All items approved at ENMU meeting in Ruidoso

RUIDOSO — The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents met in Ruidoso on Friday with two new members joining the board for their first meeting.

Jeff Elwell, president of ENMU-Portales and chancellor of the three college system, said regent Lance Pyle and student regent Joseph Gergel participated in their first meeting since being appointed to the board by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and signed their oath of office.

Elwell said all five action items were approved, including the ENMU-Ruidoso operating agreement, which Elwell said coincidentally was included on the agenda for the board’s annual meeting in Ruidoso.

Elwell said a new operating agreement is usually passed every two years and he expects a new agreement with Roswell to be approved soon, possibly in May.

He said discussion of the new president’s residence and the formation of an architectural committee was tabled until the board’s May meeting because capital outlay approved by the Legislature is still subject to veto by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Elwell said in his report to the board he shared details about some successes from the university’s new recruiting efforts, including a presence on the website RaiseMe.com.

He said 34 students have already been accepted for the fall 2019 school year after applying through the website, coming as far away as Alabama.

Elwell also announced the Super Greyhound Weekend, scheduled for April 26 and 27, where accepted students are invited to come to campus, tour the facilities and select classes and dorms.

Elwell said the idea is that by making those decisions during the event, students would essentially be committing to the school early.

Elwell said increasing scholarships for students who attend the annual Boys and Girls State mock government event at ENMU has lead to nearly 20 students interested in attending the university this fall, up from about two or three a year before the scholarships were increased from $500 to $1,000.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 19 in Portales.