seven goals, including to “become a destination university,” to “prepare Lobos for lifelong success” and to “enhance health and health equity in (New Mexico).”
Frank said that he appointed people for each of the goals and for each objective under those goals to uphold the plan.
Board of Regents Secretary Bradley Hosmer said he expects the vision to evolve in the coming years.
“This represents a starting point. It can certainly evolve,” he said. “Many of the parts of it mutually support each other. With the evolution of this plan we are going to achieve these goals. And in a matter of two or three years, they will come together into one innovative vision for the University.”
Student Regent Heidi Overton said the plan will add goals as the University determines its future needs.
“President Frank has stated a couple of times to us that this is a dynamic vision,” she said. “We’ll make changes as we need it.”
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Regent Gene Gallegos said the plan is improving. He said that according to Section 7 of Frank’s contract, the president is entitled to two performance bonuses of $25,000 based on the improvement of the University’s graduation and retention rates with regard to the plan.
But he said although both rates are improving at the University, Frank turned down the performance bonus for graduation rate improvement. Frank still received the performance bonus for improving retention rates at the University.
“His contract provides the possibility of two $25,000 performance bonuses. While arguably he reached the second performance bonus, he has asked us not to consider at this time,” he said. “At his request, we will not address it. The only performance bonus that he has asked us to address is that of the retention bonus. Those rates have improved.”
Board of Regents President Jack Fortner said he applauds Frank for approaching the plan slowly but surely.
“One of the things that I appreciate with the president is that he didn’t try and rush the set goals,” he said. “He wanted to discuss it. He wanted to learn before he changed it.”
