The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

 


Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, 277-5627

Sept. 27, 2006

UNM Introduces Parent Relations Office

The University of New Mexico is piloting a program to serve parents of prospective and current students.

The UNM Parent Relations Office, opening Oct. 2, will be a component of Enrollment Management in the Division of Students Affairs. The pilot is made possible with the support of University Communication and Marketing.

A parent Web site and electronic newsletter will be among the new services. An email has been established for parents to submit questions. A parent advisory group is being formed.

“The creation of Parent Relations is important because of trends we have seen in recent years toward greater family involvement in the academic success of students,” said Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president for Student Affairs. “In orientation sessions that we hold for parents of incoming students, we see an ever-increasing number of participants. Encouraging further involvement by parents will be very positive. If there are strong parent-student partnerships, we believe that student retention and graduation rates will improve significantly.”

UNM Senior Communication Representative Laurie Mellas, a UNM graduate who has served in the university communication department for 12 years, is charged with day-to-day operations. She will facilitate communication between UNM and parents to promote an appropriate role for parents in the campus community.

Mellas, who is housed in the UNM Welcome Center, will work with programs across campus to provide parents with a better understanding of the student experience, including how to support learning and how to empower students to take personal responsibility for academic and social choices.

For more information, contact Laurie Mellas at 277-5915 or parent@unm.edu .

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The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu