NMSU Board of Regents accepts Couture's resignation

Barbara Couture
It’s another change in leadership for New Mexico State University

The NMSU board of Regents held a public meeting Monday announcing a mutually agreed upon separation with Dr. Barbara Couture. Couture initiated the separation by requesting annual leave last week with an official resignation yesterday afternoon. 

 Couture is leaving NMSU to take a Senior Advisory position with The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities.

Dr. Couture stated, “I have great respect for this university and all of the people I have worked with at NMSU.  My experience here over the last three years has convinced me of the importance of affecting policy at the national level so that colleges and universities can do a better job of assisting students through scholarship and loan programs.  This will be the focus of my work as senior adviser for APLU. I thank the Regents, my staff, the faculty and the State of New Mexico for the opportunity to serve.”

NMSU Board of Regents
(Photo-Vanessa Dabovich)
Details of the resignation are considered a personnel issue and will not be discussed publicly. However, Regent Javier Gonzales hinted at possible reasons saying, “We've seen falling enrollment, decline in our research dollars, unreliable and inconsistent state funding, an athletic program that's in danger of finding itself with no conference to play in, a nursing school that just lost its accreditation and much more.

Regent President Mike Cheney says an interim president will be selected by October 15th.   Cheney says there are standards in mind for the next leader of NMSU.

"We're looking for leadership in terms of the ability to connect with donors, connect with our alumni, connect with students, faculty, staff all the stakeholders. We need someone strong to represent this university because it's a fantastic university with a story to tell.", Cheney said. 

Couture will be on administrative leave until December 31st and will be paid $450,000 per terms of mutual contract separation.

Reporting for News New Mexico- Vanessa Dabovich. 


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