Professor Gabriel Melendez, chair, American Studies, understands what it means to be a UNM student coming from rural, remote or small town New Mexico. He was born in Mora, N.M., located in the northern part of the state. He also understands what it means to leave those places where home, family, culture and tradition are not just words but a way of life.
Photo: Professor and American Studies Chair Gabriel Melendez.
Melendez and Manuel Garcia y Griego, director, Southwest Hispanic Research Institute, are co-chairs of the Title V faculty steering committee. Their charge is to help UNM faculty better understand the mindset, mentality, vitality and potential of UNM’s largely Hispanic, homegrown student body.
A workshop, “Responding to Diversity: Alternatives to blaming the students,” is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.-noon and again at 2-5 p.m. in the Student Union Building Santa Ana room. Registration is required. Online visit: OSET or call OSET at 277-2229.
A special guest speaker, Craig E. Nelson, University of Indiana-Bloomington, will give the presentation and lead the workshop. Nelson, a biology professor, has taught numerous courses on teaching and received several awards for his work in the classroom. The Carnegie Foundation named him Professor of the Year in 2000. He was awarded the President’s Medal for Excellence in 2001 from Indiana University.
Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, director, Title V, said, “When diversity issues are cast in content-centered ways, many faculty members view them as irrelevant to their own teaching. An examination of pedagogical practices reveals a need for changes in nearly all courses.”
Workshop participants will learn how to reduce or eliminate low grades in lecture courses without lowering standards. They will also learn how, by dedicating one hour of class time, to make students work harder. They will also determine if their assessment systems unfairly and unnecessarily favor particular groups.
“Many traditional teaching techniques disadvantage many nontraditional students. We can make our courses fairer without lowering standards,” Gomez-Chavez said.
Melendez came to Albuquerque as a young teen when his family moved here from Mora. He went to Washington Middle School and Albuquerque High School. He remembers recruiters – UNM and military – coming to AHS in 1971. He chose the path to higher education, earning all his degrees in Spanish and Portuguese while learning about Chicano studies as a grassroots effort.
“For the first time Chicanos, Hispanic students were on campus in record numbers. We needed to be here to effect change. It was a way to help our community.”
Helping faculty be successful in the classroom directly results in student success. The Title V initiative is aimed toward just that.
“We hope all faculty who are able will take advantage of this opportunity,” Gomez-Chavez said.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu