The UNM Taos Report

By Bill Knief

Published in The Taos News 12-10-09

After 20 years as a classroom teacher in the Taos municipal school district, Jim Gilroy (AKA “Mr. Gilroy” to generations of students) has served for the past several years as the Dean of Instruction at UNM-Taos. In this time of transition, deepening budget cuts and increasing need for community college services, I asked him to share his thoughts on where we stand today.

“As administrators, people responsible for the general well being of this institution, I think the biggest concern that Kate O’Neill and myself and Dennis Cruz and Mario Suazo feel is living within our means. One of the worst things we could do is jeopardize the future of this institution by not doing that. And yet the needs are so great. With the economic crunch right now we are seeing more students than ever coming in from construction jobs, coming in from the mines, from the service industries, coming in from businesses that are reducing the number of their employees. People are looking at this as a time to retool and gain some skills to enhance their job opportunities in the future.

“We have three or four hundred more students than we did only a year ago, and yet our budget has been cut by 15.5 percent. I appreciate that our Executive Director Dr. Kate O’Neill is trying to hold harmless the instructional side of our operation so students have the courses they need for their degrees, their certificates and their transfers to other institutions. Everyone including the academy heads has really taken to heart the economic hardships both in the community as well as in public institutions like UNM.

“We used to do a fair number of courses we called trial balloons to see if there was interest in a particular area. We have fewer and fewer of those nowadays. Students are enrolling in certificate and degree programs because they need critical skills either for employment in the community or transfer to other institutions. We still offer more courses than ever---somewhere around 284---but we are trying to be certain that they really do meet the students’ career and academic needs.

“Already, just four days into spring enrollment, we’ve seen a couple of courses starting to fill. Word is getting out to students that they need to enroll early so they can be assured a place in the classes they need. Faculty are doing more personal recruiting for particular classes and helping students one-on-one.

“The exciting news is that we have just received our temporary Certificate of Occupancy for Pueblo Hall and the Department of Instruction is scheduled to move out to Klauer in about a week. We’re excited. Pueblo Hall provides us with six new classrooms with capacity for up to 40 students each, larger than any we have at present. I think what we are going to notice is a true sense of a campus, a sense of a college community out there.

“There is a snack bar where a person can get a bite to eat between classes and we are planning to invite the entire community at noon after faculty orientation on January 16 to come out and meet the faculty and help us celebrate the opening of Pueblo Hall. It’s a beautiful building filled with natural sunlight. The water you turn on is heated by a solar hot water heater. Air is circulated through all the rooms by a solar convection system that automatically exchanges air without energy use. We are told that there will be a 70 percent overall reduction in energy use, and that’s something to be proud of.

“We are very, very fortunate to serve the community with an outstanding full time and adjunct faculty. Over 60 percent of our academic faculty have terminal degrees, which means Master’s, PhD’s, law degrees and the like, far more than at main campus. The qualifications for our academic faculty are identical to main campus, because they all have to be approved by department heads and deans down there before they can teach. There is no distinction between teaching here or at UNM in Albuquerque.

“As an academic institution we probably have one of the best prepared faculties anywhere, and the tuition charged makes it an exceptional deal for students. Younger students especially are becoming aware of that. We don’t accept low standards in any of our classes. We want students to come out very well prepared, and we are proud of their successes. We have zero tolerance for bullying and harassment. We take incidents of this nature very seriously. Our job is to provide a safe and secure environment for all students.

“Faculty, staff, students and the community at large are justifiably proud of UNM-Taos and how it has grown since the mid 90’s. I’d love to take a look at this place twenty years from now and see what we have.”

Holy Cross Hospital Announces New Health Care College Scholarships to Begin Fall 2010

Holy Cross Hospital Announces New Health Care College Scholarships to

Begin Fall 2010

Applications for Health Care and High School Senior Scholarships will

be available in January 2010, awards made in May

Taos, New Mexico (December 2009) -

Beginning January 2010, Holy Cross Hospital will open the application

process for several new scholarships for college students studying a

health care field who plan to return to Northern New Mexico to work.

