College Council Meeting Minutes - March 9, 2026

Monday, March 9 | 1:30 – 3:00 PM

Room 230 UNM-LA and Zoom

 

Announcements & Procedural Notices

  • Agenda items:
    • FYI - The listed cutoff date for agenda items is only a courtesy. Submissions
      after the deadline are still welcomed and will be included if received in time
      to add to the agenda.

  • College Council Member staffing:
    • Current composition: 2 faculty + 2 staff (one exempt, one non-exempt).
    • A non-exempt staff member is needed for the upcoming term which begins in September 2026, as well as a new chair. The new chair will be chosen from the current CC members. Anne Jarrett’s term ends at the end of May 2026.
    • Nominations will be opened soon; the first meeting with the new chair is September 2026.

  • Upcoming Zoom session: Chancellor session Mike Mic’d
    • Date: Wednesday, March 11
    • Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
    • Link: Provided on the agenda and via calendar invitation.

  • Logistics – Shipping & Receiving:
    • Relocation to the business office area scheduled for this week.
    • Deliveries will be processed in the business office; staff will be notified of the move.

  • Graduation ceremony:
    • Date: Friday, May 15
    • Time: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (arrive ≥ 1 hour early to prepare, we will provide snacks for faculty, staff, and speakers).
    • Venue: Duane Smith Auditorium, Los Alamos HS, across the street.
    • Graduation Committee meets every other Monday (most recent meeting was today at 11 a.m.). Volunteers are encouraged to join.

 

Meeting Procedure & Quorum

  • Quorum: Confirmed quorum is present; meeting proceeds.

  • Handling questions and comments during the meeting:
    • Participants may signal via hand-raise (in-room or Zoom or chat icon).
    • The chair asks for assistance to identify a hand raised to ensure no comment is missed.

  • Approval of minutes:
    • February 9 meeting minutes – approved and seconded.

  • Upcoming Speaker & Lecture Series
    • Speaker: Lorraine Bowman
    • Series: My Favorite Lecture – fourth installment
    • Title: “Signals in a Sea of Stars: Finding Exoplanets” (confirmed).
    • Date & Time: 4 p.m., Tuesday March 10, Wallace Hall (on-campus).
    • Audience: Anticipated ≈ 25 attendees; open to faculty, staff, and community.
    • Purpose: Highlight faculty expertise and support a faculty support fund.

 

Vision & Mission Statement Draft

Mission

The mission of UNM-Los Alamos is to provide excellent higher education and workforce training to Los Alamos and the surrounding communities, to foster a vibrant, smallcampus culture for all students, and to work as an invested contributor to the community and economic development of northern New Mexico.

    • Provide high quality education and a meaningful college experience for all students.
    • Collaborate with local employers to respond to the workforce needs of Los Alamos and northern New Mexico.
    • Support the goals of students preparing for transfer to Bachelor’s degree programs.
    • Be an educational and cultural leader and serve as a center for community engagement. 

Vision

UNM-Los Alamos will be a campus that is a beacon for education, culture, collaboration, and community in northern New Mexico. 

  • Suggested change: Replace “community” with “community and economic development” to reflect economic contribution.

Mission Statement Revision

  • Key change: Add “economic development” after community in the mission statement.

Revised wording: “...to work as an invested contributor to the community and economic development of Northern New Mexico.”

  • Rationale discussed
    • Economic development better captures the college’s role beyond workforce training, aligning with typical community-college language.
    • Highlights both workforce impact (households, individual earnings) and the institution’s own economic contribution (jobs, spending, local
      partnerships).

  • Stakeholder perspective
    • Legislators, donors, and employers are more likely to recognize the term economic development as a measurable outcome.

  • Voting outcome
    • Motion to adopt the revised mission statement was carried after a first-and-second vote to approve by College Council members.

Next steps: Beth Rue will send out an invitation email for volunteers to work on integration of the Strategic Plan with the Mission and Vision statements. Volunteers will schedule to meet prior to the next College Council meeting to work on this task and present their updates at the next College Council meeting (April 2026).

 

Communication Platforms – SharePoint vs. Teams

Feature SharePoint Microsoft Teams
License Already owned; familiar to many users Already owned; integrated with chat
Content types News web part, Events web part, Blog web part, Social-media feed embeded Channels, Posts, Files, Chat
Permissions May allow overwriting unless a single “host” is assigned; granular control possible but requires setup Notifications can be overwhelming; read-only channels possible but need designated editors
User experience Acts like an internal website; requires users to visit the site Push notifications appear instantly; risk of “notification fatigue”
Setup complexity Requires creation of site pages and web parts; manageable for small pilot Simple channel creation; less visual customization
Scalability Can host multiple departmental sites or a single campus-wide hub Can host many channels, but each adds to notification load
  • Key concerns discussed:
    • SharePoint: Risk of accidental overwrites; need a designated updater per department.
    • Teams: Excessive notifications; potential for users to ignore messages.

