August 14, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contacts: Brad Moore
Director of Communications and Media Relations
Central New Mexico Community College
224-4423
Susan McKinsey
Director of University Communications
University of New Mexico
277-1989
CNM, UNM Will Vote to Join Forces for Unprecedented Partnership
A press conference with University of New Mexico President David J. Schmidly and Central New Mexico Community College President Katharine Winograd has been scheduled for 6 p.m. today at CNM’s Smith Brasher Hall.
Today, the UNM Board of Regents and the CNM Governing Board will both hold separate votes on a joint memorandum of agreement that, if passed, will set the stage for a new era of higher education in New Mexico.
If the memorandum passes, the state’s flagship university and the state’s leading community college will form an alliance that is unprecedented in New Mexico and one that will open more doors for students to access higher education and succeed.
“In a state where graduation rates in high school and higher education are below average, this potential agreement could be a major step forward in addressing those issues and prompting more collaboration among all levels of education in the state,” said CNM President Katharine Winograd.
“Our bottom line is student success,” said UNM President David J. Schmidly. “Working with CNM, we can provide for the varied needs of New Mexico students while keeping focused on the ultimate goal of seeing they earn a degree.”
If the agreement is approved today, among other commitments, UNM and CNM will work together to:
• Develop joint initiatives such as 2+2 programs, dual enrollment collaboration and Gateway programs.
• Embrace opportunities for creating seamless enrollment and financial aid processes.
• Provide selected shared services.
• Share data to monitor and address student success issues.
• Develop a schedule of non-duplicated courses to meet the needs of Rio Rancho, with lower division courses offered through CNM and upper division and graduate courses offered by UNM.
• Jointly establish a comprehensive facilities master plan in Rio Rancho and establish a higher education campus. The first instructional building will be built and owned by CNM with planned course offerings from both institutions.
More details will be provided at the press conference with Dr. Winograd and Dr. Schmidly. CNM’s Smith Brasher Hall is located at 717 University Blvd. SE. The press conference is scheduled to immediately follow CNM’s Governing Board meeting that begins at 5 p.m. in Smith Brasher Hall.
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