The New Mexico Highlands University’s Board of Regents has placed its president, Manny M. Aragon, on administrative leave and given some of his duties to the university’s vice president for finance and administration, The Albuquerque Tribune reported today. The board’s chairman said he was in talks with Mr. Aragon, a former powerful State Senator who has been president since 2004, about his future.

Mr. Aragon has drawn criticism from faculty members for his strong-willed (some would say strong-armed) leadership, although he remains popular among students. Faculty members complained to the university’s accreditor last year that Mr. Aragon ran the campus through fear and intimidation (The Chronicle, March 7, 2005), and one of his leading faculty critics was subsequently fired (The Chronicle, March 23, 2005). Just two weeks ago, after an investigation, the American Association of University Professors put New Mexico Highliands on its list of administrations censured for violations of AAUP principles (The Chronicle, June 12).