The University of New Mexico's administrative policies are undergoing a thorough review and update thanks to an unexpected collaboration between the UNM Policy Office and the School of Law Library. Sherri Thomas, associate dean of Institutional Climate and Equity at the UNM School of Law, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating, "We want to make sure that anyone who reads the UNM administrative policies, regardless of their reading level, is able to understand them."
The collaboration was born out of the University Policy Equity and Inclusion Lens (PEIL) Taskforce, which was charged with reviewing administrative policies to ensure accessibility and equity in alignment with UNM 2040. Sidney Mason-Coon, the University policy officer, expressed excitement about the collaboration, referring to it as the 'Best of the Best' project. Mason-Coon acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Law Library staff, who will be dedicating three to four months to the review process.
Logan Migliore, the Reference and Public Outreach librarian at the UNM Law Library, emphasized the significance of their training in identifying accurate sources of information. Migliore explained, "Being able to identify right off the bat that somewhere may not be the right place to get information even though it may technically be correct — that level of efficiency is a big part of what our training helps with." The collaboration will not involve providing legal advice but will focus on flagging policies for further review by the Policy Office.
Michelle Rigual, associate dean for Information Services and Operations and Law Library director, underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, stating, "Committee work can be a burden, time-wise, but it creates these relationships with expertise from various fields collaborating." Rigual commended the efficiency of the Policy Office in managing the project and expressed gratitude for their dedication to improving policies.
Upon completion of the review and necessary updates, the University faculty and staff can expect enhanced access to statutes and regulations within the administrative policies, along with more precise language. The project not only aims to keep the policies up to date and in compliance but also serves as an extension of the Law Library's commitment to assisting students, faculty, and the public in legal research.
Overall, the collaboration between the UNM Policy Office and the School of Law Library exemplifies the University's dedication to ensuring that its administrative policies are transparent, accessible, and in line with the latest legal requirements.
