by Stephanie Kitts
Daily Lobo
Three UNM schools are among the top 10 in the country for Hispanic graduate students, according to Hispanic Business Magazine.
The School of Law was ranked No. 1.
The School of Medicine was ranked sixth, and the School of Engineering was ranked 10th.
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The ranking will help the law school recruit students who want to learn in a diverse environment, said Suellyn Scarnecchia, dean of the School of Law.
"I certainly hope this ranking helps us continue to recruit Hispanic students," she said. "But it really does help us recruit all students."
It's better to learn in contexts that reflect the whole world, not just a specific area, Scarnecchia said.
She said one of the strengths of the law school is the large number of Hispanic faculty.
It has 27 percent Hispanic student enrollment and 22 percent Hispanic faculty.
"Our curriculum is enriched by the diversity of our faculty," she said. "We have the advantage of their perspectives in our curriculum."
The ranking will help the medical school continue to gain recognition nationwide for many of its programs, said Sam Giammo, spokesman for the school.
"We feel very privileged that we've received this recognition," he said. "It gives us some additional national prominence."
Giammo said the medical school's bachelor's and doctoral programs played a big role in its recognition this year.
The program seeks out high school seniors from underprivileged areas and admits them into the medical school, even before they start college.
"After they complete their B.A., they have a seat waiting for them in the medical school," Giammo said. "They've been recognized as a high- quality student, so we're able to eliminate the competition for them."
Thirty students are admitted into the program each year, 25 of whom will make it into the medical school after four years, he said.
The School of Engineering strives for diversity, said Joseph Cecchi, dean of the School of Engineering.
"Diversity is the foundation of excellence in engineering," he said. "And that means that diversity is a core value for the School of Engineering."
Eleven percent of the school's graduate students are Hispanic.
Cecchi said an important aspect of the School of Engineering is the advisement and mentorship programs offered for students.
"We recognize that it's more than what happens in the classroom and that it's important to create a good learning environment," he said.
