GENERAL INFORMATION

ACADEMIC SERVICES

Center for Academic Success

The Center provides study skills assistance in such areas as time management, memory, concentration, note taking, study reading, test preparation, test taking, math/science study skills, speed reading, critical thinking, and graduate school and professional skills test preparation. The services are available to students in the following formats:

Individualized assistance is provided to any student who walks in at the center. This is a no-fee service.
Degree credit is offered under UNIV 110, Personal Learning Skills; UNIV 112, Academic and Personal Effectiveness; UNIV 113, Speed Reading; UNIV 150, The Freshman Year Experience; UNIV 300, Preparing for the GRE; UNIV 350, Peer Education; and UNIV 395, Independent Study.
Learning strategies and study-skills workshops provide quick assistance in one-hour presentations offered throughout the semester.
Professional and graduate school workshops provide development in such areas as speed reading, getting into graduate school, preparing for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, or NMTA.5) CAS staff provide outreach presentations on learning and study-skills topics to classes, programs, and organizations on campus.

The center also coordinates, in conjunction with Housing and Residential Life and the Honors College, the Campus Tutoring service program. Free tutoring is available in the Center and at various campus locations. The Center houses a 16 station student computer lab.

Cooperative Education Program and Internship

NMSU enjoys a national reputation for its Cooperative Education Program, which contributes to students' total educational experience and realization of career goals by integrating academic theory and practical application. Co-op assignments provide varied work experiences with employers from business, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations. Students may also develop specially tailored co-op assignments. All co-op work assignments are for continuing students, and must be completed prior to graduation. Each semester that a student participates in an approved co-op, a notation is placed in their permanent academic transcript.

Students can register for the alternating plan, usually working a minimum of two work phases throughout the U.S. or abroad; each phase may last up to eight months. Work phases are separated by semesters of on-campus classroom instruction. Note: While on alternating work phase, students are afforded full-time status with the university, which protects financial aid and other student eligibilities, whether or not they are enrolled for credit.

Continuous enrollment can be maintained through the parallel plan, working 20-30 hours per week concurrent with full time classroom instruction. Employers are generally located within commuting distance of the university.

In addition to gaining academically related work experience, co-op students establish positive work ethics, receive remuneration for their educational experiences, and also may arrange for course credit through an academic department.

In some instances, where co-op work assignments are either not available or are not appropriate for specific students needs, information is available about internship opportunities offered by government, nonprofit organizations, and business/industry. During the summer months and throughout the academic year, internships may be arranged for academic credit. Internships are not always paid and do not automatically afford the participant with the full-time student status that co-ops do.

Another alternative to the Cooperative Education Program is summer employment, which may or may not be career related. Working during the summer affords students the chance to earn additional income and gain valuable work experience without affecting their academic schedules.

For further information, contact the Cooperative Education Program at MSC 3509, NMSU, P. O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, call (575) 646-4115, or email coop@nmsu.edu. Program particulars may be viewed at http://careerservices.nmsu.edu.

Information and Communication Technologies

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) supports access and success at NMSU. Through their projects and daily activities, ICT provides resources and services to support the educational, research, and public service missions of the university. ICT provides computer labs throughout the main campus that provides PC's and Mac's loaded with computer software to meet the academic needs of NMSU students. Access to other campus resources including wireless zones, account management, equipment checkout, and learning technologies are readily available. Student admissions, registration, financial aid, and grades are accessible on the web for easy student use through myNMSU.

For further information, contact ICT:

MSC 3AT, NMSU
P. O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
(575) 646-1840 or email help@nmsu.edu.

ICT web homepage is located at http://ict.nmsu.edu.

National Student Exchange Program

Under the National Student Exchange Program (NSE), students may pay NMSU tuition and attend any of 180 colleges or universities across the nation. NSE allows students to broaden their academic, social, and cultural awareness through study in different geographical settings. To qualify for the program, an applicant must be a full-time student with a 2.5 grade-point average and must be a sophomore, junior, or senior at the time of exchange. Applications for the program are accepted from October through December for the following academic year. Late applications may be accepted if space permits.

