NMSU president steps down; chancellor to to be sole leader
LAS CRUCES, N.M, (AP) — New Mexico State University President John Floros is stepping down and Chancellor Dan Arvizu is becoming the leader of the university's main campus in Las Cruces and the NMSU system.
Floros and Arvizu said Friday in separate letters to the university community that Arvizu decided to reduce what has been their separate posts to one position, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.
“Now, it’s time for our university to return to a more common leadership structure,” Arvizu said.
Arvizu said the NMSU Board of Regents were “aware and support this move.”
Floros said he would help with the transition and then take a yearlong sabbatical.
Arvizu and Floros were hired in 2018, starting with base salaries s of $500,000 and $450,000, respectively, plus bonuses and other benefits.
No-confidence resolutions approved last fall by the faculty senate and the student government questioned the salaries of Floros and Arvizu and called for the removal of Floros and then-Provost Carol Parker due to leadership failures.
Parker was placed on paid leave last November.
University spokesman Justin Bannister said Floros’ stepping down was unrelated to the resolutions.
Floros and Arvizu said their joint accomplishments included establishing strategic goals for NMSU, stabilizing enrollment numbers after years of drops and pushing through the pandemic.