New Mexico Highlands University’s Board of Regents placed President Neil Woolf on paid administrative leave, citing no reasons publicly. The board said it would not provide further statements at this time due to privacy and legal requirements under federal and New Mexico law. Woolf said he had not been told why he was removed and pointed to achievements he said included record fundraising, enrollment growth, and new programs aligned with workforce needs. The president and staff union leadership framed the dispute in governance terms: the faculty and staff association alleged Woolf violated its collective bargaining agreement. The move puts a spotlight on due process expectations for chief executives when boards act without explanation—and how labor-management tensions can intensify when institutions face enrollment and budget pressures.