LAS CRUCES N.M. — New Mexico State University President Barbara Couture stepped down Monday, effective immediately.
The state Board of Regents accepted Couture’s resignation in what board Chairman Mike Cheney described as a mutually agreeable separation.
The regents didn’t provide any specific reasons for Couture’s resignation, but said she has accepted a position as senior adviser for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
They said Couture has requested and been granted administrative leave through December, but won’t receive a salary from APLU while on leave.
The regents plan to appoint an interim president by Oct. 15. The search for a new president will begin immediately.
Couture didn’t attend the regents’ meeting Monday but issued a statement later.
“My experience here during the last three years has convinced me of the importance of affecting policy at the national level so that colleges and universities can do a better job of assisting students through scholarship and loan programs,” Couture said in the statement. “This will be the focus of my work as senior adviser for APLU.”