These new scholarships will supplement the high school senior

scholarships Holy Cross has awarded since 1999.

In the last 10 years, Holy Cross Hospital has awarded hundreds of

scholarships to graduating high school seniors and college

undergraduates with a total value of over $1.5 million.

High school senior scholarships will continue. Each high school

scholarship pays $500 a semester for up to 8 semesters, for a total of

$4000.

In 2009 the board of Holy Cross Hospital decided to create a new set of

scholarships focused on health care. These scholarships are open to

college students at the associate, undergraduate, and graduate level.

Scholarship Committee Chair and Hospital Board Member Anna Martinez

states, “Rural hospitals all over the country are facing shortages in

health care workers. We decided to support our hospital and our

community while supporting the education of our local youth.”

Examples of health-care fields covered by the new scholarship include

counseling, occupational therapy, medical coding, nutrition, physical

therapy, radiology, graduate social work, and medicine. Fields NOT

included are veterinary medicine and undergraduate social work.

Eligible students must be willing to pledge to return to northern New

Mexico to work. If there are appropriate jobs available at Holy Cross

Hospital, they will receive preferential consideration.

To be eligible, students also must be enrolled full time in a college

as of fall 2010; be pursuing an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree

or certificate in a health-care-related field; have resided in Taos

County continuously for at least 5 years and/or graduated from a Taos

County high school; and have a GPA of at least 2.5.

Graduate and undergraduate scholarships pay a total of $10,000: $2500

each fall and spring for up to four continuous semesters.

Associate/Certification Scholarships pay a total of $5000: $1250 each

fall and spring for up to four continuous semesters.

To retain their scholarships, students must be continuously enrolled

full-time, earn at least a 3.0 semester GPA each semester, complete at

least 12 credit hours each semester, and submit documentation to the

Foundation each semester.

Applications for HCH scholarships will be available at the beginning of

January online at www.holycrossfoundation.org or www.taoshospital.org.

Submission deadline is March 29, 2010.

Contact:

Sally Trigg

Executive Director, Holy Cross Hospital Foundation

(575) 751-5811m (575) 758-4663 (fax)

strigg@taoshospital.org,

Bill Stewart

UNM-Taos art instructor Bill Stewart will be featured in a showing of his paintings for the month of January at the Prince Street Gallery, 530 West 25^th Street, New York, New York. Inspired by the work of Cezanne, Stewart “creates his watercolors and oils with vigor and gusto with an astute grasp of plane, distance and color....There is boldness, structural certainty and intense chromatic push and pull between the colors of his palette and that essential light, air and clarity” of the New Mexico landscape, according to admirer Ann Wilson.

Render Visible - Art Show by New UNM-Taos Faculty Member

"RENDER VISIBLE" EXHIBITION: Paintings, Drawings, and Prints by Jeremy McDonnell, a new member of the UNM-Taos Arts faculty.

“Render Visible”, an exhibition of painting, drawing, and prints by Jeremy McDonnell will be on display at UNM-Taos Klauer campus until December 11th in the Art building lobby. Show hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

McDonnell's art incorporates visual phenomena in both real and illusionary space. He skillfully uses pictorial elements like rhythm and movement to push visual and spatial perceptions from single to multiple readings. McDonnell's underlying goal is to explore how the human brain understands images.

The exhibition introduces Mr. McDonnell as a new faculty member at UNM-Taos. He holds an M.F.A. from Ohio State University, where he was awarded a full fellowship. He will be teaching courses in Art History, Painting and Digital Portfolio Development in the lower and upper division programs at UNM starting in the Spring 2010 semester.

