UCAM's News clips for Friday, August 15, 2008

1. New Mexico Tech (Albuquerque Journal Editorial)

New Mexico Tech is an institution widely respected as a purveyor of science and knowledge. So it's especially sad to see it sink to peddling snake oil as a way to justify its ill-advised refusal to turn over documents in response to a request under the state's Inspection of Public Records Act.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08AugNewsClips/15nmtech.htm

2. APS Measures Up (Albuquerque Journal Editorial)

On the heels of the dreaded release of test scores that determine whether public schools have made adequate yearly progress comes another measure of scholastic achievement: the ACT college placement exam. The news is good.

In keeping with the No Child Left Behind philosophy, the AYP yardstick drives educators to make sure less-than-proficient students are making progress. That's important. The ACT has a narrower focus ­ students who are interested in college. Seeing how the schools have served that aspiration is also an important measure.

Albuquerque Public Schools students beat the national average which, according to Superintendent Winston Brooks, is unusual for a large urban district. Statewide, the average lagged APS and the national benchmark, but ­ like APS ­ continued a five-year trend of steady improvement.

There's room for more of that: According to the results, 20 percent of the APS students (17 percent statewide) taking the test were college-ready in the four subject areas. The legacy of that number is the high drop out rate at state universities.

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3. From John Fleck's Blog in the Albuquerque Journal (commenting on UNM Parent's Newsletter)

UNM's approach to its parking problem: leave the car at home!

As the parent of a UNM student, I get the parent newsletter, which has tons of helpful advice on things like how to give them our money and how not to burn down the dorms.

This week's edition also offers up links to helpful tips on auto economizing: don't have a car at all:

From the purchase of a vehicle, to the maintenance, upkeep, fuel and insurance costs, cars cost a lot of money.

Roger that, as my Navy friends would say. Luckily my bright and talented zombie-blasting child rides one of those cute little scooters. But if you other parents would get scooters for your children, we would all save a lot of money, the planet, and free up valuable parking spaces at UNM.

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4. NCAA's Tinkering Ruins Good Thing (Albuquerque Journal)
By Rick Wright Of the Journal

American children are born with a wide spectrum of fundamental sports knowledge. It's a DNA thing.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08AugNewsClips/15ncaa.htm

5. Special session: Drop in windfall trims rebate plan (Santa Fe New Mexican)
Governor scales back proposal after projected revenue surplus comes up short
Kate Nash | The New Mexican

Taxpayers fretting over the high cost of food and gas can still expect some relief from state government in the special session that begins today, just not as much as previously suggested.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08AugNewsClips/15session.htm

6. Rebates Less Under New Proposal (Albuquerque Journal)
By Dan Boyd, Journal Staff Writer

Most New Mexicans will get smaller rebates under Gov. Bill Richardson's downsized $120 million rebate package, which will be pitched during a special session of the Legislature that convenes today.

And many won't get any rebates at all.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08AugNewsClips/15rebates.htm

7. Plan Describes $640 Million in Infrastructure Projects (Rio Rancho Journal)
By Rosalie Rayburn, Journal Staff Writer

City staff have outlined a six-year, $640 million plan to tackle Rio Rancho's infrastructure needs.

The Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Plan city councilors adopted at their meeting Wednesday will provide the basis for the city to seek funding from the state Legislature or other sources such as loans, bonds and grants.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08AugNewsClips/15plan.htm

8. NMSU names new director of the American Indian Program (Las Cruces Sun News)
Sun-News report

Justin McHorse, former assistant director of diversity programs in engineering at Cornell University, has been appointed the new director of the American Indian Program at New Mexico State University.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_10209443

9. NMSU upgrades on-campus technology for students (New Mexico Business Weekly)

When New Mexico State University students return to classes this fall, they’ll find some cool new technology to make campus living easier and more enjoyable.

