Here's a new one. The news reports that enrollment at University of New Mexico (UNM) is down.
So, the reason given by the administration is that they need to do more upgrading of facilities and renovating.
That may be a part of it but I'm certain the problem goes a bit deeper. For one thing, one attraction to UNM has been the price. In recent years, they have increased the price of tuition while not improving the experience. So in that, renovations may help a bit.
But it goes much deeper than that.
This state has been losing jobs while the rest of the country has been gaining jobs. Wages are flat or decreasing. New Mexico is absolutely not known for modern management techniques. The whole state is known for being stuck in the past. Any intelligent students are not just going to look at only the school. They look at the environment for what they are studying. So, why would they choose to study management in a state that is failing or depends on the federal government as drastically as NM does?
NM has been losing residents. The whole state promotes itself as being "local" and basically closed to outside influences. Why would anyone choose to study social sciences here?
The literacy level here is tragically low. Why would anyone choose to study literature or English here?
The medical community here is not really behind but has had such a hard time retaining medical personnel that the reputation for the treatment of medical professionals will have an impact on potential students from out of state. Why will they bother with University of Texas one state over, a huge medical community in Arizona and Colorado with the Mayo clinic and multiple well recognized medical facilities? There is nothing to draw medical students that have high aspirations for their career.
Science and art are the two areas where there are some hope. However, the art promoted here is rather limited in scope. The science programs have limited availability for slots and scope. The areas of scientific study which offer real promise are limited to what can be studied at Sandia Labs or possibly Los Alamos Labs (a long distance away and very inconvenient). Not to mention to study at either of those locations one would have to be able to pass a very stiff government security screening.
So blame it on the decor of the locker room or fitness center all you want. It takes a bit more to convince me. And apparently a lot of students who are going elsewhere.
So, the reason given by the administration is that they need to do more upgrading of facilities and renovating.
That may be a part of it but I'm certain the problem goes a bit deeper. For one thing, one attraction to UNM has been the price. In recent years, they have increased the price of tuition while not improving the experience. So in that, renovations may help a bit.
But it goes much deeper than that.
This state has been losing jobs while the rest of the country has been gaining jobs. Wages are flat or decreasing. New Mexico is absolutely not known for modern management techniques. The whole state is known for being stuck in the past. Any intelligent students are not just going to look at only the school. They look at the environment for what they are studying. So, why would they choose to study management in a state that is failing or depends on the federal government as drastically as NM does?
NM has been losing residents. The whole state promotes itself as being "local" and basically closed to outside influences. Why would anyone choose to study social sciences here?
The literacy level here is tragically low. Why would anyone choose to study literature or English here?
The medical community here is not really behind but has had such a hard time retaining medical personnel that the reputation for the treatment of medical professionals will have an impact on potential students from out of state. Why will they bother with University of Texas one state over, a huge medical community in Arizona and Colorado with the Mayo clinic and multiple well recognized medical facilities? There is nothing to draw medical students that have high aspirations for their career.
Science and art are the two areas where there are some hope. However, the art promoted here is rather limited in scope. The science programs have limited availability for slots and scope. The areas of scientific study which offer real promise are limited to what can be studied at Sandia Labs or possibly Los Alamos Labs (a long distance away and very inconvenient). Not to mention to study at either of those locations one would have to be able to pass a very stiff government security screening.
So blame it on the decor of the locker room or fitness center all you want. It takes a bit more to convince me. And apparently a lot of students who are going elsewhere.
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