The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Gonzales
277-5920 cgonzal@unm.edu

July 11, 2008

Representatives of the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College signed a transfer agreement recently that allows CNM students who earn an associate degree in liberal arts to transfer into UNM’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Students will be able to apply credits and courses from CNM directly toward graduation requirements in the UNM College of Arts and Sciences. For CNM students who follow the course and credit requirements, they can enter the UNM college as juniors.

Susan Murphy, CNM vice president for Academic Affairs, said that CNM has 3,600 declared associate of arts students. “CNM transfers approximately 1,000 students to UNM each year. With the majority destined for the College of Arts and Sciences, this creates a path to success for students. With the agreement, we will improve completion rates, create a significant pipeline to UNM and motivate students to complete a degree program.”

Viola Florez, UNM interim provost, said that the agreement has implications for both schools in Rio Rancho. “With the courses also being offered at CNM in Rio Rancho, we can expect those students to feed into our institution in large numbers,” she said.

“What this agreement does is put the responsibility on institutions to make sure the transfer process is seamless for students, a component often overlooked. At the heart of the agreement – for UNM and CNM in Rio Rancho – is for us to work together to create programs students can start at CNM with their 100 and 200 level courses, and then transfer to UNM for upper division coursework and graduate work. Community assessment and needs will drive what programs will be available in Rio Rancho,” said Beth Miller, special assistant to the UNM vice president for Rio Rancho operations and branch campus academic affairs.

Miller said that the “2+2” program will help students stay on track to graduate in four years. “By their second year, students should know their intended major and be able to take 200 level courses at CNM to ready them to move into their majors at UNM. We want to instill in the minds of both students and the community that if students follow the core curriculum and course sequencing, keep up their GPAs and receive good advisement, they can transfer to UNM to complete a degree in two years.”

Florez added, “I want to thank Arts and Sciences Dean Brenda Claiborne and her team for believing in the value of the agreement and doing the work needed to make it happen. It’s what we need to do.”

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