Dear UNM-Taos students, faculty and friends

Dear UNM-Taos students, faculty and friends:

It has come to our attention that the conservative advocacy group Rio Grande Foundation in Southern New Mexico is advocating closing no less than half of the community college branches in New Mexico in order to make up for budget shortfalls at the state level.

We believe this is a misguided and ill-informed proposal that ignores the enormous hardships our citizens would incur in comparison to questionable and at best short term cost savings. Not only would our local workforce be deprived of the training and skills they need to be competitive in a difficult job market, but at the same time communities would lose the very real, positive contributions community colleges make to the local economy. For instance, UNM-Taos students brought $2.6 million into Taos County in 2009 through federal Pell grants alone. UNM-Taos currently employs 260 faculty and staff serving over 1,600 students per semester in our service area, which includes two pueblos and nine high schools.

Although the Rio Grande Foundation survey is full of misinformation, we believe it is important that community members speak out as to the benefits of UNM-Taos and other branch campuses throughout the state. PLEASE respond to this survey and pay special attention to question seven, indicating your strong opposition to the closing and selling off of some of our most precious assets: our New Mexico community colleges.

Link to the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DBXJMCN

Sincerely,

Kate O'Neill, Executive Director, UNM-Taos

Jim Gilroy, Dean of Instruction, UNM-Taos

Happy Holidays from UNM Taos

Happy Holidays from UNM Taos [2010] from UNM Taos on Vimeo.

Student Government Meeting

Regular Meeting

Friday, December 10, 2010

Klauer Campus, Pueblo Hall Room 129, 3:00 pm

Agenda

1) Call to Order

2) Roll Call – quorum for business present

3) Amendments to Agenda

4) Open Forum (5 minute limit)

5) Approval of Minutes

6) Reports and Committees

7) Old Business

a) Student Discount project

b) Year long schedule

c) UNM Taos Spring 2011 Art Show

8) New Business

a) Adjourn Meeting

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in a meeting of the UNM Taos Student Government, please contact the Student Government Office prior to the meeting. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Please contact if an accessible format is needed.

Amie Chávez-Aguilar

Student Success Director

University of New Mexico, Taos Campus

1157 County Road 110, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557.

Phone: 575-737-6202

Taste of Green

Taste of Green – FREE!

Saturday, 1 to 5

December 11, 2010

Come out for an afternoon to get a BITE of our Green Technology Classes coming up in January!

Where? Green Technology Education Center

on the Taos High School Campus

134 Cervantes - street across from Albertsons

1pm Welcome and Introduction

1:15pm Internship Opportunities In Taos Community

1:45pm Intro to Green Business

2:15pm Sustainable Food Farming

2:45pm 3D CAD and Green Building

3:25pm Intro to Solar Technology and Water Systems in our Built Environment

4:00pm Weatherization

4:30pm Building Science

Presenters include: Michele Dwyer, Sharon Leach, David Dobry, Mark Goldman, Bob Pedersen, Jason Pfeifer, Karlis Viceps

Early Enrollment Save $5.00

We’ve probably all had the experience of standing in a long line to enroll, trying to get an appointment to see an advisor and choosing your classes only to find that they are filled and you have to start all over again.

But NO MORE! This Spring Semester we want to reward those of you who register early, not just with a CLEAR CONSCIENCE and CALMED NERVES, but with FABULOUS PRIZES as well!

So if you are one of the first 300 students to enroll before December 23 (Enrollment starts Monday, November 29, right after the Thanksgiving holiday) we’ll give you a voucher redeemable for five dollars off any item in the bookstore AND a coupon good for any beverage at the Snack Bar at Klauer OR Mondo Kulture coffee shop in town.

SUCH A DEAL!

Click HERE to Print out the Coupon.

UNM Taos Library Newsletter

Click for a larger image.

Hispanic Scholarship Opportunity

Hello Students,

Here is a link for a great opportunity. Please come by El Centro if you need a letter of recommendation or if you need computer access to apply for this scholarship.

