The University of New Mexico Dental Hygiene program is excited to partner with the program at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell to offer a degree completion Bachelor of Science degree for students in Roswell. The Associate Degree program is designed to provide seamless access to the UNM Bachelor's degree program via interactive television through the Extended University Distance Education Programs at UNM.
For the past three years, significant effort has been directed toward the development of an Associate Degree Dental Hygiene program at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell that would be linked to the Bachelor's program at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
"We are thrilled to partner with the University of New Mexico to bring advanced health career options to Chaves County and Southeast New Mexico,” said Judy Armstrong, ENMU-Roswell president. “Our goal is to provide highly trained dental hygienists to overcome a critical shortage of these professionals in rural New Mexico. We appreciate the confidence UNM has in the quality of our educational program, and we look forward to many more collaborative initiatives between our two campuses in health and other programs."
ENMU-Roswell is in the process of building an addition to the Health Science Center on campus, which will house the Dental Hygiene program and an expansion of the dental residency program from the UNM Health Sciences Center. More than $650,000 in legislative funding has been awarded to Dental Hygiene programs in New Mexico to expand programs in rural areas. Those programs are located at ENMU-Roswell, Dona Ana Community College, and Luna Community College.
The University of New Mexico offers a Bachelor of Science degree completion program in Dental Hygiene in continuation to the Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene. The curriculum is planned to meet individual needs of the continuing student. The Program offers an opportunity to expand basic dental hygiene knowledge and skills in areas of concentration including education, management, research, public health, or advanced clinical training.
“To provide degree completion opportunities for statewide students interested in pursuing a degree in Dental Hygiene encompasses the goals of the UNM School of Medicine Dental Hygiene program,” said Christine Nathe, professor and graduate program director for the UNM Dental Hygiene program.” “With current interactive television technology, we are able to deliver the coursework required for the cohort of students at ENMU-Roswell,” Nathe continued.
ENMU-Roswell will also utilize UNM courses taught by UNM faculty via distance education format for their Associate Degree program. “We are very happy to be working with UNM Health Sciences Center. We hope this is just the first of many programs that can be brought to Roswell,” stated Dr. Steven Gamble, president of Eastern New Mexico University.
The Dental Hygiene degree completion program in ENMU-Roswell will begin Spring 2009 semester.
For additional information, contact Jane Batson, Dean of Health at ENMU-Roswell at (575) 624-7233 or the UNM Dental Hygiene program at (505) 272-8147.