UCAM's News clips for Friday, December 5, 2008
1. Regents Reallocate Pit Funds (Albuquerque Journal)
University of New Mexico regents gave final approval Thursday for the administration to reallocate $17 million from two projects to help pay for the Pit renovation.
The university plans to use $3 million intended to buy a cogeneration unit and $14 million for University Stadium renovation to pay the $60 million cost of renovating University Arena, aka the Pit. A cogeneration unit produces electricity and steam, but UNM officials said the purchase is no longer economically feasible. A scaled-down renovation of the football stadium is still moving forward.
The reallocated money, which comes from revenue bonds issued by the university last year, closes the funding gap for the Pit renovation. UNM already had a little more than $17.9 million in state money and had raised another $25 million through last year's bond sale.
The Athletics Department is still pursuing private donations and would likely use that money to help retire the debt. The debt would also be repaid through revenues from luxury suites and concessions.
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2. News from the Daily Lobo:
* $17M more set aside for Pit renovation
Regents will take money from stadium, energy unit installation
The regents approved a reallocation of funds that will put another $17 million toward remodeling The Pit.
The money, which UNM raised by selling system revenue bonds in 2007, was initially slated to pay for a second cogeneration energy unit and renovations to University Stadium, said Andrew Cullen, associate vice president of Planning, Budget and Analysis.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05regents.htm* University to forge ahead on construction projects in face of budget fears
UNM will move forward on costly building projects, despite budget concerns and feared legislative cutbacks.
Administrators said it is financially prudent for the University to build now instead of waiting for the recession to end.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05budget.htm* The Santa Fe rail
Students will get half-off discount for train commute
The Rail Runner Express will give a discount to UNM students who make the 60-mile commute between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05train.htm###
3. River on Tap (Albuquerque Journal)
By Sean Olson, Journal Staff WriterAfter years of work and millions of dollars, the tap to the Rio Grande will open today.
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority flips the switch on its $385 million San Juan-Chama Drinking Water project, bringing treated river water directly into the homes of most Albuquerque-area residents.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05water.htm4. Lobo Women Show Bench Strength (Albuquerque Journal)
By Ken Sickenger, Journal Staff WriterNew Mexico State University's women's basketball team was thoroughly bench-pressed Thursday night at the Pit.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05lobos.htm5. Alford Will Have To Provide Answers (Albuquerque Journal)
By Rick Wright Of the JournalLast basketball season, the talk was all about what Steve Alford did for J.R. Giddens.
Now, we're seeing what Giddens did for Alford.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05alford.htm6. 600 to lose jobs at Chino mine (Las Cruces Sun News)
By Holly Wise/Silver City Bureau Chief...The impact on the local economy is "pretty severe," said Dr. Larry Waldman, a senior research scientist at the University of New Mexico's Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Because Silver City doesn't have "much to offer for jobs, people aren't going to stay," he added. Other jobs will be lost, he said, because those 600 spending families aren't here anymore.
According to Waldman, for every 10 jobs lost in the mines, eight jobs are lost in the local economy, plus the salaries of the employees. The net effect is increased taxes and a decrease in community services.
"It's not a good situation for the local economy," he said.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/dona_ana_news/ci_11134091?source=rss7. Gov. Intends To Stay at Post Into Feb. (Albuquerque Journal)
By Dan Boyd, Journal Capitol BureauGov. Bill Richardson expects to remain New Mexico's chief executive into February and until then will split his time between the Roundhouse and Washington, D.C., as he awaits a Senate confirmation hearing on his nomination as U.S. commerce secretary.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05governor.htm8. Richardson says he'll stay on for much of legislative session (Santa Fe New Mexican)
Steve Terrell | The New Mexican
Gov. Bill Richardson, nominated this week to be secretary of commerce by President-elect Barack Obama, said Thursday that he expects to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in mid-to-late February and will remain in the Governor's Office until then.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05governor2.htm9. State Is Seeking Inspiring Teachers of Math and Science (Albuquerque Journal)
By Andrea Schoellkopf, Journal Staff WriterReed Dasenbrock said he won't take credit for his son being in medical school.
That honor, the state Secretary of Higher Education said, goes to a high school biology teacher who inspired a number of her students to pursue medical careers.
Dasenbrock's example also illustrates why the state is seeking to place inspiring teachers in public school science and math classrooms in an effort to boost student achievement.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05teachers.htm10. State's Health Ranking Up to 29th (Albuquerque Journal)
Associated PressA new report ranks New Mexico as the 29th healthiest state in the country, up nine spots from the previous year.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05health.htm11. New Mexico Bowl Has Possibilities (Albuquerque Journal)
By Greg Archuleta Of the JournalIt's that time of year again when an excitement should accompany the nip in the air, even though many people instead have a melancholy attitude.
I refer, of course, to the third annual New Mexico Bowl (I can already hear the groans among so-called “fans” of college football in the Land of Enchantment) on Dec. 20 at University Stadium.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05bowl.htm12. NMSU Right To Honor Cruzado (Albuquerque Journal Letter to the Editor)
THERE IS much to celebrate at New Mexico State University.
We are grateful to the many organizers (of) a brunch celebrating the significance of the first woman to be interim president of NMSU.
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05nmsu.htm13. Hearty kudos to Foundation's fundraising skill (Las Cruces Sun News Editorial)
The terrific news earlier this week that the New Mexico State University Foundation has far surpassed its fundraising goal and has re-raised the bar is testament to both the fundraising prowess of current and former administrators, as well as the importance the university clearly holds for many of its graduates.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-opinion/ci_1114156414. News from the Chronicle of Higher Education:
http://libproxy.unm.edu/login?url=http://chronicle.com* Higher Education's Grade For Data: 'Incomplete'
A national report card says the gaps in information limit state legislators' ability to fix perennial concerns.* On The Road To Tenure, Minority Professors Report Frustrations
Native American, African-American, and Hispanic faculty members are less satisfied with the way their institution treats junior faculty than their white and Asian peers are, says a new report.* Audio: Building A Freshman Class In Tight Times
Robert A. Sevier, a higher-education marketing strategist, spoke with The Chronicle about what colleges should -- and should not -- do to manage enrollment in a poor economy.* EPA Issues Final Plan For Hazardous Waste In College Labs
The new rule by the Environmental Protection Agency will allow such laboratories to use central facilities staffed with professionals to evaluate whether materials are dangerous.###
15. Other News:
* ARCS scholarships help CU students shoot for the moon (The Denver Post )
Like a lot of kids, Ryan Kobrick dreamed of becoming an astronaut. It wasn't a passing fancy and today, as a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado, he's one step closer to blasting off to outer space.
http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_11132002?source=email###
16. Albuquerque Media Monitoring
News clips from Thursday, December 4, include stories about:* Lobo Women Beat NMSU 80 to 48.
* Fresno State to Play in NM Bowl
* UNM Police Are Holding Impounded Bikes
* UNM Regents Approve $40 million in Capital Projects
http://www.unm.edu/news/08DecNewsClips/05media.htmSusan McKinsey
Director of University Communication
Scholes Hall 160, Suite 152C
MSC05 3300
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-1989