Contact:

Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821 Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, (505) 277-5915 Shawn Shepherd, (505) 277-6264

March 6, 2002

UNM’S SCHOOL OF LAW AND THE ANDERSON SCHOOLS EARN TOP-10 RANKINGS IN HISPANIC BUSINESS MAGAZINE

The School of Law and Robert O. Anderson Graduate Schools of Management at UNM have been named to the top-10 in the country in their respective categories for Hispanic students by Hispanic Business magazine.

The School of Law moved up two notches from last year’s rankings and is ranked second, while the Graduate Schools at ASM also improved two spots from last year and is ranked sixth. It’s the third consecutive year that the Anderson Schools have been ranked in the top-10 by Hispanic Business, and the third time in the past four years for the Law School.

The criteria for recognition was based on enrollment, faculty, student services, retention rate and reputation. The measures were then summed and a rating assigned to each school on the basis of the total score.

Hispanic students are an integral part of the UNM School of Law encompassing nearly a quarter of the student population. Hispanic students at the School of Law represent 23 percent or 76 students out of a total enrollment of 330. The School of Law conferred 106 degrees with 27 earned by Hispanic students.

“Diversity is a way of life in New Mexico and our school reflects that on all levels,” said Associate Dean of Law Peter Winograd. “We have regularly been very high on this ranking and we should be because we have a substantial population of Hispanic students and a substantial number of Hispanic faculty.”

Key factors in the Law School ranking included the number of Hispanic law students and their presence in school-related activities including the Student Bar Association, a student organization called the Mexican-American Law Student Association, law journals and mock trial programs.

At The Anderson Schools, the ranking recognizes that 17 percent of the nearly 500 MBA students are Hispanic. The graduation and placement rates for Hispanic students are both above 90 percent, demonstrating The Schools’ commitment to student success,” said ASM Dean Howard Smith.

“We are very proud of the difference we are making in the lives of our students and, by extension, in New Mexico,” said Smith. “Ours is a state of blended cultures and that offers a very special experience for all of our students. Being recognized as a national leader in Hispanic education is a direct reflection of our cultural environment and of The Schools’ ability to affirm a multicultural experience in our curriculum.”

Hispanic students at UNM’s business school are offered the unique opportunity for hands-on experience through the Center for the Support of Economic Development. More than 50 small businesses statewide, 25 percent of which are Hispanic-owned and operated, are the classroom for students in developing business and marketing plans for real business solutions.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981