Contact: Sabra Sowell, Arts Academy Program Coordinator
Phone: (575) 737-6256

Ecology at UNM Taos

GREETINGS TO ALL & MANY HEARTFELT THANKS for your continued interest!
By popular request, I'm adding the four course descriptions for our upcoming Spring
semester. As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions. Now more than ever, EARLY ENROLLMENT WILL BE KEY to these and all course offerings!

Most of all, I would like to congratulate everyone on the GREAT academic year underway, during which two key regional ecology and sustainability courses continue to gather momentum:

Ecology of Taos and Plants and Sustainability in the Southwest. Coordinated and individual student efforts have already co ntributed in many positive, creative and progressive ways, including in-depth discussions, presentations, field excursions, hands-on evaluations, and much more!

Such impressive engagement, dedication and collaboration served as the touchstone to many activities this Fall, including creating the recently chartered UNM-Taos Ecology Club, collaborating on regional and local sustainability events and programs, expanding mentoring and internship opportunities, participating in local and regional meetings and conferences, and many more amazing outcomes related to biodiversity, cultural ecology, sustainability studies, and all affecting the what we rely on most: the earth, sky, water and all the company we keep, especially each other.

Most of all, please accept my GRATITUDE for your support, encouragement and active participation in our evolving, multicultural and intergenerational study of restoration ecology, cultural and ecological sustainability, botany, regional field study, ecology, biodiversity, environmental history, natural science and MORE! In this collective striving, we learn from each other and add strength to our focus in so many ways . . with best wishes for the Winter Solstice, holidays, and a very peaceful, joyful New Year and beyond,

-Sylvia

Sylvia Rains Dennis
Faculty, Botany, Ecology & Environmental History
Coordinator for Cultural & Ecological Sustainability Education
University of New Mexico at Taos
sdennis@unm.edu phone: 575-770-9040
mailing address: Dept. of Instruction, 115 Civic Plaza Dr., Taos, NM 87571

PS: Classes begin Jan 19th (Tues.). Please stay in touch about mid-January ecology events, if you'd like to come alon g!

Four course descriptions follow & are attached:
Plant Identification Seminar
BIO299-805 (3 credit hours); CRN 36960
meets Weds. 3-5:30 PM in Klauer Campus Rm. 115
Description:
Introducing our regional flora, this course will focus on identifying and describing plant species in North-central New Mexico. Class meetings will focus on three main categories of our local vegetation: 1. woody plants; 2. herbaceous species (non-grasslike); and, 3. grasses, sedges & rushes. In addition, we will consider fire ecology, native vs. non-native species, botanical applications to related disciplines (including wildlife habitat, forest indicator species, and wetland/riparian descriptions). Students work both independently and collaboratively--identifying local plant species using a range of botanical reference material--to gain fundamental understanding of our regional flora, as well as local botanical diversity.

By adopting a unique plant family for the term, each student considers a specific context for engaging and responding to contemporary botanical issues, including topics introduced by guests and/or fellow students. Some current examples relate to fire behavior, invasive species, taxonomic changes, or plant conservation. Plant profiles detailing habitat change, adaptation, and land use factors are among the many topics covered during peer presentations. Hands-on and collective assignments are layered throughout the course to build upon knowledge and skills learned in previous class meetings, including identification methods, ecological descriptions, plant uses, dendrology, winter botany, and professional keying of plant species.