  • Proposed approach:
    • Launch a pilot SharePoint site for a small department (e.g., Marketing).
    • Populate with News, Events, and possibly a Blog.
    • Evaluate usability before scaling campus-wide.

  • Additional ideas:
    • Embed social-media feeds (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram) despite moving away from Twitter.
    • Use read-only Teams channel for announcements to reduce clutter.
    • Implement filtering/tabs so users can view specific categories (Marketing, Instruction, Student Services).

  • Action Items & Next Steps
    • Create SharePoint demo (target department: Beth’s team).
      • Schedule demo for next meeting.
      • Invite interested staff to test modules (News, Events, Blog).
    • Reach out to other campuses (e.g., UNM main campus, other branch campuses) for SharePoint implementation tips.
    • FYI - Upcoming training: SharePoint training session planned for April (hosted by Neil).
    • Calendar integration: Explore Events web part’s calendar view to display campus-wide happenings.
    • Work in Parallel: The internal communication tool will complement, not replace, traditional campus alerts (e.g., building closures)

 

Strategic Plan

  • The strategic plan now integrates the newly adopted mission and vision statements.

  • Three core components (derived from the prior plan) will guide the next phase:
    1. Academic Priorities – programs, curricula, and credential pathways.
    2. Community & Economic Development – partnerships, workforce training, and regional impact.
    3. Student Success Metrics – retention, graduation, and post-completion outcomes.
  • Shared-governance role: College Council will appoint working groups for each component, ensuring faculty, staff, and community voices are represented.

 

Formation of Working Groups

Component Proposed Lead(s) Primary Tasks Timeline
Academic Priorities Faculty representatives Review program reviews, align curricula with mission First meeting → Week of Mar 23
Community & Economic Development Staff liaison + external partners Map employer needs, develop joint programs, identify data sources First meeting → Week of Mar 23
Student Success Metrics Institutional research staff Define baseline metrics (retention, graduation rates), set targets First meeting → Week of Mar 23
  • Volunteer call: Invitation to serve on these groups will be sent by end of week (deadline: Friday, March 13).

  • Coordinator: Beth will manage the invitation distribution and track sign-ups.

 

Metrics & Data Considerations

  • Baseline data needed:
    • Multi-year retention rates (5-year trend)
    • Graduation rates for associate degrees (certificates & non-credit programs not yet captured)
    • Online enrollment trends

  • Data gaps identified:
    • No current metrics for certificate and non-credit programs.
    • Community-engagement activities (e.g., events with tribal partners, small-business development) lack quantitative tracking.

  • Proposed approach
    • Collect existing data on degree programs and share with working groups.
    • Define additional data requests (e.g., adult-education enrollment) and submit to the central data office (Albuquerque/Melita).
    • Set preliminary targets (e.g., increase retention by X % once baseline is known).

  • Metric development workflow - Metrics should be rooted in current performance data, then refined as additional data streams become available.

 

Action Items

  1. Send volunteer invitation (Beth) – deadline Friday the 13th.

  2. Post strategic-plan documents on SharePoint (link to outcomes measures) for reference.

  3. Share APR data set (multi-year retention, graduation, online enrollment) with working groups – coordinator to confirm distribution.

  4. Schedule first working-group meetings:
    • Academic Priorities – Week of Mar 23.
    • Community & Economic Development Week of Mar 23.
    • Student Success – Week of Mar 23

  5. Develop template for working-group deliverables (priorities, timelines, responsible parties) – to be drafted before next Council meeting on April 13.

The combined effort of revising the mission statement, aligning the strategic plan, and establishing data-driven working groups positions UNM-Los Alamos to effectively serve both its students and the broader Northern New Mexico community.

 

College Council Feedback Submissions

Summer Schedule Adjustments

  • Current plan: Keep the summer-term form available for faculty and staff to request alternate schedules, mirroring last summer’s process.

  • No intent to alter the deadline; the form will be released “as we approach summer break.”

  • Action: Distribute the form promptly once the date is set; allow staff to select from the existing schedule options.

 

Business Office Structure & Fiscal Shared Services

  • Fiscal Shared Services will continue to provide accounting functions campus-wide, eliminating the need for a dedicated on-site accountant.

  • Rationale: Mike stated that hiring accountants locally is slow and retention is difficult; centralizing with Albuquerque campus avoids service gaps

  • Impact:
    • Workload shift to the shared-services team.
    • Ongoing collaboration with Mark’s group for support
Item Status
Director of Business Office Position remains vacant – interviews in progress
Accountant (on-site) Not required; services centralized at UNM ABQ
Coordination with Albuquerque Active, will handle accounting requests

 

Title V Funding Loss & Replacement Strategies

  • Title V (Department of Education) grant – a flexible institutional grant previously used for technology, marketing, fundraising, and professional development.

