UNM Parent Group May Have Been Saved

The University of New Mexico’s last-ditch attempts to salvage the Parent Association, which raises thousands of dollars for student scholarships, seems to have worked.

The association board, with only five members and short of a quorum, met Tuesday to dissolve.

The volunteer organization was formed five years ago by former UNM president David Schmidly’s wife, Janet, and Maria Probasco, who became president. The parent association, which is supposed to have 19 board members, annually raises money to award $1,000 scholarships to 40 students.

But recent internal troubles, along with concerns over a lack of support from UNM, has led to a majority of the board resigning. The association is currently without a president after two resigned this year.

Treasurer Francis Page said at the meeting Tuesday the organization was “dead.”

“I don’t have much hope anymore,” Page said.

Mike Dougher, senior vice provost for academic affairs, pleaded with Page and the four other board members to reconsider.

“This organization has done wonderful things, and I want to see it continue to do wonderful things,” Dougher said.

Among the association’s concerns are UNM’s failure to fill an administrative position to help the group, its failure to recognize a bylaw change that would allow past-president Probasco to remain on the board and help with a transition and a perceived lack of general support.

“Everything we ask for, you all won’t give an inch,” Page said. “We don’t feel like we’re being listened to.”

But UNM says it has continually worked with the association and met its needs. For example, the university created and runs the association’s website, parentassociation.unm.edu, and has provided UNM staff to help with finances.

Dougher also said the regents, with whom the association has a memorandum of understanding, must approve any change in bylaws, which is why the new board position has not been recognized. UNM officials said they are actively looking to replace the vacant administrative post, for which more than 100 people have applied.

Other association members were skeptical.

Roberta Kitting, who is going into her third year as a member, said she was through with the association. “I’ve done this for free, and I feel like I’m getting chewed up,” Kitting said.

But at the end of the meeting, Breda Bova, chief of staff to President Bob Frank and former president David Schmidly, offered services to help the association get back to at least a quorum of 10 members.

Page agreed to work with Bova and her staff.

Dougher said if that means the association will stay intact, “we’ll be very, very happy about that.”
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal