by Brandale Mills
Daily Lobo
Last year, about 280 staff members were enrolled in courses at UNM. This year, the University hopes to register more than 300.
Staff members from all departments on campus registered for classes for the spring semester at UNM on Thursday in the SUB.
Helen Trujillo, a career development specialist at UNM, said staff love the event.
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"They can find classes, register, and get admitted all in the same day," she said.
Trujillo said staff members get up to eight credit hours a semester paid for by the University, which makes it easier for staff to further their education.
All full-time faculty and staff at UNM are eligible for the tuition remission as part of their benefits package.
Michelle Jaramillo-Clark, an accountant at the UNM School of Medicine, signed up for a public management class. She is applying as a non-degree student to see what it is like to take a graduate-level course, she said.
"I'm just getting my feet wet to see if I can handle going to work, raising a family, going to school and being an athlete," she said.
Representatives from different colleges around the University were on hand to answer any questions staff members had about their courses.
Gary Stepic, a financial aid officer, said the event was a positive thing for staff members to participate in.
"It's good anytime you can educate other staff members with resources you have," he said.
Stepic said the event is also a good way for staff to network with each other.
"It's fun to meet and get to know staff members that I regularly see around campus," he said.
He said allowing staff members to become students should motivate them to continue their education.
"A big part of the motivation comes from the individual, but it also comes from financial issues," Stepic said.
He said not worrying about paying for the courses releases a burden off some of the staff members.
Ernestine Dykstra, coordinator of custodial services, said she chose to participate because of the tuition remission.
"It was my biggest regret not going to school," she said. "Now I can get a degree."
Dykstra said she is taking the minimum amount of classes to start with to figure out what degree path she wants to choose. She is excited about learning and hopes for the best, she said.
"I want to see a different world," she said.
