The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1593, michal@unm.edu

October 23, 2008

Proposed Admissions Process Promises Greater Student Success at UNM

A proposal to improve student success and on-time degree completion was discussed at the meeting of the Academic, Student Affairs and Research Committee of the University of New Mexico Board of Regents. Terry Babbitt, associate vice president of enrollment management, presented a proposed new admissions process which would at once maximize access, raise standards and give every student a personal path to succeed.

UNM regents stressed this is a work in progress and one that has been and will continue to be discussed among many constituencies before a decision to implement or not is made.

Under this plan, no first time freshman student would be denied admission to UNM. Students would be admitted one of two ways. Those that meet a minimum 2.5 weighted grade point average with required units would be admitted to UNM’s main campus. Those that do not meet those requirements would be admitted to UNM through branch campuses, Central New Mexico Community College or other state community colleges for their first 24 credit hours. After completion of those hours, students would transition to main campus.

“We want our students to be successful, so we want to place them in a classroom where they have the maximum chance to succeed,” UNM President David Schmidly said.

Academic intensity in high school has been shown to improve degree completion rates more than any other factor, Babbitt said. Therefore, the proposed plan includes components that encourage prospective students to take on a more rigorous curriculum at the high school level. Additional weight would be given to advanced coursework, including dual enrollment, advanced placement and honors. Also, the required number of college preparatory units would be increased over several years from 13 to 16 units. Studies show a six percent increase in retention between students with 13 and 16 preparatory units.

In crafting these plans, feedback was sought from current and prospective students, parents, families, faculty, school districts, tribal leadership, community organizations and state government. Regents want these discussions to continue and be expanded.

A separate presentation explored options for modifying UNM’s tuition pricing structure. One potential option is to offer guaranteed tuition, with students paying a higher tuition on entering college in order to lock in a set tuition rate for five years. In addition to making costs more predictable, the plan would give students an added incentive to complete degrees on time.

Feedback regarding this proposal is encouraged and can be sent via email to tellus@unm.edu.