Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — New Mexico Highlands University Neil Woolf’s departure was the first in a wave of high-level dismissals. The university also removed its provost, several vice presidents and the men’s basketball coach – creating an administrative upheaval that prompted a special audit from the state auditor and a mandatory corrective action plan from the New Mexico Higher Education Department. The board of regents has since acknowledged it ousted Woolf without cause and will comply with the terms of his contract, including “separation pay.” The board’s May 27th letter to State Auditor Joseph Maestas says the regents weren’t previously aware of the alleged misconduct by Woolf. Adding, that Woolf systematically and deliberately prevented that awareness by restricting and denying administrators and employees the ability to communicate material concerns, compliance issues, and financial irregularities to the Board through ordinary governance channels.”
