New Mexico Highlands University’s Board of Regents placed President Neil Woolf on paid administrative leave, with the board providing no explanation publicly for the personnel move. According to reporting, the board’s communications cited respect for privacy and compliance with federal and state law. Woolf said he had not received prior written or verbal notice of concerns, while faculty and staff reported internal disruption and pointed to alleged violations of the collective bargaining agreement. The development adds to a broader governance-and-labor dynamic in higher education, where presidential searches, due-process expectations, and faculty trust become central to institutional stability during financial and enrollment pressures.