In an effort to help it come through on its commitment of offering higher education to all New Mexicans, UNM is taking an increasing interest in expanding the services on its West Side campus.
Started from a small program within Rio Rancho Elementary School in 1990, UNM-West has seen an explosion of popularity with the nontraditional, part-time students who are increasingly making up student bodies nationwide, said Jeronimo Dominguez, vice provost of the Extended University.
"Not every student can make it to our main campus because of personal or work conflicts," he said of the more than 4,000 students who call the West Side home. "Our goal is to make students' college experience convenient."
Dominguez said UNM-West is accomplishing that goal by offering "shut out" classes, courses students are unable to enroll in at the main campus because they are full. The branch campus, one of four across the state, was also one of the first in the country to offer wholly online and teleconference classes.
Engineers and scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Kirtland Air Force Base are also benefiting from the availability of the televised courses, he said.
These are often available and are often offered as eight-week courses, a much needed break from the traditional 16-week semester, he said.
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"We hope to eventually offer whole degree programs there," Dominguez said.
Relocated in the late 1990s to the 6,000 sq. ft. building that formerly housed the Don Chalmers' Ford automobile dealership, the building's three classrooms host 36 classes and more than 350 students, many of them high school students looking to get a head start on their college career.
UNM-West has for several years collaborated with Cibola High School to educate students about the college application process and offer entry-level courses, but Dominguez said he is looking to widen that service.
"There are several other high schools on the West Side and Rio Rancho that, if teamed up with us, could put their students in a much better position when they graduate," he said. "High school seniors waste a hell of a lot of time that they could use better if offered this program."
Dominguez said UNM-West hopes to get its own book store soon and increase the courses available by getting the University's Continuing Education Department and Health Sciences Center involved.
"To make this campus as successful as possible will require a total commitment from everyone at UNM," he said. "But I think this is an innovative service that will continue to help people in their pursuit of a college degree for years to come."
