Freshman Family Day is a UNM tradition welcoming incoming students and their families to the college community and held the afternoon before the start of fall classes.

The event is Sunday, Aug. 24, and is three-fold. It kicks off at 4 p.m. with a Freshman Convocation in Popejoy Hall, followed by a social celebration and class crawl at the UNM Duck Pond, and a movie at sunset on Johnson Field.

Incoming freshman and their families are introduced to administrators, faculty and staff. Students learn that they are about to embark on an academic adventure designed to prepare them for a rewarding life.

The event also demonstrates that the university partners with the family to ensure student success and that UNM values family and does not seek to separate students from familial, cultural and communal roots.

Freshman Convocation is a ceremonial event held at most colleges and universities. The ceremony, usually a combination of the serious and the light-hearted, provides an opportunity for the administration, current students and Parent Association president to address families. Be sure to stop by the parent table to meet members of the association and learn how you can become actively involved with the campus.

For more information and to register, visit Freshman Family Day, an event sponsored by the Office of the University Secretary.

The University of New Mexico Parent Association and Alumni Association are partnering to kick off the new tradition “Summer Sendoffs.” Casual sendoff receptions for incoming students and families will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, from 2-4 p.m. in Gallup, Farmington, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Clovis and Hobbs. The events are designed to celebrate freshman acceptance to UNM for the fall semester of 2008. The associations hope the sendoffs will grow and be offered in more locations next year.

Students and parents will meet other families in their area and mingle with UNM representatives, alumni and parents who can serve as a support network. It’s a great chance to meet fellow Lobos and enjoy some refreshments. Each student receives a gift. Door prizes for students and parents include autographed items by famous Lobos. To RSVP, visit the Summer Sendoff site. If you are a parent or alumnus/alumnae interested in hosting a sendoff in summer 2009, call Laura Kelley, 277-5808 (alumni office) or Laurie Mellas, 277-5915 (parent office).

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.

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. (more…)

On May 11, UNM’s Student Union continues its tradition “Late Night Breakfast,” but with a green twist this year. Plates and utensils will be made from green materials which are biodegradable (or made of recycled materials). Late Night Breakfast is a free student event held every semester before finals week providing breakfast, giveaways, and a stress free environment.

As part of the Red AND Green Campaign, the SUB encouraging green habits. The Student Union hopes to show people how easy it is to take small steps that make a difference for the environment.

The event is 9 to 11 p.m. in the SUB ballroom and includes a free movie, the hit comedy Anchorman, shown in the SUB Theater at 7 p.m. The first 200 people in line get a free tee-shirt. Free parking for this event is available in the Cornell Parking Structure conveniently located near the Student Union Building

For more information about the Student Union and its upcoming free events for students, visit the SUB’s website or call 277-2818.

Freshman Family Day is a UNM custom designed to welcome incoming students and their families to the college community.

The event, held Sunday, Aug. 24 at 4 p.m., a day prior to the start of fall classes, has three main components: Freshman Convocation, a social celebration at the UNM Duck Pond and the showing of a movie at sunset on Johnson Field.

Incoming freshman and their families are introduced to the president, administrators, faculty and staff. UNM wants incoming students to know that they are about to enter a new phase in their lives, an academic adventure, to prepare them to lead a rewarding life. The event also serves to demonstrate that the university will from day one partner with the family to ensure student success and that the university values family and does not seek to separate students from familial, cultural and communal roots.

Freshman Convocation is a ceremonial event held at most colleges and universities in America today. The ceremony, usually a combination of the serious and the light-hearted, recognizes student and faculty achievement, and provides an opportunity for the president, provost and current students to address the new class.

Following the convocation, families are invited to the UNM Duck Pond for food, music, games, a class crawl and the opportunity to speak with faculty, administrators, fellow students and families. President David J. and Mrs. Janet Schmidly will host festivities at nearby University House.

For more information and to register, visit Freshman Family Day, sponsored by the Office of the University Secretary.

Students, alumni and community members are invited to attend the 32nd Annual Career Expo Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. in the Student Union ballrooms.

UNM’s Career Services office hosts the event, New Mexico’s premier career fair with more than 100 local and national employers from industries such as accounting, aerospace & defense, banking, communications, education, engineering, financial services, government, military, marketing, nonprofit, real estate, retail, transportation services and more.

Pick up first-hand information about the latest trends within the industry of your choice. This is your student’s chance to connect with multiple employers in just one day. Students should come prepared, professionally dressed, and with plenty of copies of a typo-free resume

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.

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.

Join us for the unveiling of the Mendez postal stamp Tuesday, Sept. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Building. Refreshments will be served.

The stamp celebrates the 60th anniversary of a landmark segregation case. Sixty years ago, a group of California Hispanic parents fought to end segregation in their schools. This groundbreaking court case became known as Mendez vs. Westminster School District and started a movement toward equality in all school districts regardless of race.

The event is sponsored by UNM and contributors to the De Colores Hispanic Cultural Festival. For information, call Jennifer Gomez-Chavez at 277-7763.