The University of New Mexico College Enrichment Program (CEP) hosts its second annual Celebration of Excellence Thursday, Feb. 12, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., in the Student Union Building Ballroom.
Those being recognized include CEP students who have completed their first semester of college; CEP upperclassmen earning a 3.0 GPA or better while attending fulltime; CEP seniors who will graduate in May and CEP alumni.
The event includes a reception and an awards ceremony. Among those scheduled to attend are Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president, Student Affairs; Ricardo Maestas, associate vice president, Student Affairs; and Nancy Uscher, associate provost, Academic Affairs.
Recognizing that programs like CEP are significant in improving student achievement and retention, Torres said, “It is critical to honor short term successes on the road to long term goals. We want to celebrate and recognize excellence. The business world has been doing this for years.”
Keeping students motivated and encouraged is the hallmark of CEP.
“For a long time our motto has been ‘Master's Minimum.' We want students to set their sights high and it pays off. Many of our former undergraduates are now in graduate programs,” said Gomez-Chavez.
“One reason we invited the CEP alums is that we want the current students to see that hard work bears results. We have former students now working for the FBI, as investigators in the Albuquerque Police Department, as teachers, doctors and even professional athletes,” said Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, CEP program coordinator.
CEP values the knowledge and expertise their alums have – and they want them as peer mentors. “We have many alums who come back to visit us, but aren't giving back to the University formally. We think they can influence and help students in a way we can't,” she said. Gomez-Chavez said they are in the beginning stages of creating their own alumni organization.
The College Enrichment Program is one of UNM's first student retention programs. Established in 1969, CEP works to recruit, retain and graduate students from traditionally underrepresented populations including those from rural New Mexico.
CEP students are likely to be first generation college students from low or moderate income families. They are likely to have lower than average ACT scores and have to take Introductory Studies courses – classes for students academically deficient, usually in math and English. Many are likely to be providing financial support to their households.
For more information about CEP, go to http://www.unm.edu/~ceppac/indexpage.htm
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales (505) 277-5920
Posted by kwentworth at January 30, 2004 03:04 PM