UNM's transition to a new telephone switch is more than 60 percent complete, said Paula Loendorf, director of telecommunications. The switch is the device that connects calls and provides a dial tone.
The Board of Regents approved an operating budget of $1.7 billion dollars for the 2006-07 school year Tuesday. The budget is a $106 million, or 6.7 percent, increase from last year's.
The Board of Regents gave its approval Tuesday to begin building a $53.2 million Cancer Research and Treatment Center starting in October. Dr. Cheryl Willman, director of the center, said the building would be occupied by November or December of 2008.
While the state Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating the Zimmerman Library fire as arson, a general insurance adjuster said at Tuesday's Board of Regents meeting the fire seemed to be intentionally started.
UNM can expect rolling outages of phone service beginning June 19, as technicians move phone lines to a new switch, said Mark Reynolds, UNM's telecommunications operations manager.
The fire that tore through the Zimmerman Library basement April 30 damaged journals that can't be found in UNM's online journal database, said Camila Alire, dean of University Libraries.
Two of UNM's technology departments will become one, starting July 1. Computer and Information Resources and Technology will merge with the Telecommunications Department to form Information Technology Services.
Shelley Rael is hoping an emulation of a hit television show will be the key to getting UNM faculty and staff members in shape. The eight-week program is based on NBC's "The Biggest Loser," a show that challenges its contestants to lose weight with a vigorous workout routine and a healthy diet.
UNM is going to have an expanded catalogue of hybrid classes for the fall semester. In a hybrid course, half of the students enrolled in a class would meet with their instructor and the other half of the students would attend class online through WebCT, said English professor Scott Sanders.
UNM may soon be part of the International Center for the Study of Terrorism. The center, led by Penn State University's Kevin Murphy, will examine terrorism using the social sciences - why terrorists become radicalized and how the public reacts to acts of terrorism.
Albuquerque Police officers formed a three-block barricade around Lead Avenue and Buena Vista Drive Wednesday afternoon looking for a man wanted on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
A new policy for UNM's dealings with labor unions went into effect May 12. However, some union leaders are unhappy with parts of the change, which was passed unanimously by the Board of Regents.
Whenever UNM alumna Rebekah Horsechief told people her academic focus was Native American Studies, they told her it was useless.
A consultant's report written in 2002 recommended UNM install sprinklers throughout Zimmerman Library as a fire precaution, but several administrators hadn't seen that report until last week.
Student Adrian Carver's ideal job is challenging and fun, he said. For now, he is looking for an evening job that pays the bills and works around his full-time summer school schedule.
By closing three parking lots and one shuttle this summer, UNM parking officials are hoping the result will be a more efficient service for their customers.
Woody Farber, president of New Mexico Student Loans, said a flier in the Daily Lobo on April 28 could cause students financial harm. The flier was an advertisement for student loan consolidation through the company Nelnet.
Student Magarita Avitia said before attending UNM she worked as a housekeeper with her mother. "I woke up every morning at five with my mom," she said. "She pretty much helped me clean everything because it was hard work. I couldn't even hang in there."
Michael Nakamaye is used to getting prestigious awards. The mathematics professor received teacher of the year at Harvard in 1999, five years after completing his doctorate.
The smell of smoke can still be detected at the entrance of Zimmerman Library, and students preparing for finals are feeling the absence of one of their most important resources - a place to study.
Solutions by The State News
