EDUCATION
Amid administrative shakeup, state opens special forensic audit at New Mexico Highlands
State to look into concerns of 'systemic failures' in procurement, contracting, financial management and governance
New Mexico Highlands University
A special forensic audit is underway at New Mexico Highlands University following the ouster of President Neil Woolf and other top university officials last month.
State Auditor Joseph Maestas notified Board of Regents Chair Frank Sanchez of the special audit in a letter issued Tuesday, when the board officially terminated Woolf's contract. Vice President of Student Affairs Kimberly Blea was appointed interim president.
The 11-page notice states that the investigation was launched after an inquiry on May 12 raised "substantial concerns indicating systemic failures in procurement, contracting authority, financial management, and governance" at the university.
The audit comes on the heels of a lawsuit Woolf filed against the university, alleging he was terminated after refusing to cancel an out-of-state contract and spend more than $600,000 to hire a local contractor at Sanchez's direction. Woolf claims that Sanchez and his brother-in-law, state Sen. Pete Campos of Las Vegas, have personal ties to the in-state contractor.
University representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the special audit at the state-owned school, which enrolls roughly 2,800 students.
Several other key administrators were placed on administrative leave in May, including Provost Daniel Brown and basketball coach Zach Settembre.
John Miller is the sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.