Scholarship applications for 2011-2012 will open in November 2010!

To apply and to read more about our scholarship programs, please go to http://scholarships.hispanicfund.org

In 2009, the Hispanic College Fund awarded approximately $3 million to 592 students nationwide. More than 80 percent of the scholarships that were awarded were for students studying business, science, technology, engineering, and math.

HCF Scholars include some of the nation's top college students. Through the HCF network, students have started careers at companies like Lockheed Martin, Estee Lauder Companies, and Google.

Who Can Apply?

The minimum eligibility criteria for HCF scholarship programs are:

Must have attended high school in the United States for a minimum of 3 years.

Must have a minimum GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Must plan to enroll as a full-time undergraduate student from Fall 2010 - Spring 2011.

Must plan to be enrolled in a college or university in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.

Each scholarship program has its own set of criteria. Each scholarship application site will state the full list of requirements for each program.

El Centro de la Raza

elcentro@unm.edu

http://www.unm.edu/~elcentro

Room 1153 Mesa Vista Hall

MSC06 3830

1 University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

Phone - (505) 277-5020

Fax - (505) 277-5182

El Centro de la Raza

elcentro@unm.edu

http://www.unm.edu/~elcentro

Room 1153 Mesa Vista Hall

MSC06 3830Publish Post

1 University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

Phone - (505) 277-5020

Fax - (505) 277-5182

Art Department Continuing Education Program

UNM Taos Art Department presents our new fabulous continuing education workshop series. These short workshops are geared toward advancing the skills of our current students, area professionals and working adults wanting a creative outlet. Participants need not be registered as UNM students. The instructors are professional artist with workshop teaching experience. Have fun, learn something new and leave with finished works of art that you created.

Visit: http://taos.unm.edu/continuing-ed/

for a full listing of classes

2010 UNM-Taos Student Government Election

CALL TO VOTE

WHO: Students enrolled in class at UNM-Taos for fall semester

WHAT: 2010 UNM-Taos Student Government Election

WHEN: Nov. 10th, 2010, 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

HOW:
• Election will take place online with a link to an online ballot
sent to your UNM E-Mail account. Students will need to obtain
a NetID, password, and UNM E-mail account to vote online.
Instructions for how to do this can be found at http://my.unm.edu.
• If you have difficulty obtaining a NetID and password you can call the
CIRT department in advance of the election at UNM-Taos Main Campus
at (505)277-5757. If you have difficulty voting online the day of election
you can visit the Student Government Office at Pueblo Hall East.

WHO YOU’LL BE VOTING FOR:
• Students will vote for 9 out of the following 15 candiadates for
UNM-Taos Student Senator:

Arsenio A. Arellano

Valerie Ortega
Jason Gordon

Marlene Rael
Victoria Gordon

Adela Rivera
Brook Hemenway

Nina Roybal
Daniel Herrera

Laura Suazo
Michael Lefebvre

Elizabeth Trujillo
Clyde Gary Moya

Myana Young
Rayos Muniz

• Students will vote YES or No on the revised UNM-Taos Student
Government Constitution.

• Students will vote YES or NO on the revised UNM-Taos Student
Government Bylaws

GET INVOLVED IN SHAPING YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

VOTE ONLINE THIS NOVEMBER 10TH, 2010

Get Your UNM NetID!

Get a UNM NetID
• Register for Classes
• Vote in Student Government elections

You will need a UNM NetID and unm.edu
e-mail to register for classes and vote
in student government elections.

UNM-Taos students will receive
e-mails regarding deadlines,
scholarships and events
Stay informed and be an active
member of your campus.

Go to: https://netid.unm.edu to get your UNM NetID.

Taos BRAWL III-D at KTAOS Solar Center to Benefit The Literacy Center at UNM Taos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 27, 2010

Taos BRAWL III-D at KTAOS Solar Center to Benefit The Literacy Center at UNM Taos

The Taos Broads Regional Arm Wrestling League has taken a long break since their last bout in January of this year, but they’re proud and pleased to announce that they’re back and ready to slam down again. This time half the money raised will go to The Literacy Center at UNM Taos.

