The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

 


Media Contact: Laurie Mellas, 277-5915

Sept. 29, 2006

UNM's Hispanic Support Center Introduces Service Learning Program

El Centro de la Raza, the University of New Mexico 's Hispanic/Latina/o student service center, has initiated a service learning internship program, announced program organizers Veronica Mendez-Cruz, El Centro 's director, and Meriah Heredia Griego, senior student advisor.

This fall, the program accepted 15 undergraduate and three graduate students after a rigorous screening process.

Students took part in a weeklong training session. “We took them out of their comfort zones a little, to get them to open up and act as fully participating human beings,” Mendez-Cruz said.

Program advisors work with students to create goals in four areas: academic, personal, professional, and social. Each student in turn becomes an intern/mentor to assist five to eight others, mainly freshmen, though some are transfer and probationary students.

Interns have majors that range across all fields of study, Mendez-Cruz said, noting that the kind of service learning that interns take part in is often related to social justice issues in education.

Interns work with various community partners such as the Office of Community Learning and Public Service, Communities United for a Stronger America and the National Hispanic Cultural Center, said Heredia Griego. The students will also be asked to help in the planning and implementation of three cultural events each semester and lend support to UNM's Hispano Student Day Oct. 26, Dia de los Muertos Nov. 1-2, and Raza Graduation, May 5, 2007.

El Centro will track the entire student cohort from their start in the program – beginning as early as sophomore year – through completion of graduate degrees.

El Centro Student Programs Specialists Rosa Cervantes and Andrew Gonzalez will assist with the new program.

For more information, call El Centro de la Raza, 277-5182.

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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.

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