Restoration Ecology in Northern New Mexico
BIO 299-801 (3 credits); CRN 35128
meets Thurs., 3-5:30 PM in Klauer Campus Rm. 115
Description:
Focusing on recent restoration efforts in Northern New
Mexico, students will examine land and watershed sites in
natural, cultivated, disturbed and restored conditions. We
will tour three field sites in the Upper Rio Grande
region, observing site-specific ecological restoration
objectives and outcomes in forested, wetland/riparian
(bosque) and range- or shrubland settings. Students will
also have the opportunity to attend local and regional
meetings that include a restoration focus, including
possible attendance at professional conference sessions as
their instructor’s guests.
Through project review and collaborative restoration case
studies, students gain in-depth knowledge of restoration
planning, base line mapping, and progressive stages of
project implementation, expanding their understanding of
real-world restoration programs through field study and
attendance at professional meetings and conferences.
Students examine a range of reasons for restoration,
including highly disturbed sites, post-fire scenarios,
weed or other infestation, biodiversity, habitat
improvement, and culturally or ecologically-specific site
considerations.
Culminating in late spring site visits to active
restoration projects, course participants are able to
integrate concepts learned from these examples with
independent research on restoration ecology themes using
systems science and ecocultural approaches to consider new
and traditional efforts to restore landscapes and
watershed features in Northern New Mexico, including
forest, mesa, bosque, and wetland areas. By increasing
their understanding of local and regional examples,
students can ana lyze restoration ecology approaches in the
context of far-reaching national and international
restoration goals (e.g., Watershed Health; Biodiversity).


Environmental History of the Upper Río Grande Region
E&PS 110-802 (3 credit hours), CRN 38496
meets Tues., 3-5:30 PM in Klauer Campus Rm. 115
Description:
Introducing the landscape and ecological features of the
Upper Río Grande Region, this course will consider
vegetation, wildlife, watershed, climate, and other
changes to our local environment over periods of human
settlement and as a result of extended natural cycles. We
will interpret all available sources of environmental
history, including oral tradition; ecological study and
reconstruction of landscape trends; climate records;
information on natural and human-introduced changes; and
positions of guest speakers on local l and and water
issues.
Each class meeting begins in talking circle format as we
consider journal responses to specific environmental
history topics, ranging from global to local examples. By
engaging in individual, group and guest presentations,
students increase their awareness and understanding of
issues affecting the people, range of natural habitats,
and land uses found in the Upper Río Grande Region. Each
individual chooses a local example to profile the site’s
imprint and degree of environmental change, incorporating
maps, ecological descriptions, land use, settlement or
other impacts, and an interview assignment (concluding
with an in-class presentation and peer review exercise).

Introduction to Environmental Problems
CRP 181-800 (3 credit hours); CRN 38384
meets Weds. 12-2:30 PM, Klauer Campus Rm. 112
Description:
Thi s course explores the development of the major issues,
concepts and methods emerging from the relationship of
social systems and the natural environment. By taking a
broad view of cultural geography, students will consider
human-environment interaction as a factor of individual
and community need, political and social organization, and
ecological change. Students will explore issues and
conditions prevalent among traditional, rural, and larger
communities in the contemporary American west, as well as
consider compatibility and sustainability factors within
the carrying capacity of specific landscapes or watershed
features.
We will examine several current issues specific to the
Southwestern Region in detail, inviting collaborative
program members and lead agency managers, among others, to
discuss trends, policies and procedures that address a
range of social and environmental objectives. Questions
related to this study inc lude: How does the level of
human integration with the natural environment influence
overall resource access and decision-making? Are
issues-based stakeholder groups representative of the
potential for collaboration among local citizens? What
methods are used to determine, plan and implement any
perceived desired future outcomes?

Beautiful Bargains - UNM-Taos Holiday Student Art Sale - This Friday and Saturday only!

Are you looking for a breathtakingly beautiful, original painting or drawing but want it to be affordable? Do you love gorgeous, unique jewelry and love a bargain? Or are you just looking for extraordinary (and economical) gifts for your loved ones?

Here's your chance. At the UNM-Taos Holiday Student Art Sale you’re going to find the best prices on new, original art in Taos.

Jewelry, Ceramics, Photography, Prints, and Paintings by UNM-Taos art students will be on sale Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, 2009 from 9:00am – 4:00 p.m. at UNM-Taos Klauer Campus (by the golf course) in the Art Building lobby.

A reception, featuring fabulous finger food and delicious desserts by the UNM-Taos Culinary Arts department, will be held on Saturday from 2:00-4:00pm.