Taos BRAWL III-D is scheduled for Saturday, November 13^th inside the Pavilion at the KTAOS Solar Center. The Station Bar opens at 5pm, BRAWLBucks (used to “bet” and vote on the wrestler of your choice) will be sold starting at 7pm, and the Bout begins at 8pm.

Eight local arm wrestlers, including Eva Destruction, Sister Bad Habit, Mommie Dearest and Miss

ARMerica, will appear in all their splashy splendor and gory glory and go womano a wom

ano until the third round, when the winner is awarded the Championship Belt. Then the Pavilion will turn into a dance hall, with live DJ music by Lacuna.

Despite some adult themes and language, Taos BRAWL III-D will be an all-ages event, and rightly so, says Susan Nuss, founder of Taos BRAWL.

“We thought it would only be right to allow all ages to come and help raise money for The Literacy Center at UNM Taos, because the services they provide to young and older adults in our community, from ages 16 to 78, benefit all of us, no matter what age.” Indeed, literate parents are the most important determining factor of children’s literacy levels.

The Literacy Center at UNM Taos not only provides GED preparation classes and an English as a Second Language program, but they also offer Adult Literacy assistance, for anything from applying for a job, writing a resume or starting a business, to using the internet. One local resident even enlisted their help in order to be able to read to her grandchildren.

“I don’t think people accomplish big goals alone,” says Judy Hofer, Director of The Literacy Center. “That’s why we’re here. All of our services are free of charge, and if you’re not getting the support you need out in the world, you’ll definitely get it here.”

Julie Armenta, 46 and a former Literacy Center student now celebrating her successful passing of the GED, agrees.

“I couldn’t have done this without everybody here. From the day I

left school, I knew about this program, but you have to put a lot of pride aside just to walk through that door. Any people who couldn’t ‘fit into the box’ at school have to take it upon themselves to do this. But once I walked in, I was welcomed by everybody. It’s even changed my opinion of young people today, because some of my fellow students have blown me away with their kindness and support!”

Armenta continues to volunteer her time to The Literacy Center because she knows from her experience that “support travels.”

Taos BRAWL III-D will be a fun-filled opportunity for residents of all ages to show their support for The Literacy Center at UNM Taos, and for Working Class Theatre, which produces socially relevant plays for the Taos community. All money raised will be divided between the two organizations.

Admission is $5 and BRAWLbucks, used to “bet” and vote on the wrestler of your choice, are 2 for $1. Taos BRAWL T shirts will also be for sale at the event.

Contact Information:

Susan Nuss

PO Box 173, Taos NM, 87571

(575)751-8205

snuss@siriusware.com

Arm wrestler Mommie Dearest practices her grip with Literacy Center student Jeremy Archuleta, while fellow student Alberto Trujillo and arm wrestler Hot Flash cheer them on. Photo by Dancer Dearing.

The UNM Taos Report

By Bill Knief

OUT OF CHAOS, A NEW LEARNING PARADIGM

The year 2009 was a time punctuated by the barely controlled chaos of academy heads, faculty, administration, advisors, tutors, business office and bookstore personnel, enrollment staff and more than 1,500 students trying simultaneously to get settled into their new digs on the UNM-Taos Klauer Campus. Add to the fun the culmination of a two year accreditation process, the advent of free bus service, a new snack bar and the solar array going operational, and you can imagine that it was not always a pretty sight.

Now, 2010 is taking on a similar, though more philosophical, turn. With the dust and detritus of rapid change still hanging palpably in the air, a complete reorganization of the Department of Instruction is underway. The old structure that divided courses of study into seven academies has given way to a new paradigm based on what Jim Gilroy, Dean of Instruction, calls “small learning communities organized around broad content areas of interest” which are led by coordinators.