  • Funding ceased: No extensions beyond September 30, 2026; no future Title V opportunities. US Department of Education has ended this grant opportunity.

  • Current gaps:
    • Professional development programs previously funded directly by Title V are now unfunded.
    • Technology investment funds have a limited lifespan.

  • Replacement efforts:
    • Explore new grant mechanisms
    • Leverage OSP’s grant-packaging assistance for upcoming cycles (spring-term review, fall follow-up).

 

UNM-LA submitted a new Title V grant proposal in July 2025 “Advancing Skills & Careers Through Education for the New Digital Age (ASCEND)” but the US Department of Education canceled all new grant proposals and dissolved the Title V grant program in fall 2026.

  • UNM ASPIRE: This is a grant program that helps with restructuring and finding appropriate avenues for unfunded proposals. Follow along with UNM ‘s schedule for this opportunity.

  • Key contacts: Anne, Brent, Mike – have held early conversations; not yet a priority for Academic Affairs.

  • Potential funding of ASCEND grant component:
    • Project controls training/certification – originally part of the ASCEND proposal. UNM-LA now in discussions with SMSI to develop this certification program.

  • Next steps:
    • Work with SMSI for alignment and move ahead with next steps to secure funding for this program

 

Professional Development Funding Gap

  • Historical source: Title V provided direct support for faculty and staff PD.

  • Current situation: No internal budget line to replace these activities.

  • Staffing note: Faculty-to-be-hired (doubling tenure-track from 3 to 6) will increase PD demand.

 

Dual-Credit Recruitment Strategies

  • Current practice: Host high-school visits (buses, on-campus tours) to showcase programs.

  • Issues identified:
    • Events function more as branding than direct recruitment.
    • Lack of faculty involvement in outreach.

  • Planned actions:
    • Develop a formal recruitment plan targeting dual-credit and associate degree prospects.
    • Increase faculty participation in high-school visits and information sessions.

 

Executive Cabinet & Campus Organizational chart

  • Executive Cabinet composition: Leads of all campus functional areas (direct reports to the Chancellor).

  • Purpose: Weekly coordination on budgeting, personnel, and strategic initiatives.

  • Transparency:
    • Current org-chart is posted on SharePoint; can also be added to the website. Mike explained that the cabinet acts as a sync point for all campus leaders to ensure aligned decision-making

 

Building Naming & Campus Identity

  • Current naming scheme: Numeric (Building 1-7) reflecting order of acquisition.

  • Historical significance:
    • Building 1 = first campus building.
    • Building 6 acquired later from LANL despite earlier construction.

  • Considerations for renaming:
    • Donor recognition (potential major gifts).
    • Cultural sensitivity (post-2020 naming debates).
    • Practical navigation: Numbers tie directly to room numbers.

  • Possible alternatives:
    • Naming after people, degrees, trees, or birds.
    • Establish guidelines (e.g., minimum gift of $200,000 for a building at Albuquerque, $10-$20 k at this campus).
Option Pros Cons
Keep numeric Easy navigation; preserves acquisition story Perceived as “cold”/impersonal
Name after donors Incentivizes giving; honors supporters Requires sizable gifts; process complex
Thematic names (trees, birds) Enhances campus vibe; flexible May still need policy framework

 

Transition from Asset Essentials to Smartsheets

  • Current state: Asset Essentials (AE) remains operational for ~2 months; will phase out after that period.

  • Smartsheet rollout:
    • Departments using Smartsheet: Purchasing (via FSS), IT, Marketing, Facilities, Human Resources.
    • Beta testing: Internal soft launch; users invited ad-hoc.

  • Process clarification:
    • Submit request via the appropriate department’s Smartsheet (e.g., IT for equipment).
    • If unsure, continue using AE until notified of the new Smartsheet link.
    • Facilities tickets now route to Mike (previously Heather).
System Status Primary Users
Asset Essentials Active (final 1-2 months) All departments (general requests)
Smartsheet – Purchasing Live (beta) Purchasing staff, requestors
Smartsheet – IT/Marketing/Facilities Soft-launch Respective department leads
  • Key reminder: Even with Smartsheet access, IT approval is required before purchasing equipment to ensure network compatibility and privacy compliance.

 

Ticketing & Purchase Process Overview

  1. Identify need – determine if request pertains to IT, Facilities, Marketing, etc.

  2. Check with department lead (e.g., IT head) before creating a ticket to avoid duplicate approvals.

  3. Create ticket in the designated system (AE for now; Smartsheet once live).

  4. Ticket routing – automatically assigned to the appropriate staff (e.g., Mike for Facilities).

  5. Approval chain – department head → finance → purchasing

  6. FYI - Maintaining clear communication with the department leads to streamline approvals and prevents parallel ticket submissions

Meeting adjourned at 3:17 P.M.

Next College Council Meeting: Monday, April 13, 2026, 1:30 - 3:00 pm, Zoom only.