UNM's Antonio Vigil Wins International Student Design Competition

University of New Mexico master of architecture student Antonio Vigil designed an Albuquerque-area recycling center within a local market as part of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and Portland Cement Association’s third annual sustainable concrete student design competition.

UNM Curanderismo Program Celebrates its 6th Summer

Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, UNM vice president of Student Affairs, began teaching the course Traditional Medicine Without Borders: Curanderismo in the Southwest & Mexico this week.

The course runs through Friday, Aug. 1 in Anthropology room 163. Now in its sixth year, the course provides traditional healers of all backgrounds, western medicine practitioners and members of the public to come together to share knowledge about the art and science of healing.

UNM Promotes Five Faculty Members to Rank of Distinguished Professor

Five professors have been promoted to the rank of University of New Mexico distinguished professor. Distinguished professors are individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and are nationally and internationally renowned as scholars.

Interim Provost Viola Florez said, “The rank of Distinguished Professor is the highest faculty rank at the university. It is reserved for a very small number of individuals who have made major scholarly contributions to their fields. This year we had a very strong group of nominees, and we are proud of the accomplishments of each of them. The new awardees join a very select group of our faculty.”

Open Letter to the UNM Community

For weeks now, I've been studying the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) and listening to your concerns about how the proposed Regents' policy changes might impact our campus.

As you may know, I appointed a Task Force to consider how we might develop appropriate University policies consistent with IPRA that would also protect the interests of the University and its employees.

Oñate Statue Controversy, Role of Public Art Discussed on this Week’s “New Mexico in Focus”

Spanish Conquistador Don Juan de Oñate is one of the most controversial figures in the history of the southwestern United States. He is also the subject of a controversy surrounding a statue of him that is currently located in El Paso. This statue, and the strong emotion, both positive and negative, that surround it are the subject of a new national PBS documentary, P.O.V. “The Last Conquistador.” This week, “New Mexico in Focus” will screen the program, hold a panel discussion exploring different sides of the issue, and take questions from the studio audience. This episode airs Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m. and repeats on Sunday, July 27 at 6:30 a.m. A special repeat will follow on Thursday, July 31, at 9 p.m., following the airing of “The Last Conquistador.”

Parents of High School Students Invited to Live, Learn at UNM Aug. 1-2

Parents of high school students have an opportunity to immerse themselves in a college experience through a new, free program offered at the University of New Mexico. Parents will live and dine on campus and attend casual, informative sessions during the two-day, one night program held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1-2.

UNM Students Play Important Role at Domenici Conference at NMSU

University of New Mexico students Julie Kimsal and Mario Ortiz will join other students from universities around the state to take part in the inaugural Domenici Public Policy Conference at New Mexico State University Aug. 20 – 22.

UNM Announces New Chief Information Officer

University of New Mexico Executive Vice President David Harris has announced the appointment of Gilbert Ramirez Gonzales as Chief information officer. He is scheduled to assume the role August 18.

Be A Part of UNM Heart Healthy Cookbook

Submit your favorite heart healthy recipe

Do you have a healthy recipe you would like to share? As one of the UNM Wellness Mini-grant recipients, Internal Medicine/Cardiology is putting together a UNM Heart Healthy Cookbook filled with YOUR healthy recipes, but UNM Wellness needs YOU to submit them!

UNM-Gallup Ranked Third Among Nation’s Community Colleges in Degrees Awarded to Native American Students

University of New Mexico-Gallup is ranked third among the nation’s community colleges for granting associate degrees to American Indian students, according to preliminary figures issued by the U.S. Department of Education, and as published in the June 16 issue of Community College Week.

“Around the World by Balloon” to be Featured at KNME-TV’s “Science Café”

How, and why, would people want to travel around the world in a balloon? This question will be answered at the latest edition of KNME-TV’s “Science Café,” held at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE on Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m.

CYFD, New Mexico’s $400 Million Windfall, and John McCain Visit Featured in “New Mexico in Focus”

This week, “New Mexico in Focus” looks at New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Family Services Department, presidential candidate John McCain’s recent town hall meeting in Albuquerque, and debate over what Governor Bill Richardson will do with New Mexico’s $400 million windfall. “New Mexico in Focus” airs on KNME-TV, channel 5, on Friday, July 18 at 7 p.m. and repeats at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 20.

Student-Athletes Getting the Job Done in Classroom

New standard set with 3.11 GPA

The combined grade point average of the Lobos’ 21 athletics programs for the 2008 spring semester was a school-record 3.11 according to the UNM registrar’s office. UNM’s previous high was 3.08 in the 2006 spring semester. The Lobos have now reached a GPA of 3.00 or better for 11 of the last 12 semesters. UNM began tracking grades in the fall of 1988.

UNM Formula SAE Racing Team Scores in Major Competition

UNM mechanical engineering students built and raced a small formula-style racing car in the 2008 Formula Society of Automotive Engineers West competition at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., placing in the top 20 in three major categories. This is one of seven international competitions that are part of the largest engineering competition in the world.

A View from Oaxaca

Occupational Therapy students learn traditional healing practices

Recently, graduate students from the University of New Mexico visited Oaxaca, México to learn about Mexican Traditional Medicine with Occupational Therapy Professor Terry K. Crowe. The course was designed through a partnership between CECIPROC- a non-government Oaxacan organization working in community health, Tierraventura - a small business offering unique eco-tourism and the University of New Mexico Occupational Therapy Graduate Program in the School of Medicine.

Photo: On a rainy day in the village of Cuajimoloyas, UNM Occupatioanl Therapy students learn from Doña Queta the medicinal properties of plants.

