Cindy Lou Robbins, fourth from right, is joined by Garrey Carruthers, Dan Howard, far left, and members of the NMSU Board of Regents after she was presented with an Above and Beyond award. (NMSU Photo)

At a regular meeting Aug. 19, the New Mexico State University Board of Regents approved Vision 2020, a strategic plan for the university.

The Vision 2020 plan will serve as NMSU's cornerstone strategic direction and will be supported by more detailed college and division plans. The plan will be reviewed and updated annually, with a rolling five-year focus.

Goals outlined in the plan focus on graduation, diversity, internationalization, research and creative activity, economic development, resource stewardship, and community service, extension and outreach. There are 20 key performance indicators identified in the strategic plan.

Institutional priorities for 2013 outlined in the plan are decreasing the time to graduation, increasing graduate student enrollment, enhancing the diversity of faculty, staff and students, expanding research activity and increasing employee compensation.

The regents also adopted an annual resolution establishing notice requirements for 2013/2014, as required by the Open Meetings Act. The annual resolution included updates required by changes to state statutes. Meeting agendas will now be posted 72 hours in advance.

In other business, the regents heard informational reports from Tina Byford, interim vice president for university advancement, and Jeff Witte, director/secretary of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

Byford reported that the endowment market value at the close of fiscal year 2013 was $139.1 million and the total number of gifts and pledges for fiscal year 2013 was more then $14 million. Byford also spoke about the work of the Alumni Association and Alumni Relations staff, including the growth of alumni chapters to 32 chapters and nine interest groups. Alumni Association lifetime membership increased by 21 percent last year.

Witte reviewed the updated NMDA strategic plan and how it complements the Vision 2020 plan. Priority areas in the NMDA plan are marketplace and economic development, food protection, regulatory compliance and natural resources.

The board also presented an Above & Beyond Award to Cindy Robbins, director of prospect research in university advancement. The Above & Beyond Award recognizes full-time employees who go the extra distance in service to any and all aspects of the NMSU system. Individuals are recognized for performance that goes "above and beyond" their regular responsibilities and for demonstrating a positive attitude that inspires others.

Robbins leads a team of three individuals who research and compile information on prospective major donors to the university, and then help place those prospects in the appropriate development officer portfolio. She is responsible for prospect coordination with both the centrally based and college/unit-based development officers, ensuring that prospects are not approached by multiple officers or units. In May 2012, Robbins took on the additional responsibilities of making sure grant proposals were continuing to move through the corporate and foundation relations pipeline until another position was filled and proactively and effectively helped avoid a major issue involving a grant to one of the academic units from a major national foundation. Robbins also was one of the key staff members charged with making sure new donor software was implemented effectively and on schedule.

The next regularly scheduled Board of Regents meeting will be Oct. 14. Board meetings are available through webcast at http://panopto.nmsu.edu/bor/.