ENMU regents to hear energy efficiency plans

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents is scheduled to hear at its meeting today plans to make its campus more energy efficient.

The plans include an effort to renovate buildings and “make them more green, if you will, to conserve energy,” said ENMU President Jeff Elwell.

The university has been dedicated to saving energy for several years, Elwell said.

“A decade ago, our utility bills were twice as much as they are now, even though energy’s now more expensive, and we have more square footage, so it’s been working.”

Also at today’s meeting, set for 9:30 a.m. at the administration building on the Portales campus:

• Budget reports from all three ENMU campuses — Portales, Ruidoso, and Roswell — will be presented.

• ENMU Roswell’s 2018-2019 academic calendar will be up for approval.

• Regents will consider the addition of three new degrees and the deletion of one degree at the Ruidoso campus.

• A request to replace the fire alarm system in eight buildings on the Roswell campus will be considered.

• Amendments to university policies including motor vehicle use, purchasing, and technology purchases will be up for approval.

• The adoption of a resolution to issue system improvement bonds will be considered.

• Regents will hear an update on the search for a new president at the Ruidoso campus.

Elwell attended a meeting via Skype in September and said the search is “well under way.”

“At that time ... they had 13 applications, and they were hoping to, before Thanksgiving, narrow down the field and hopefully, in early December, announce five finalists,” he said.