UNM’s Cortez William Dies at 68

Cortez Williams, retired University of New Mexico assistant professor of African-American Studies, now Africana Studies, died Saturday, July 12. He was 68 years old. A memorial service is set for Saturday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at the UNM Alumni Chapel followed by a reception at 1 p.m. in UNM Student Union Building Lobo rooms A & B.

Photo: Cortez Williams

UNM Fraternity Receives National Award as Chapter of the Year

The Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity, Inc. was recognized recently with a national award as Chapter of the Year. Among its accolades last year, the chapter raised money for earthquake victims in Peru, St. Jude's Hospital and the Red Cross. The chapter also has a mentoring program for students at Albuquerque High School and meets monthly to work with the Albuquerque Bicycle Recyclers program to rebuild and give bikes to needy Albuquerque Public School students.

Photo: Members of the Lambda Theta Phi fraternity help raise money for earthquake victims in Peru.

Ecological Society of America Announces 2008 Award Recipients

Yates to receive Sustainability Science Award

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) will present societal awards to eight distinguished ecologists at its 93rd Annual ESA meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in August. Among the recipients will be former University of New Mexico Vice President and Professor of Biology Dr. Terry Yates, who will receive ESA's 2007 Sustainability Science Award posthumously.

Photo: Dr. Terry Yates

Lobos to Offer Olympic Sports Pass

The University of New Mexico Athletics Department is offering an exciting and new opportunity for fans to get involved with all Lobo Olympic sports for the upcoming school year. The Olympic Sports Season Pass will be THE season ticket for all men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball preseason and regular season home games for the 2008-09 season.

Trinity Next Featured Band in Summer Concert Series

Noontime concert set for Friday, July 18 at University Honors Plaza

Rock & roll aficionados will relish in the next concert in the Greg Johnston Summer Concert Series at the University of New Mexico. The Albuquerque-based rock band Trinity is set to perform Friday, July 18 at the University Honors Plaza in the second of three summertime concerts. A classical metal act playing many of your old-time rock-and-roll favorites, Trinity will start rockin' at 12 noon at the University Honors Plaza, located southeast of the SUB and south of the Student Health Center.

Photo: Albuquerque-based Trinity.

UNM to Host National LULAC Leadership Program

The UNM College Enrichment and Outreach Programs (CEOP), part of the Division of Student Affairs, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Department of Energy (DOE) are proud to team to up once again for the “UNM/LULAC Annual Leadership Program” for incoming junior and senior high school students.

Employees Invited to Discover Play, Enhanced Learning

Everyone needs to play! UNM’s Staff Council Work+Life Committee is sponsoring “Learning Together through Play,” a free, hands-on workshop for staff, faculty and students on Thursday, July 24, from noon to 1 p.m. in the SUB Lobo rooms A&B. Light refreshments will be provided.

CNM, UNM Sign Transfer Agreement

Representatives of the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College signed a transfer agreement today that allows CNM students who earn an associate degree in liberal arts to transfer into UNM’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Photo: Susan Murphy, left, CNM vice president for Academic Affairs; and Brenda Claiborne, dean, UNM College of Arts and Sciences, sign copies of a transfer agreement that will help students transition seamlessly from CNM into UNM's College of Arts and Sciences.

RWJF Grant Supports Health Care Quality Improvement in Bernalillo County

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Center for Health Policy at UNM and the New Mexico Medical Review Association (NMMRA), an independent health care quality improvement organization, have been awarded a project planning grant from RWJF as part of its national initiative, Aligning Forces for Quality.

Parking Permits On Sale

New permit rates effective Aug. 25

The University of New Mexico Department of Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) announced that parking permits for the 2008-2009 academic year will go on sale on Monday, July 14. Staff and faculty not enrolled in the automatic payroll deduction program must renew their permits annually and can purchase their new permits from the PATS Web site beginning at 5 a.m. Students may also begin purchasing permits at this time. New permit rates are effective Aug. 25.

“Best of the Best” Teachers, Albuquerque Streetcar Are Topics of Discussion on This Week’s “New Mexico in Focus”

This week, “New Mexico in Focus” recognizes some of the teachers who are making a difference in New Mexico, and then the panel tackles the issue of the Albuquerque Streetcar project among other topics of interest to New Mexicans this week. KNME-TV’s one hour public affairs show “New Mexico in Focus” takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education and arts issues and explores them in-depth, with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment." “New Mexico in Focus” will air on KNME-TV, Channel 5, on Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m. and repeat on Sunday, July 13 at 6:30 a.m.

Inspection of Public Records Working Group Turns in Report and Policy Recommendations

The Inspection of Public Records Working Group has given a report and policy recommendations to the president and chairman of the Board of Regents for their consideration. It is important to keep in mind that these are only recommendations for Regents consideration and are not final approved policies. The report and policy recommendations can be viewed at http://www.unm.edu/~ubppm/.

UNM Cancer Center Becomes Exclusive Cancer Care Provider for Lovelace Health Plan Members

UNM’s Cancer Research and Treatment Center (CRTC) will become the exclusive provider of medical oncology services for all Lovelace Health Plan members, beginning Oct. 1. With this new partnership, Lovelace Health Plan members will have access to new cancer treatment technologies and therapies through important clinical trials currently underway at the CRTC, a National Cancer Institute designated Cancer Center.

UNM Sends Off Two Fulbright’s; 13 in Five Years

Albert Palma and Zachery Watkins are the latest to carry on UNM's tradition of providing exceptional students excited to serve as Fulbright scholars. In the last five years, UNM has produced 13 Fulbright scholars in a variety of fields going to a number of different countries.

Endowment to Support Hispanic Fine Arts Students

With help from its friends, UNM has taken another step toward diversity in the arts. The UNM College of Fine Arts and the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce finalized an agreement yesterday establishing the Clifton A. Reed Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Endowed Scholarship, benefiting fine arts students of Hispanic descent.