Budget and Finance Committee

The Board of Regents Committee on Budget and Finance shall consist of two Board Members appointed annually for the purpose of advising the Board on all matters pertaining to the formulation, implementation, supervision, audit, and compliance of the University’s capital and operating budgets.

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is to be made up of two members of the Board of Regents, appointed by the chair of the Board, and the University’s Vice-President for Business Affairs. The following responsibilities lay with the Audit Committee:

• The Audit Committee members will help guide, mentor, monitor,and meet with the University’s Vice­ President for Business Affairs. These meetings may take the form of,but are not limited to, phone calls, conference calls, and meetings prior to the regular advertised Board of Regents’ open meeting.
• The Audit Committee will participate in the structuring of the internal audit function, including but not limited to such areas as: The University’s audit plan, monitoring of policies and procedures, special projects and other duties as assigned to the Vice-President for Business Affairs.
• The Audit Committee will have the option in the extent of participation in recruiting the external audit firm for the University. The final recommendation for the external auditor will need to be obtained from the Audit Committee who will have the recommendation ratified by the Board of Regents. The Purchasing Department will receive the approved recommendation and the department will then forward the information to the State Auditor’s Office.
• During the University’s year-end external audit, the external auditor will be expected to report, as needed, to the Audit Committee. An “exit meeting” will also be scheduled by the external audit firm to report on the final audit opinion and any findings and/or material weaknesses found.

The Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee shall have, yet are not restricted to the following responsibilities:

• To conduct the evaluation process of the President, which includes the construct of the instrument, collect and oversee the self-evaluation from the President (consistent with the instrument requirements from the Board), create the calendar for review,doing a data compilation report,meet with and discuss the level of achievement of the goals established by the Board in consultation with the President,as well as making a recommendation/report to the full Board.
• To recommend a salary, performance requirements and incentives as may be applicable, benefits and position description adjustments as needed and agreed upon,to the full Board.
• To recommend and/or approve (staff or Board generated) policies relative to personnel within the committees purview,when appropriate for action by the full board.

Governance/Operations Committee

The Governance/Operations Committee shall have,yet are not restricted to the following responsibilities:

• To review and vet all items relative to the Governance and Operation of the institution (includes but is not limited to contracts, agreements, policies, etc.), which are scheduled as report, discussion or action items and to make a recommendation to the full Board when the item/issue appears on the agenda.
• To approve and make a recommendation regarding initiatives (other than policies) that address the academic and institutional well-being of the University and are consistent with the previously established goals, the strategic or university business plan and which require Board action.

Building, Facility, and Space Naming Committee

From time to time the Board may appoint a Building Facility and Space Naming Committee comprised of no more than seven members, whose duty it shall be to recommend to the Board the naming of a University building, group of buildings or major facilities after the names of persons meeting the criteria listed below. The Chair of this Committee shall always be a member of the Board of Regents of WNMU.

1. In the consideration of naming an existing building,or one to be constructed,group of buildings, or a major facility, such honor shall be awarded only to that person or those persons who have made substantial contributions to Western New Mexico University.
2. It shall be the policy of the Board not to name any building, group of buildings,or major facility after any person who is presently employed by the University or serving as a Regent.
3. A building,group of buildings, or major facility may be named after a member of the University community who has been retired from active service for at least two years or who has been deceased for at least two years.
4. Requests for naming a building, group of buildings, or major facility, may originate from any source. Requests shall be submitted to the President of the University. Such requests must then be referred by the President to the Regents’ Building, Facility and Space Naming Committee for consideration and recommendation. The Committee’s recommendation and the recommendation of the President shall be forwarded to the Board of Regents for final action.
5. Request for naming facilities that are part of the interior space of the University such as library/reading rooms, laboratories, seminar rooms, galleries, recreational courts, lounges, academic and service centers, shall be made in writing to the President of the University. The President, after consultation with the Regents’ Building, Facility and Space Naming Committee, shall decide each case on its merits. The President may consult with the Regents if he/she wishes on a case by case basis.

Plaques on Buildings

The names appearing on building plaques will constitute those persons serving in office at the time that new buildings are completed or renovations on existing buildings are completed.

Honorary Degree Policy

Criteria for Selection

The Honorary degrees of Doctorate of Laws,Doctorate of Humane Letters, and Doctorate of Arts shall be awarded to individuals who have made contributions of exceptional substance to Western New Mexico University or who have significantly enriched the educational, cultural, scientific, or intellectual life of the region, state,or nation.

An honorary degree may be awarded either through Procedure A or Procedure B set forth below

Procedure A

1. Nominations can come from any source,or on or off campus,with a deadline of November 1 for the fall presentation or April 1for the spring or summer presentation.
2. The Office of the President will serve as the clearinghouse
3. 3. A comprehensive vita will be prepared for each potential candidate.
4. Accomplishments of potential honorary degree recipients will be reviewed by an Honorary degree Committee composed of:
5. One or two Regents (one of whom will serve as Chair).
   • One faculty member elected from each of five departments designated by the Vice­ President of Academic Affairs for an academic year so that departments are rotated annually on this committee.
   • The Chairperson of the Board may appoint up to one additional student and one
   • Western Alumnus to the committee.
   • All deliberations ofThe Honorary Degree Committee will be confidential.
   • Recommendations of the Committee will be made to the President who will take the Committee’s and her/his recommendations to the Board of Regents for final decision.

Procedure B

Any Regent may nominate an individual for an award of an honorary degree during an open session of any meeting of the Board of Regents, provided appropriate notice is stated in the agenda. Nominations made directly by a Regent during an open session of any meeting of the Board need not go through an Honorary Degree Committee process prior to final action by the Board and a comprehensive vita need not be prepared prior to final action by the Board. A majority of a quorum of the Board may vote in open session to:

1. Approve the award of an honorary degree;
2. Send the matter to the Honorary Degree Committee for further review after preparation of a comprehensive vita; or
3. Deny an award of an honorary degree.

General Provisions

All action by the Board of Regents will be at the open session of the Board. Upon final action by the Board awarding an honorary degree, a biographical sketch will be developed and will become an integral part of the presentation ceremony. Honorary Degrees may be presented only at Commencement or other official or formal convocations of the University.