A Message for Parents from Clovis Acosta, UNM Parking & Transportation Services Director

Our primary concern at UNM Parking & Transportation Services is providing access to the University facilities so that students, staff, faculty and visitors may flourish in the learning community. While we offer many services to assist commuters, we also support other resources that offer cost-effective and convenient alternatives to bringing a car to campus everyday.

From the purchase of a vehicle, to the maintenance, upkeep, fuel and insurance costs, cars cost a lot of money.

Interested in knowing exactly how much a car costs? Check out the Commute Cost Calculator at the City of Albuquerque website.

Commuting daily is expensive. Below are a few ways students can save gas, save cash and get to and from campus without relying on a car. Read the rest of this entry »

English Professor Gary Harrison is the 2008 Presidential Teaching Fellow, the highest teaching honor UNM bestows. The Outstanding Teachers of the Year are Catherine “Kate” Krause and Gregory Martin.

Harrison said the most formative experience in his teaching career came when he had the opportunity to teach an innovative two-semester course in World Literature with four seasoned, creative colleagues, Paul Davis, Patricia Clark Smith, David Johnson and Joseph Zavadil.

As part of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, they developed what is now the survey of world literatures sequence. The course encompasses a diversified study of the world’s literature for students in an increasingly global culture, including key works from Japanese, Chinese, Indian, African, Arabic, Persian and Latin American writers.

Harrison will use the two-year fellowship to do curriculum development and assist departments in developing assessments of student outcomes. He is also interested in exploring ways to develop e-portfolios for students to electronically store and document their writing and multimedia projects. E-portfolios could be used as electronic resumes and accessed by employers who want examples of students’ work. Read the rest of this entry »

Is your student’s major area of study going to lead to a secure career? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled data from 2004 to 2007 in order to predict the security of careers in more than 270 fields. At the top are health care, education, security, environmental sciences and government. Below is a glimpse into the future:

Health Care: As the U.S. population ages, the demand for health care professionals will increase. As well, an emphasis on activities involving physical fitness is creating a need for positions in athletic training and physical therapy. By the year 2014, health care positions are projected to increase by an astounding 52 percent for medical assistants, 40 percent for physical therapists, and 43 percent for dentals assistants – far surpassing the projected growth for most other career fields.

Education: Our nation’s focus on improving education is creating demand for teachers of all levels. Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teaching positions are expected to increase 18 percent, while postsecondary careers are predicted to rise 32 percent.
Read the rest of this entry »

International Programs and Studies recently completed a successful first semester of a new Study Abroad program in Rome, Italy.

To raise funds for the program, the UNM Development office is currently registering a group of 18 adults to experience Italy during a 10-day trip, Sept. 20-29. Costs start at $5,800 and include a $2,500 tax-deductible charitable gift to the Rome Program.

The program signals a new direction in international education at UNM. It is designed so UNM students can fulfill some core degree requirements during a 16-week semester. While not replacing typical foreign exchange programs or short term faculty-led programs, the Rome program allows for experiential learning and personal growth in a setting designed for specific academic and personal needs.

Aside from a mandatory course in Italian language study, courses are in English, carry full UNM credit and are pre-approved by UNM departments.

“It was incredible as an art major to get to see the works of art in person and to have our class lectures on site at museums and monuments,” said Noelle Richardson, a senior who graduates from UNM this summer. “Having a discussion about Caravaggio in front of one of his paintings at the Vatican is much different than seeing a slide of it in a large classroom. It was a once in a lifetime academic experience.”

Less than eight percent of UNM’s recent graduating class studied abroad, compared to the national average of 22 percent. UNM hopes to turn these figures around by the creation of the Rome program and similar programs in other regions.

For more information on the trip or supporting the Rome Program, call Mary Wolford at 277-1088. Students interested in studying in Rome should contact Lauren Fowler Young at 277-4032.

Four biodiesel buses are new additions to the shuttle fleet run by UNM Parking and Transportation Services. The Thomas Built ‘Safe-T-Liners’ have 30 or 48 seats and are in operation around campus.

“Biodiesel was an obvious choice” says Alexander A. Aller, manager, Public Transit Operations. “Right now, all of our large shuttles are alternatively fueled with either biodiesel or compressed natural gas. Although we have a small fleet, we are pleased to contribute to efforts that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, dependence on foreign oil, and the pace of global warming.”

What has been the reception given to the new vehicles as they hit the routes in and around campus?

“Generally, very favorable,” Aller said. “We could have continued maintaining our existing fleet, but older vehicles are far less reliable and more expensive to operate and maintain. Plus, the publicized overall environmental footprint associated with biodiesel is notably smaller than fossil fuel.”

The measure strengthens the university’s commitment to sustainability.

The plan is to keep these buses running for the next ten to 15 years to meet the changing needs of the University Community,” Aller said. “Operating safely, efficiently, and effectively with minimal energy usage is at the top of our agenda.”

For incoming fall 2008 students and families, it’s time to pick an orientation session date that will work best for you.

Students are invited to participate in Lobo Orientation.

Families, including parents, guardians, grandparents and mentors, are welcomed through the Family Connection program. Visit each site for a preview of scheduled events.

Ensure the dates you select are available by having your student reserve your spaces as soon as possible. The online reservation system opened April 1.

Decide if you want to choose the Tag Team option and have your student select it when they reserve a space for your family.

UNM’s Student Activities Department honored some of the brightest UNM seniors at the Annual Recognition Reception held at the Student Union recently. Among those celebrated were recipients of the Clauve Outstanding Senior Award: Matthew Barnes, Megan Fitzpatrick, Louis Jeantete, Margi Miranda, Brandon Ryan, and John Smeltzer.

The Clauve Award is given to seniors who have performed well academically and made significant contributions to the general welfare of the campus community through their involvement in student organizations and activities.

These six seniors were good company at the ceremony as they shared the stage with more than 30 other students honored for their excellence in education and community service. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, job prospects for new college graduates remains positive. Employers expect to hire eight percent more graduates than in 2007. Starting salaries are also expected to increase an overall average of 5.3 percent over the same period last year.

“It’s a great time to be entering the job market. UNM candidates are being recruited at record levels as reflected in an increase in the number of organizations participating in on-campus recruiting events, which are up 16 percent in the past two years,” said Mary Montano, career placement manager in the UNM Office of Career Services.

UNM career fair registrations rose 44 percent, Montano said.

Hot careers include accounting, management information systems and engineering. Arts & Sciences majors are also being given a closer look as they bring a wide array of knowledge, skills and problem-solving abilities to the work place. Read the rest of this entry »

Summer session and fall semester registration is open. Many students still have academic holds on their accounts preventing them from registering. Please encourage your student to see an advisor to resolve these holds - classes are filling up fast!

University College Advisement Center will be closed during all of the LOBOrientation sessions this summer. See the college’s website for dates and additional details.

The UNM College Bowl Team finished second at the National College Bowl Tournament, the fourth consecutive year UNM’s team has made it to the national tournament. This year they reached the final four and placed second behind the University of Rochester. The event was held at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.

Students Jason Zuffranieri, Vanessa Gatsch, John McCulloch, Chad McCoy and John Ogren make up the team. Read the rest of this entry »