Click on the movie below for images of more student art - including jewelry - from past shows:



The UNM-Taos Holiday Student Art Sale is a chance to find one-of-a-kind visual and decorative arts at incredible prices. And remember: students are both emerging talents as well as established professional artists.

It’s a twice-a-year opportunity to bring more beauty into your world, affordably. (The next show is in the spring.) Plus, you'll be encouraging UNM-Taos art students in their work. It’s a great way to support the arts community in Northern New Mexico.

The Holiday Art Sale is a rare chance to find emerging artists before they are discovered by galleries. As highlighted in CollegeArtOnline.com, student art sales give "art enthusiasts the chance to buy an original piece of art and collect works” from up-and-coming artists. Student art sales are “where student art becomes fine art."

Even Picasso was an art student once. And who knows; you might find a piece by the next Agnes Martin or Larry Bell!

As an added bonus, concurrent with the Art Sale is the opening of a show of prints and paintings by new Arts Academy professor Jeremy McDonnell.

For more details, please call UNM-Taos Arts Academy Program Coordinator Sabra Sowell at (575) 737-6256.

UNM-Taos is a branch campus of the University of New Mexico. The Arts Academy offers classes year round in the visual and performing arts including Jewelry, Ceramics, Photography, Printmaking, Pueblo Pottery, Painting, 2D and 3D Design, Motion Media/Film, Dance and Music. Our hallmark is dedicated, experienced educators who care deeply about their students and are professional practicing artists.

New Academic Advisor

Hello Everyone.

The new Academic Advisor for the UNM-Taos Bachelor and Graduate Programs through Extended University is Fidel Torres, M.A. He
comes to us from Arizona State University. He has over 10 years of experience working with post-secondary students in areas of academic advisement, career advisement, scholarship resources, learning resources, and student success skills. Fidel is here to help you transition from UNM-Taos Branch to UNM-Taos BGP Extended University and
pursue your Bachelor and Graduate degrees. Fidel is an alumnus of UNM, and proud to be a Lobo!

Please call UNM-Taos Bachelor and Graduate Programs at 758-2828 to
schedule an appointment or schedule an appointment in person at our
office located at 246-B Ledoux Street (next to the Harwood Museum).

Fidel’s schedule for advisement appointments:

• Monday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Tuesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Wednesday 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

*Schedule is subject to change

UNM Taos is a Non-Smoking Campus

As you may already know the University of New Mexico-Taos will become tobacco free starting August 24, 2009. There will be no smoking allowed on any campus property. We are all proud of your commitment on becoming a Non-smoking campus. Thank you again Students, Faculty and Staff.

H1N1

Recently several colleges and universities around the country have experienced outbreaks of H1N1 flu, and although UNM-Taos does not fit their profile, we want our faculty, staff and students to be fully informed about this disease.

The following basic information about H1N1 (swine) flu has been excerpted from the Center for Disease Control website. For more detailed information go to http://www.flu.gov.

What is H1N1 (swine) flu?

H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

How do you catch H1N1 (swine) flu?

Spread of H1N1 (swine) flu can occur in two ways:

 Through contact with infected pigs or environments contaminated with swine flu viruses.

 Through contact with a person with H1N1 (swine) flu. Human-to-human spread of H1N1 (swine) flu has been documented also and is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where people have been identified with new H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to seek medical care. If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.

What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people?

The symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 (swine) flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 (swine) flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 (swine) flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

 Fast breathing or trouble breathing

 Bluish or gray skin color

 Not drinking enough fluids

 Severe or persistent vomiting

 Not waking up or not interacting

 Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

 Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

 Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

 Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

 Sudden dizziness

 Confusion

 Severe or persistent vomiting

 Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Reducing the risk of infection

In areas with confirmed human cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, the risk for infection can be reduced through a combination of actions. No single action will provide complete protection, but an approach combining the following steps can help decrease the likelihood of transmission. These recommended actions are:

 Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner* when soap and water are not available.

 Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

 People who are sick with an influenza-like illness (ILI) (fever plus at least cough or sore throat and possibly other symptoms like runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea) should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine).

 Avoid close contact (i.e. being within about 6 feet) with persons with ILI.

In addition, influenza antiviral medications are an important tool for the treatment and prevention of influenza, including novel H1N1. Also see Guidance on the use of antiviral medications.

UNM Taos Art Professor, Paula King

Thursday evening, September 17th, textbook publisher McGraw Hill hosted an "Evening with Author Mark Getlein" in San Antonio, Texas. UNM Taos Art Professor, Paula King, was invited to the publisher's reception to meet with Mark and to hear him speak about the his newest project, Living with Art, version 9. The reception was held to promote the 9th version of his textbook releasing in October of this year.

As a writer and development editor, Getlein has created a series of ground-breaking college textbooks in art and literature, including Art History (Abrams, 1995), A History of Art in Africa (Abrams, 2001), The HarperCollins World Reader, The Longman Anthology of British Literature, and The Longman Anthology of World Literature. The release of version 9 will be his 4th edition, as author of Living with Art.

"Mark Getlein's textbook, Living with Art, is the backbone of my ArtH 101 course. This excellent textbook serves to organize and support the learning objectives of our Art Appreciation class,” said King. The course introduces students to visual arts and culture and meets requirements for the university core curriculum. One of the favorite course assignments includes the production of an original portfolio of photography. In this hands on learning activity the student becomes the artist in order to really understand the elements of art and principles of design used by all artists they study.

Professor King's class is taught online, all learning activities are completed using WebCT. Students registering for Art H 101 live across Northern New Mexico and are enjoying the convenience of studying from home, wherever home might be.

With the release of version 9, students can look forward to an optional "etextbook" available through Coursesmart, yet another way to make the cost of education more affordable.

For more information about ArtH 101 or learning online, contact Paula King @ pk1ng@unm.edu

Paula King, UNM, Taos Art Appreciation Visual Arts / Distance Learning

Taos Chamber Music Group's 17th Season

Dear UNM-Taos students, I am very pleased to be able to invite you to the Taos Chamber Music Group's 17th Season series of concerts. This year for the first time we will be offering a discounted ticket price of $10 to UNM-Taos students. Please visit TCMG's web site www.taoschambermusicgroup.orgwhere you will find our full season's schedule, ticket and artist information, and lots more. You can charge you tickets online by checking the child price of $10, noting that you are a UNM student in the description, and bringing your student ID with you to the concert. You can also present your ID at the Harwood Museum where tickets go on sale two weeks in advance of each program. In the mean time here is a a sneak preview! TCMG's Seventeenth Season Overview

OPENING WEEKEND! Among Friends Saturday, September 26, 2009, 7:30 pm Sunday, September 27, 2009, 5:30 pm The Harwood Museum of Art South of the Border - Music of Latin America Saturday, November 7, 2009, 7:30 pm Sunday, November 8, 2009, 5:30 pm The Harwood Museum of Art Basically Baroque - Music of the 17th, 18th & 20th centuries Saturday, December 5, 2009, 7:30 pm Sunday, December 6, 2009, 5:30 pm The Harwood Museum of Art Winter Lyricism - with special guest pianist Robert McDonald Saturday, January 16, 2010, 7:30 pm Sunday, January 17, 2010, 5:30 pm The Harwood Museum of Art Equinox - Music & dance celebrating spring Sunday, March 21, 2010, 5:30 pm Taos Community Auditorium The Next Step - A world premiere, music and the moving image, & music informed by the written word Saturday, June 5, 2010, 7:30 pm Taos Community Auditorium Visit www.taoschambermusicgroup.org for details!

I look forward to sharing these wonderful programs with you! Best, Nancy Laupheimer, Director nancy@taoschambermusicgroup.org www.taoschambermusicgroup.org