Creative, efficient transportation options for UNM students will be explored during the free Parent Connection Workshop Wednesday, July 1, from 6 to 7 p.m., at the main campus Student Services Building, rm. 260.

Danielle Gilliam of UNM Transportation and Parking Services and Nick Manole of the City of Albuquerque Transit Department will share information about campus parking and alternative transportation options for students living on and off campus.

From renting zip cars to hopping on the state’s Railrunner, there are ways to get around the city and state on a student budget. Learn how students can buy a parking permit, bike to campus or take advantage of student bus passes and other public transportation.

Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. Parent Association members are on hand to visit with you about their campus experiences.

The series is sponsored by UNM’s Dean of Students’ Family Connection Program, Parent Relations Office, Parent Association and Extended University.

Workshops are taped and archived. For online viewing, visit unmlive.unm.edu or parent.unm.edu.

The workshops are held the first Wednesday of each month. From the Cornell Parking Structure (parking is $1.75 per hour), walk north on Cornell Mall. When you reach the north end of the Student Union Building go east to the Student Services Center, located behind Mesa Vista Hall.

One of the goals of the new UNM Parent Association is to establish UNM Parent Clubs throughout New Mexico and across the country to allow parents to connect with other families of UNM students in their areas.

Whether students attend the UNM main campus, a branch campus, or a bachelor and graduate education center around the state through the Distance Education programs, parents should know that their student has a great support network to help them succeed.

UNM Mom Marilee Petranovich, grants coordinator at UNM-Gallup, is launching a Parent Club in the Gallup greater area. She is from Gallup but as the daughter of a Public Health Service dentist moved around the country during childhood.

“We lived everywhere from Baltimore, Maryland,to Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska, and many places in between,” she shared.

Petranovich graduated from Gallup High School and then UNM main in 1984. She returned to Gallup when she and husband Steve, also a Gallup native, planned to marry. Steve, also a UNM graduate, is a private practice CPA.

“My husband and I like to joke that we ‘bleed Lobo red.’ Between both of us graduating from UNM, my work with UNM, Steve’s position on the Board of Directors for the UNM Foundation, as well as us having two happy UNM students, we have a very strong bond with this institution,” she shared. “We love to share this passion with other parents who already have students at the University, or who might be considering UNM as an option. Go Lobos!!”

The couple’s oldest son Sean graduated from UNM this year with dual degrees in economics and philosophy. He will continue on in the fall at the university pursuing master’s degrees in both fields. Daughter Kaitlin has completed freshman year as a member of the new combined BA/MD program. Youngest daughter Colleen will be a senior at Gallup High School in the fall. Read the rest of this entry »

Join us for the Parent Connection Workshop “From Facebook to Checkbook: What Every Parent Needs to Know about Information Security in a Digital Age,” featuring UNM Information Assurance Director Michael Carr. The event is on Wednesday, June 3, from 6-7 p.m. in the Dean of Students Conference Room, second floor of the Student Services Center, main campus. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. - meet and mingle with members of the Parent Assocation!

Carr will discuss dangers and pitfalls students face when sharing information online. Topics to be covered include identity theft, problems with networking online and what can parents do to help students stay safe and informed.

The series is sponsored by UNM’s Dean of Students’ Family Connection Program, Parent Relations Office and Parent Association and Extended University. Parking is $1.75 per hour in the Cornell Parking Struture near Central and Cornell NE. To get to the Student Services Center (SSC) from the Cornell Parking Structure walk north on Cornell Mall. Pass by Popejoy Hall and the Student Union (SUB). At the SUB’s north end, go east to the SSC.

To view taped editions of past workshops, visit our workshop information and archive page.

Now that many students are headed home for summer, UNM Residence Life/Student Housing is busy making positive changes to student housing on campus.

“We are continuing our efforts to make visible changes in our residence halls to better serve our students,” said Director of Residence Life and Student Housing Patrick Call.

Residence Life plans to spend $4.8 million to expand the quality and visual appeal of various residence hall facilities for students living on campus.

The department plans to focus spending on building renovations, upgrades, and landscaping initiatives specifically selected to enhance life-safety and increase student satisfaction. Read the rest of this entry »

The UNM Parent Association is accepting applications for its first scholarship awards. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2009.

Scholarships totaling $3,500 will be awarded for the 2009-10 academic year to support the success of currently enrolled UNM students. Applicants will be ranked based on financial need and academic achievement. Additional consideration will also be given to first-generation students. Read the rest of this entry »

Parents of high school students have an opportunity to immerse themselves in a college experience through a new, free program offered at the University of New Mexico.

Parents or guardians of students entering 9th through 11th grade are invited to live and dine on campus and attend casual, informative sessions during the second annual “Parent Experience Program” Friday and Saturday, July 24-25. Read the rest of this entry »

Now more than ever education is key. UNM’s Parent Connection Workshop, for adult learners, parents and family members who need to retool, is Wednesday, May 6, from 6-7 p.m. in the Dean of Students’ Conference Room, rm. 290, Student Services Building, main campus.

The presentation will include information on earning undergraduate and graduate degrees, online courses and continuing education.

Presenters include Mary Jane Heinrichs, associate director, graduate school recruitment and admissions; Debby Knotts, director of UNM New Media & Extended Learning (online programs) and representatives from undergraduate school admissions and UNM Continuing Education.

Parent Connection Workshops are held the first Wednesday of each month. The series is sponsored by UNM’s Dean of Students’ Family Connection Program, Parent Relations Office, Parent Association and Extended University. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. Parent Association members are on hand to visit with you about their experiences.

Parking is free in the “patient parking” on the north side of Mesa Vista Hall after 5 p.m. or for $1.75 per hour in the Cornell Parking Struture near Central and Cornell NE. To get to the Student Services Center (SSC) from the Cornell Parking Structure walk north on Cornell Mall. Pass by Popejoy Hall and the Student Union (SUB). At the SUB’s north end, go east to the SSC.

With reports of swine influenza confirmed in several states, the UNM Health Sciences Center and UNM Hospitals are preparing for the potential incidence of the flu here. UNM medical professionals say there are precautions that everyone can take.

For more information visit: Swine Brochure - English or Swine Brochure - Spanish.

Currently, there are no reported cases of swine influenza in New Mexico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the most current information about the swine flu, including the latest numbers on human infections in the U.S., signs and symptoms, prevention tips, medical treatment, etc. To learn more visit http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or access it in Spanish.

For UNM information, visit the UNM Student Health Center website at, http://shac.unm.edu/announcements.htm or call (505) 277-3136.

Spring semester 2009 is winding down with commencement exercises just around the corner. Is your student packing up and heading home? Ensure sons and daughters who have wheels get a vehicle inspection before making a long journey.

UNM students who identify themselves with a Lobo ID and ask for a discount will receive 15% off the Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change. Jiffy Lube also has gift cards if you want this special check-up to be on the house.

This student discount is offered through the UNM Department of Human Resources.

By Sari Krosinsky

There’s more to succeeding in college than academic prowess. Students have a lot to keep track of on the path from application to graduation – completing admission requirements, applying for financial aid, paying tuition, registering for classes, finding a job on campus, staying on track with core courses and major requirements, or getting a transcript sent to an employer or graduate school. The Division of Enrollment Management is working to make the process much easier.

Everyone in the division – from frontline staff to the vice president – is participating in a cross-training intended to make student support services faster and more convenient. When the move of part of the staff to south campus is complete, the cross-training will enable UNM to maintain two full-service student support centers. The cross-training will also allow staff to be redeployed to the busiest areas as needed to reduce students’ wait time. Read the rest of this entry »