Students affected by hurricane get free ride at UNM

Staff Report

UNM President Louis Caldera announced Saturday the University will pay tuition costs for students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

"These are extraordinary circumstances," Caldera said in a news release. "And as a university, we are reaching out to support these students."

According to the release, UNM will accept any enrolled students from colleges and universities in New Orleans and other areas on the Gulf Coast affected by the storm. The University will pay for most of their tuition and fees, as well as some of their books and living expenses, including dormitory costs.

UNM announced last week they would enroll students who had to leave their universities in the Gulf Coast region. Ten students have already enrolled and about 10 more are expected. The admissions office extended the deadline for those students to add classes from Sept. 2 to Friday.

Caldera said the decision was a joint effort among himself, the UNM Board of Regents, New Mexico Speaker of the House Ben Lujan and Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez.

Susan McKinsey, spokeswoman for UNM, said the University hasn't worked out all the details on where the money will come from to pay all the tuition costs, but the school has received full support from the New Mexico Legislature.

Sanchez said in a news release that UNM is a good option for students enrolled at schools in areas hit hardest by the storm.

"It appears the revenues are available to assist, and we are going to do everything we can to help these students and communities that have been terribly impacted by Hurricane Katrina," he said.