NEW MEXICO — The University of New Mexico Board of Regents approved
a policy on Wednesday that will open more university records and information to
the public.
The board approved four measures that will open information about
candidates seeking employment, employment applications and UNM internal auditing
practices.
Jamie Koch, president of the Board of Regents, said the measures were
taken, in part, to protect the university financially.
"The University has been noncompliant with open-record laws for
years. We've been sued many times and lost every time. We have to pay
attorney fees for each suit," Koch said.
Most recently, the Albuquerque Journal sued UNM earlier this year
for records regarding Director of Government Relations Marc Saavedra. Karen
Moses, managing editor of the Journal, said she is pleased with the
board's decision.
"When you sue over something, you get awarded what you were looking
for in that particular case. But every time we would request another record, we
would come up against a wall all over again," Moses said.
New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act, passed in 1978,
defines a public record as any document or material that is "used created,
received, maintained or held in any public body and related to public
business."
"New Mexico has a very broad open records stature and the people of
New Mexico deserve it," Koch said.
In addition to the four approved measures, the Board of Regents postponed
decisions on four other open-records policies. The measures, three of which are
scheduled be discussed and voted upon Aug. 12, concern how much personal information about faculty
and staff will be available to the public.
Faculty Senate President Jacqueline Hood said she wants the university to
comply with state law but also is wary of the possible ramifications of the new
policy.
"They didn't really think through the implications before the
board went ahead and passed it," Hood said. "We want to protect our
employees from identity theft but there aren't procedures in place to
protect them."
Although the board has yet to approve the measures, Koch said the four
remaining policies are sure to pass.
"It's really done. We've already changed the manuals.
They don't have a choice, we just wanted to give faculty members time to
think about the manual changes and give the board time to answer any questions
they may have," Koch said.
According to UNM Board of Regents' Policy Manual, the board is the
ultimate authority on university policy and can implement policies, such as the
four passed on May 28, whenever it sees fit.
The faculty, "can complain all they want but they're not
excluded. They have to operate under open records polices. They have to
conform," Koch said.
Hood said the university should have consulted the Faculty Senate before it
changed the policy manual.
"People need to be informed, on board and committed for changes to
occur. It would be good if we enhanced our dialogue with the board," Hood
said.
By Rob Arcamona, SPLC staff writer