“On a practical level,” Gilroy explained, “this reorganization of the Department of Instruction has been made possible by our move out to Klauer. Having the new facilities out there allowed the majority of us to come together, and we have a sense of community now that we haven’t had up to this point. The advisors, Student Services, the DOI, the faculty and students are concentrated where the courses are being delivered. So the opportunities for interaction have just multiplied, and you see students on a more regular basis.

“The physical move made the philosophical change possible. It gave faculty a chance to play more of a leadership role within our community of learning. The new plan gives many more people the opportunity to step forward, and for the institution to try them on for size. That’s a sign of health, because any good institution is continually looking at a succession plan.”

The new structure centers on four areas of coordination: transferable courses, health sciences, business and professional skills, and the various support systems that make up student success.

“Transferable courses are those for students who are planning to transfer to a four year institution,” Gilroy said, “so we break that down into departments that match the core curriculum that is approved statewide. It’s English and writing, science and mathematics. It’s social and behavioral studies, the humanities and the like.

“The second area that has been a high growth field is the area of health sciences. Once you have a health sciences program in place you have equipment responsibilities, space requirements, and national and state accreditation issues. People who go through the health sciences program are not paid professionals until they pass some sort of licensure exam, and this has demanded a lot of our time in the Department of Instruction. Our nursing, dental assisting, integrative health, Yoga, medical massage and other programs are very strong and developing very quickly. Coordinating these within our health sciences program is a way we can give them a proper level of attention.

“The third area of coordination is what we call the area of business and professional skills, and it deals mostly with our interaction with the needs of the community. What are the economic development, the professional needs? It’s business management and administration, culinary arts and crafts programs that are part of a professional skills development program.

“Finally, we have a tremendous number of areas of support for student success: the library, the Literacy Center, tutoring. It’s our Kids’ Campus. It’s the Family Resource Center. A large segment of our students come to us in need of developmental studies so that they can succeed at the college level. This is math, communications, college success skills---the tools they need to be able to explore a variety of both technical and academic pathways.”

One major tool that will transform student success in a big way at UNM-Taos is the proposed Library Learning Center. If General Obligation Bond D passes in the November 2 election, this library facility, designed to be the heart of the campus and the center of student success programs, will receive two million dollars to begin construction. When voters turn over their ballots on election day, they should consider carefully the impact of General Obligation Bond D on our community of learning.

SMU & UNM Taos Fall Lecture Series

Oct. 27
Bataan Hall

Harvest Festival: A Taste of Taos
Jim Gilroy, Miguel Santistevan
At Bataan Hall, Taos Convention Center (Civic Plaza Drive)
Parking available at the Town of Taos Hall lot.
Come early to sample food and speak with local farmers & vendors!
Tasting starts at 6:30pm - Lecture at 7pm



Nov. 3
TCA
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
Thomas Turnbull


Nov. 10
TCA

Volcanic Northern New Mexico
Tony Benson, Debbie Ragland



This lecture series is a collaboration between UNM-Taos, SMU-in-Taos,
the Town of Taos and the Taos Center for the Arts.
Special thanks to the UNM-Taos Student Government.

For more information call (575) 737-6242 or visit taoslecture.com

All events are free and open to the public.
Lectures begin every Wednesday at 7:00pm,
followed by a question & answer period from 8:00pm to 8:30pm.

Advising Transfer Day

WHO: University of New Mexico Admissions’ Officers College Academic Advisors

WHAT: Admission Information, Transition Information, Academic Advisement, Application of Credit

WHERE: Padre Martinez Building lobby area UNM – Taos Klauer Campus

WHEN: Monday – October 25, 2010 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

WHY: Apply to UNM Main Campus for Spring 2011/Summer 2011/Fall 2011.

Waive the $20.00 Application fee.

Ask about the TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIP…

or go to http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/transfer.php for more information.

BRING: Official Transcripts from all post-secondary Institutions you have attended. Unofficial transcripts may be reviewed.

