Fall semester is winding down and students are gearing up for spring semester registration. University College students will have holds populated to their student account Nov. 1. Holds ensure students come in for advisement and to register for classes that will help them enter degree granting colleges.

Students will also be encouraged to continue English and Math sequences so that they do not lose time and retention of their knowledge by taking a semester off from a specific subject. Students who keep up with their sequences are more successful in reaching graduation and in a timelier manner, said Vanessa Harris, UNM alumna and director of advisement for University College.

ENGLISH AND MATH SEQUENCES

English
Introductory Studies English – ISE 100
English 101
English 102
English 219 or 220 (varies)

Math
Introductory Studies Math – ISM 100
Math 120
Math 121, 129, or Statistics 145
Math 123 and/or Math 150
Math 180 or 162
Math 181 or 163

University College Advisement Center advisors are available to help students with questions and to prepare them to transition to degree granting colleges.

College remains affordable for most families, according to national reports. This month UNM was identified as one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys” by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc. a private research firm. UNM has been featured in the report for each of the past 12 years it has been in existence.

“The fact that UNM has been included in this top 100 ranking since its beginning is a testament to what we want prospective students and families to realize,” said Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management Terry Babbitt. “You can get a top tier education here in a vast number of disciplines for a cost that is well under the national average. This is more about quality than value, but it is great when you can get both.”

Yearly in‐state tuition, fees and residence hall costs for a full‐time student taking 30 credit hours at UNM is $11,270, lower than many schools in the region.

College Board released a report this week citing that students and families can expect to pay, on average, from $95 to $1,404 more than last year for this year’s tuition and fees, depending on the type of college. In January, UNM regents will ask the State Legislature for a zero percent tuition credit so the university will not be required to raise tuition in the coming year.

College financial planners are proving popular, according to an article in today’s Chronicle for Higher Education. In “Consultants Help Families Pay Less for College,” the author points out that even financially savvy families can benefit from working with a certified college financial planner.

Five years ago, the article states, the National Institute of Certified College Planners did not exist. It now has 1,200 registered members. Public accountants and financial planners without certification are also offering education‐related financial advice.

UNM is offering intersession courses during winter break for fall credit. These courses are critical for students who either failed or did not receive credit for a course and need to earn credit hours or improve GPA to maintain a scholarship.

Intersession courses are intensive, meeting for many hours a day throughout the week. Students will receive an e‐mail once intersession courses are available and open for registration. For more information, contact University College Advisement Center .

Survivors of the atrocities occurring in Sudan’s western region of Darfur will share stories of survival with the UNM and greater community Saturday, Oct. 20 at 2:30 p.m. in the Anthropology Lecture Hall, rm. 163.

The talk is part of the Save Darfur Coalition’s Voices from Darfur campaign, a national speaking tour. One of the speakers will be Daoud Hari, who spent time in jail in 2006 on false espionage charges. He had been hired as a translator by Paul Salopek, who was reporting on a story for National Geographic magazine.

“The Voices from Darfur tour seeks to ensure that here in Albuquerque, New Mexico we understand the human dimension of the tragedy of Darfur. The millions of Darfuris affected by this genocide are individuals, each of whom has his or her own personal story to tell,” said Jenny Moore, UNM Professor of Law. “We welcome Daoud Hari and Amal Allagabo and look forward to learning and becoming inspired by their call for an end to the genocide.”

This event is sponsored by the School of Law, Peace Studies and other departments across campus. For more information, contact Claire Conrad at conrad@​law.​unm.​edu or call 277‑0080.

UNM’s Student Health Center is offering flu shots for students with current UNM IDs. The cost is $13, unless the student is enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan A or the Grad Plan. Cash, checks, or a charge to the Student Account is accepted. The SHC is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesdays open at 9 a.m.) 

Flu‐shot clinics are also scheduled at various locations on campus. Check the SHC Web site for updates, or call 277‑3136.

Upgrading and maintaining the dorms that thousands of students call home is of utmost importance to the university.

“Over this past school year, nearly 50 projects totaling $1 million were completed to improve and repair dorm halls at UNM,” said Dupuy Bateman, director of UNM Housing and Food Services.

Improvements include roof replacement to Hokona, Santa Clara, Santa Ana, Laguna and DeVargas Halls; enhancements to the emergency lighting and exit signs to dorms throughout campus; upgrades to electrical systems at Coronado, Alvarado, Santa Ana and Santa Clara Halls; and fixing potential dangerous problems to sidewalks and stairways. Additionally, Housing provided wireless internet access to all dorms on campus.

A significant investment was also made in Laguna and DeVargas Halls – a new fire alarm system, costing approximately $540,000.

At the Student Family Housing apartments, located on Buena Vista near Central New Mexico Community College, employees repaired and upgraded much of the landscaping while installing new, code‐compliant, playground equipment.

“The care and well‐being of our students is my highest priority,” Bateman said. Plans to refurbish all of the dorm rooms on campus exist. But, like many departments, UNM Housing is self-supporting – all of the money needed to maintain dorms and dining areas on campus come from dorm room revenues.

“As other major projects come online the housing department will continue to complete work on dorm projects as time and resources permit,” Bateman said.

The UNM Parent Survey was conducted in spring 2007. This survey is part of a larger benchmarking survey conducted by StudentVoice, a vendor contracted through the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. StudentVoice specializes in assessments for student and academic affairs areas at institutions of higher education.

A total of 603 parents/guardians of children enrolled in college logged in to take the survey. Questions used various measurement scales, and several asked for open‐ended responses or comments. To access the results, visit the Student Affairs Update.

Connect with your student mid‐semester during Parent Day and the “Explore UNM” open house, Saturday, Oct. 6. The event is held in conjunction with President David Schmidly’s week of inaugural activities.

It’s also high school senior day so our campus will brim with families. Beginning at 9 a.m., current students and parents can register in the Popejoy Atrium and prospective students and families check‐in on the Center for the Arts mall. 

Free parking is available on main campus in lettered zones. Or park free at the Zia lot at the football stadium and board a free shuttle, operating from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Special event parking is also available for $6 at the Cornell Parking Structure, near Central and Stanford NE.

Schools, colleges, departments, programs and disciplines will be showcased during the open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hands‐on activities, demonstrations, student research, performance, exhibitions and lectures are planned. Morning and afternoon workshops will be offered for parents and students in the upper level of the Student Union Building. An information fair on the mail level of the SUB will feature more than 60 UNM entities.

Stay in step with the UNM Marching Band as they proceed from Johnson Field to the duck pond to perform at a festive campus picnic with President and Mrs. Schmidly. Meet at Johnson Field at 11:30 a.m. to learn and rehearse.

Don’t miss a special lecture by University of Minnesota Parent Program Director and author Marjorie Savage. At 2 p.m. in Rodey Theatre, Center for the Arts, Savage will discuss mentoring your child during the college years

For more information, visit official Inauguration Web site and click on the detailed schedule of events.