U. of New Mexico Faculty Votes No Confidence in President

Faculty members at the University of New Mexico overwhelmingly voted no confidence in the university’s president, David J. Schmidly, according to a university news release. The professors also approved similar measures criticizing the leadership of other university officials and called for an audit of university funds.

Mr. Schmidly, who arrived at the university in 2007 after stints as president of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State Universities, has been under fire for raising administrative compensation while the institution is facing a budget crunch. He has also been criticized for a job offer his son received from the university, and later declined. Mr. Schmidly said he had nothing to do with that hiring decision.

At a general faculty meeting, professors also approved no-confidence votes against David W. Harris, the university’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer, and James H. Koch, president of the university’s Board of Regents. The faculty members called for an outside audit of university finances.

“Regent Koch’s tenure on the Board of Regents has coincided with the substantial diversion of millions of dollars away from instructional funds and toward the payment of golden parachutes, executive salaries, bonuses, housing and automobile allowances, and other types of compensation,” one motion read.

Mr. Schmidly said in a written statement that he was disappointed by the vote, but that he would try to gain the support of all faculty members.

“While the decisions we have made may have not been popular with some,” Mr. Schmidly said, “we have nevertheless so far managed to avoid any layoffs or furloughs, unlike so many other colleges and universities — all while increasing enrollment and diversity and adding 43 new faculty positions.”