If you are not yet ready to apply, you are welcome to come and talk with an Academic Advisor, and explore how you may be able to build upon the college work you have already completed.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday, October 25, 2010!

Preventive Health Days - CANCELLED

The employee Health Promotion dept at main campus will be canceling flu shots/screening which included mammograms at the Taos Branch Campus. This event was scheduled for November 3, 2010. Unfortunately only 10 individuals confirmed their attendance.

Mid-term Madness...

Congratulations, you are half way through the semester! What a wonderful accomplishment.

This is a good to communicate with your instructors and ask them what grade you are receiving in class. You still have half the semester to raise that B to an A, or if you are not doing well, to improve.

Tips:

1. Ask your instructor what grade you are receiving. Make sure you give them time to average your grades and follow up with an e-mail or your preferred method of communication

2. Ask your instructor what you can do to improve your grade.

3. Do as your instructor suggests.

4. Take advantage of the CASA Tutoring Program. This is a free service that is provided to help you be successful. Call 737-3695 to schedule an appointment.

5. Avoid any unnecessary absences or tardies.

6. Communicate, communicate, communicate! If you have to miss class or be late, let your instructor know, and make arrangements to get notes from a classmate. Any material you miss is still your responsibility and attendance policies apply.
These simple steps should give you the information you need to make appropriate plans and decisions for the rest of the semester.

Let's make the second 8-weeks of the semester as successful as possible.

Wanted by Howl

WANTED

by

HOWL Journal of the Arts

Is Taos the land of enchantment?

Or the land of entrapment?

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE by:

October 19th (writing) - October 26th (artwork)

Your fiction, poetry, myths, recipes, essays,

lyrics, paintings, drawings, prints, and

photography.

REWARD

Publication upon Capture

taos.unm.edu/howl

Robin Powlesland
Department Chair
English and C&J
UNM-Taos
575.779.5257

Documentary Film Screening

Dean Jim Gilroy, New Mexico filmmaker, Cindy Pickard and Miriam Foronda invite the students and faculty at UNM-Taos for a talk with Anishnabe Elder and teacher, Dave Courchene,

Friday, Sept. 24th
from 3 - 4PM, 107 Martinez Hall, Klauer Campus.

Dave is a recent recipient of the International Indigenous Leadership Award for his work with Native and non-Native youth worldwide. Students will receive extra credit for attending the talk and/or screening.

Dave is featured in the film documentary, "Manitou API- Where the Sun Rises," which is being celebrated at the gala Native American screening event on September 23rd and 24th, 7PM at the Taos Community Auditorium. Tickets are $12.00 and are available at the Taos Center for the Arts, FX 18 and the TCA on the day of the show.
The Box office opens at 6PM on both nights.

Also featured at the screenings are: Tom Bee, Grammy-award winning Native American Music Producer who created the film's soundtrack, Harlan McKosato, Radio Host/Producer for Native America Calling, Jonathan Warm Day, Taos Pueblo Artist for the event poster and 7 Sacred Teaching T-shirts, Cody Little Hawk Swimmer, Native American Music award- winning flutist,and WhiteWolf Youth Drum Group,
Taos Pueblo.

Printable Class Locators

CLICK HERE for Printable PDF version of ALL campus locators.

NEW! Bus schedule! Extra Pick-up Point!

[click below for a larger, printable version]

Call to Action GO BOND!

As we get ready to start the 2010-11 academic year, we want to share information about the General Obligation(GO Bonds). Throughout the next 3 months we will keep you informed about the efforts we are making to inform and educate our community about these important Bonds. General Obligation bonds come before the voters every two years. They are a proven and accepted method of funding bricks and mortar projects. November 2, New Mexicans will have the opportunity to vote for BONDS A, B, C, D.

