December 7, 2016

UNM regents make no decision on Frank’s future

The University of New Mexico Board of Regents took no action on University President Bob Frank after three and a half hours of discussions behind closed doors and three days of intense media speculation.

No regents remained after the meeting to discuss the lack of action taken on Tuesday.

The lack of decision came in the wake of an internal report, first reported by the Albuquerque Journal, that partly criticized the management style of Frank and described it as “bullying.”

Related: UNM Regents approve hospital oversight takeover

After the report leaked to the media, regents set an emergency meeting for Wednesday.

Another regular Board of Regents meeting is set for next Tuesday, though it isn’t clear if regents will discuss Frank. The board must provide an agenda for the meeting 72 hours before it starts, according to the state Open Meetings Act.

Regents were planning on discussing possible suspension or even termination of Frank’s contract. Frank makes a $355,000 salary annually.

This week, Frank filed notice that he would sue the university over leaks from the report.

Frank announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term as president of the state’s largest university. However, he received a tenured faculty position at the UNM Health Sciences Center at the same pay as president.

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