Students living in on-campus housing will have access to state-of-the-art washers and dryers that include an online laundry alert system to allow students to check equipment availability before they go to the laundry room. The system also shows the amount of time left before a machine becomes available, and students can receive an e-mail or a text message reminding them to go get their laundry.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08AugNewsClips/15nmsu.htm

10. ENMU-Ruidoso, Spencer Theater and state reach agreement (Las Cruces Sun News)
By Terry Fitzwater/ For the Sun-News

In what is being hailed as a historic and unique public-private partnership, the Spencer Theater, Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso and the state of New Mexico reached an agreement in principle on Saturday for the state to assume responsibility for the Spencer Theater's facilities while still allowing theater management to operate and promote the facility.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_10201380

11. Sound Off! (Las Cruces Sun News)
Sun-News report

Now that we're rid of (NMSU President Mike) Martin, can we get rid of the stupid idea of building the convention center where he wanted it and move it to a more logical place. There are many rock piles on campus where it could be built and leave the irrigated land alone.

That is what we need - former NMSU President Mike Martin endorsing candidates in New Mexico. It is an insult to the community and the height of arrogance for this "has-been" to endorse candidates.

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12. News from Diverse Issues in Higher Education:

* Philadelphia Program Offers Free Tuition for Community College Students Near Degree Completion
In an effort to reduce the financial pressures on current and prospective students, the city of Philadelphia and its largest public postsecondary institution has launched a new program to aid students in completing their college degree.
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11552.shtml

* Perspectives: Black Males In the Educational Pipeline
In 2008, Americans are at the precipice of a monumental historical moment- the Democratic Party will nominate Sen. Barack Obama as a candidate for President of the United States. Regardless of the outcome of the November election, Senator Obama’s ascent to the highest political office in the land is a victory for civil rights, and specifically, a crowning glory for Black male achievement.
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11550.shtml

* NC Board to Discuss Admitting Immigrants
North Carolina community college leaders who will be meeting later this week plan to discuss whether to admit undocumented immigrants to degree programs after federal officials told the college system it was up to the state, a newspaper reported on Aug. 11.
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11561.shtml

* Cornell Professor Receives Grant to Explore Entrepreneurship
The Johnson School at Cornell University announced that Wesley Sine, assistant professor of management and organizations, received a grant from the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, an initiative of Cisco Systems, Inc. focused on fostering entrepreneurship. Cisco said it believes this initiative will create significant long-term benefits and help transform the economic landscape for customers and partners, while enabling Cisco to further expand its business and social impact.
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11559.shtml

* La Raza Health-Care Program Awarded for Excellence
The Carreras en Salud program of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, received the U.S. Department of Labor's Recognition of Excellence Award for "tapping talents of special populations in the workforce" at the 2008 Workforce Innovations Conference on Aug. 6. The award honors programs, projects, or initiatives that provide effective career-enhancement services to populations facing barriers to employment, the department said.
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11558.shtml

13. Other News:

* Back to School: Technology (Washington Post)
There's nothing worse than having your laptop crash while you're writing a term paper. To help avoid tech-related dilemmas, Wired's Gadget Lab bloggers, Jose Fermoso and Charlie Sorrel will be online Friday, August 15 at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions about must-have campus technology -- which products to buy, which to avoid and how to stay plugged-in while you're at school. They'll also address file sharing, social networking and other tech-based educational resources.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/08/05/DI2008080502345.html?referrer=emailarticle

* UMass violated bid law, AG rules (Boston Globe)
"The state attorney general's office has ruled that the University of Massachusetts at Lowell violated public bidding laws in awarding a $20 million student housing project to a local developer."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/15/umass_violated_bid_law_ag_rules?s_campaign=8315

14. Albuquerque Media Monitoring
News clips from Thursday, August 14 include stories about:

* More Native Americans are Attending College, But Are Not Completing Four Year Degree
* Lobos Now Doing Pilates
* Chris Hernandez May Have Bright Future as a Lobo
* NM Tech Students are Unhappy
http://www.unm.edu/news/08AugNewsClips/15media.htm

Susan McKinsey
Director of University Communication
Scholes Hall 160, Suite 152C
MSC05 3300
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-1989