• Bond A- will provide $7.7 million for senior citizen facilities
• Bond B- will provide $7 million for public, tribal, academic and public school libraries
• Bond C- includes $5 million for public education projects
• Bond D- $155.2 million for higher education and special schools projects- $2 million of this will go to the UNM-Taos Library to plan, design, construct, equip and furnish phase 1. The UNM-Taos Library complex will house the academic library, the Southwest
• 
  
• Research Center, the Water Institute, a large theatre style classroom, and a learning lab for supplemental instruction, developmental studies, and mentoring; all of which will be open and accessible to the public as well as all students.
  

As part of the GO Bond steering committee, I am writing to give you an update of the dates for tabling and community presentations. We met July 14 to inform the community of our efforts. Several community volunteers signed up to write letters to the Taos News and speak at civic organizations. What can a UNM-Taos employee do? Keep informed; educate your family and neighbors about these bonds. We would also like to invite you to help us with tabling. Be sure to click the links at the bottom that will give you the opportunity to sign up for various community presentations, tabling and sign the petition on-line. Our first tabling effort is this Saturday at Cid’s!

Please call or ask any of the UNM-Taos steering committee members if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
GO Bond Steering Committee:
Dr. Kate O’Neill, UNM-Taos Director, Kathleen Knoth, Library Director
Ana Pacheco, Bill Knief, Enrico Trujillo

Sign the petition! http://www.unm.edu/~unmtlib/petition.html

Sign up to sit with us at Cid's! http://www.unm.edu/~unmtlib/signup.html

A HOWLING SUCCESS

As I always like to say, we take fun seriously here at UNM-Taos.

And that’s no joke.

For the second year in a row UNM-Taos Student Government Senators came through with balloons, candy and a float in the Fiesta parade, where, much to the delight of the crowd, they were joined by Louie and Lucy Lobo, who drove all the way up from Albuquerque just to shake paws with some local folks. Despite the rainy weather Louie and Lucy said they had a great time and promised to be back again next year.

“Just give us a howl and we’ll be there,” the shaggy duo said.

As freewheeling ambassadors of post secondary pedagogy they got the attention of many a youngster, and we thank them for it. A decade or so from now when those same kids are signing up for classes at their community college, perhaps they’ll remember their first slightly soggy canine contact with higher education at the 2010 Fiestas.

Meanwhile, as Summer begins to lose its grip on the high country and we rush headlong toward the first day of fall classes, August 23, I asked UNM-Taos Information Resources Manager Anne Landgraf how the fall semester was measuring up. As usual, the data diva had plenty to share.

I knew we had a record breaking Spring 2010 semester turnout and our summer enrollment was up more than thirty percent over the previous year, but Landgraf pointed out some very interesting long term statistics as well:

Our overall fall headcount has gone up 16.53 percent over the last five years. Impressive, yes, but even more important is the fact that full time head count---the number of students taking a full load of 12 credit hours or more per semester---has gone up 84.17 percent over the last five years, and up 36.17 percent between fall 2008 and fall 2009 alone. This is a strong indication that students are becoming more serious about their educational goals, and sure enough, our first time degree-seeking head count is up 86 percent over the last five years. That represents an increase of 106 percent for first time degree-seeking Hispanic students and an 87.5 percent increase in first time degree-seeking Native American students.

Since opening its doors, UNM-Taos has awarded a total of 707 degrees and certificates, creating a profound positive impact not only on the economy of the region but also on the quality of life of individual citizens and the health of our entire society.

It also means that if you’re thinking about taking classes this fall, you’d better get busy. Pressured simultaneously by an increasing student body and a decreasing budget, UNM-Taos classes are filling up fast. You can no longer wait until the last minute to enroll and expect to find an opening in every class you want to take.

Study the updated Fall Schedule of Classes insert in this week’s Taos News. It will give you course descriptions, help you enroll online at taos.unm.edu, get you started on financial aid, give you a timeline of important dates (such as the all-important New Student Enrollment on August 17 from 12:30 to 4 p.m.), show you how to set up an appointment with an advisor and much more.

All student services and enrollment activities are now located out at the Klauer campus south of town in the new Pueblo Hall facility. Come see us between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, or give us a howl---at 737-6200.