UNM President Louis Caldera visited the UNM-Valencia Campus Aug. 18 and addressed faculty and staff during the Valencia Campus’s annual convocation. Speaking to a packed house at the Student-Community Center, Caldera discussed what he considers to be the core mission of the entire UNM system.
“All that we do at UNM-Valencia and UNM-Albuquerque is testament to a conviction that I know we all share,” Caldera said, “and that is the belief that education is the most powerful force we have for a better life for our students and our communities.”
Caldera recently celebrated his first anniversary as president of UNM, and during his speech he listed what he wants to accomplish during his tenure. He emphasized “strengthening UNM’s undergraduate programs,” but he also wants the university to give “leadership to education from kindergarten through graduate school.”
To strengthen undergraduate programs, Caldera pledged to work closely with the branch campuses so that “we can bring real opportunity to our children in every community.” He has also made it a priority to provide more opportunities for undergraduates to get involved with the research conducted at the UNM-Albuquerque campus.
“We want the students with the biggest dreams, in New Mexico’s high schools and community colleges, to come to UNM to fulfill those aspirations,” he said.
To help strengthen the ties between the branch campuses and the Albuquerque campus, Caldera said plans are underway to schedule a meeting with the UNM Board of Regents and the members of the branch campus advisory boards. Students attending branch campuses will also be invited to attend “Branch Campus Day,” where students will be oriented to the Albuquerque campus programs and services, as well as attend a UNM football game. This effort is “to increase the number of community college students who pursue further education at UNM, especially from our branch campuses,” Caldera added.
A quick tour of the campus was given, where the president saw first-hand all the construction and expansion that is taking place on the Valencia campus, including the new Health Sciences Building.
The president also discussed the goals of his administration during speeches delivered to the Los Lunas-Bosque Farms Chamber of Commerce and with the faculty and staff at the Los Lunas High School.
Contact: Chad Perry, (505) 925-8547