For the first time in 29 years, UNM-Los Alamos is asking voters for a two mil levy increase. UNM-LA’s rate of support through mil levy is one of the lowest of any of the state’s community colleges, said UNM-LA Executive Director Cedric Page. A mail-in ballot election will be held Jan. 11-Feb. 2.
Photo: UNM-LA Executive Director Cedric Page
A mil levy is the number of dollars a taxpayer must pay for every $1,000 of assessed value. A mil is $1 of tax for every $1,000, which adds up to $767,000 per mil in Los Alamos County.
“We are at a critical point at UNM-LA in that we have had to reduce core faculty and depend on adjunct instructors,” UNM-LA Advisory Board Chair Marie Chiravalle said. That means reduced support and advisement services for students enrolled at UNM-LA, she said.
Enrollment has increased over the past four semesters, and the campus has been struggling to serve more students with static resources.
“Adverse fiscal circumstances beyond our control have driven UNM-LA to a really difficult critical financial situation,” Chiravalle said. “We have tried to maintain through management decisions rather than seeking public support, but we have done all that we can do.”
In spite of financial constraints, UNM-LA has moved ahead with a number of new initiatives, including a new applied technologies program, the only one of its kind in northern New Mexico.
“UNM-LA has revised and updated a number of its technical degree programs recently. A newly revised environmental science degree program is currently being developed,” UNM-LA Dean of Instruction Kate Massengale said. “UNM-LA is constantly striving to be responsive to local economic development. We work closely with the Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory, local government and area employers to provide the programs that will improve the economic vitality of our region.”
“Rapidly changing technology requires a highly qualified and responsive staff,” Chiravalle said. “It also requires replacing hardware and software, which requires a larger share of our operating resources.”
Those resources also serve Los Alamos High School students. The dual credit program, which allows students to earn both high school and college credit tuition-free, is projected to enroll 100 students in spring 2010.
Future plans at UNM-LA include extending comprehensive tutoring services.
“An increasing percentage of first-time freshmen students entering UNM-LA are underprepared for the rigor of college level courses and require assistance to help them be successful,” Page said.
Posted by scarr at November 23, 2009 12:49 PM