Join us for the first fall Parent Talk Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 6 p.m. to learn how students and families can make the most of UNM Athletics, recreation activities and intramurals.

 Students have free transportation options, are admitted to some sporting events free and  can get involved in a variety of ways to make the most of their “Go Lobos!” experience.

UNM Recreational Services staff will be on hand to discuss benefits available at UNM’s main campus recreational hub, Johnson Center, which includes exciting “Getaway Adventures” and a vast array of intramurals.

Parent Talk is held the first Wednesday of each month from  6 – 7 p.m. in the Student Services Center (SSC), Dean of Students Conference Room (rm. 260), 2^nd floor. The series is sponsored by UNM’s Dean of Students’ Family Connection Program, Parent Relations Office and Parent Association and Extended University.

Students and extended family are welcome. 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.

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. (more…)

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to an Open House regarding the update of the UNM Master Plan Thursday, Nov. 13, from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. in SUB Ballroom B. Share your thoughts and questions on the preliminary Master Facility Planning efforts for the Main, North, South and Rio Rancho Campuses. See how each of the campuses are being unified to create a comprehensive roadmap for future development. An overview presentation will be given during the open house at 12:30pm followed by interactive sessions with the planners on each part of campus.

Projects ranging from designing surgical innovations to developing tomorrow’s Internet will be demonstrated at the UNM School of Engineering Open House on Saturday, Nov. 8. The open House will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the new Centennial Engineering Center on the UNM main campus. High school students interested in engineering, computer science and construction management are invited along with their families, guidance counselors and teachers.

Visitors will be able to see the latest technologically advanced labs, hear about the school’s top‐ranked programs and meet internationally recognized faculty. Each of the five academic departments will show creative solutions to global challenges and UNM students will be on hand to discuss their projects and research.

There will also be presentations on financial aid, scholarships, student support programs and admissions. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit the School of Engineering web site.

Student Housing is placing extra emphasis on making the overall UNM residential community more appealing to residents.

“Student Housing is changing to exceed students’ expectations,” said Walt Miller, Associate Vice President for Student Life. The department began a rapid series of new initiatives this summer, designed to enhance housing programs, expand information technologies, improve building facilities and to increase customer service communication with students.

Although 85 percent of residents surveyed in 2007 stated that they were likely to recommend the dorms to other students, improvements were necessary. The department invested $2.5 million in improvement projects ranging in size and complexity.

About $1.2 million was spent to replace and repair outdated water lines and to install nearly 240 heating and air‐conditioning units and ventilation systems in the Student Residence Center (SRC) apartments. In addition, $500,000 was allocated to re‐roof the 14 building SRC apartment complex. “While both of these maintenance expenses were necessary, the simple fact remains that residents do not often visually see the monies the department is spending on our housing facilities,” Miller stated. (more…)

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.”

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.