Grades and credit hours earned at the host institution become part of the official NMSU transcript upon approval of the academic adviser and records officer. Grades are recorded according to the NMSU grading system.

New Mexico State University Library

The NMSU Library consists of two libraries: Zuhl Library and Branson Library. The library research collection has over 1.7 million volumes, and the library budget exceeds $6.3 million.

The library collections are accessible through its on-line catalog and through electronic databases via the library web site. The Reference and Research Services staff provides assistance in using the library resources including a multifaceted instruction program designed to promote the information literacy skills that facilitate learning for all library users.

The Archives and Special Collections Department includes Special Collections, University Archives, and the Rio Grande Historical Collections (RGHC). These unique research collections preserve and provide access to New Mexico history and border culture.

On exhibit in Zuhl Library are geologic artifacts owned by Herbert and Joan Zuhl. The Zuhl Collection includes pieces consisting of petrified wood, invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, and minerals and rocks.

For more information, visit the library web site at http://lib.nmsu.edu/.

Office of International Programs

The Office of International Programs (IP) represents the university with U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, and the private sector concerning international activities. IP serves as the university representative for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. State Department Exchange Visitor Program. IP also advocates for effective practices, policies, and procedures to internationalize the university. The major program areas of the Office of International Programs are:

International Student and Scholar ServicesIP serves more than 900 students from approximately 75 countries and coordinates the exchange visitor program for scholars. It provides admission coordination and processing, orientation, personal counseling, support for student associations and community volunteers, and special services for sponsors. Appropriate immigration documents and advice on non-immigrant visa regulations affecting international students are provided through this area. Organizations or agencies sponsoring foreign students who receive special services are expected to pay additional administrative fees not to exceed $500 annually.

Study Abroad—IP coordinates study abroad programs and services for NMSU students and provides services for in-bound exchange students.

International Development and Cooperation and ManagementIP facilitates the interests of faculty who wish to participate in international interdisciplinary projects requiring technical assistance, training or public outreach. This includes project identification, proposal development, and project management. This area is also responsible for developing and maintaining international cooperative agreements with foreign entities or institutions.

Outreach and Public Service—IP adheres to the land-grant philosophy by providing programs and services to the local and campus communities to increase international understanding and awareness. Regionally this includes southern New Mexico and the state of Chihuahua.

US-Mexico Border Programs—IP has the major responsibility for coordinating NMSU involvement along the US-Mexico Border. In addition, IP facilitates and furthers all aspects of cooperation between NMSU and Mexican institutions and individuals including academic research, economic development, and outreach.

ORAU Student Opportunity

Since 1991, students and faculty of New Mexico State University benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of 98 colleges and universities and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.

Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOA facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, as well as faculty enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines including business, earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science - and engineering-related disciplines. A comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the ORISE Catalog of Education and Training Programs, which is available at http://www.orau.gov/orise/educ.htm, or by calling either of the contacts below.

ORAU Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU members, private industry, and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, consortium research funding initiatives, faculty research and support programs as well as services to chief research officers.

Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC)

The NMSU system has been designated a Servicemembers Opportunity Consortium university. As a member of SOC, NMSU has committed itself to fully support and comply with SOC principles and criteria, ensuring that servicemembers and their families share in the postsecondary educational opportunities available to other citizens. Those eligible are provided with appropriately accredited educational programs, courses, and services. Flexibility of programs and procedures particularly in admissions, counseling, credit transfer, course articulation, recognition of other applicable learning experiences, including that gained in the military, scheduling, course format and residency requirements are provided to enhance access of servicemembers and their families to undergraduate education programs. All SOC rules and regulations apply. For further assistance contact the SOC coordinator through the College of Extended Learning.

Student Support Services TRIO Program

Student Support Services TRIO program offers academic support to ensure that program participants succeed at NMSU. Services that are free to participants include the following:

Mentoring—participants meet with a mentor each week for help in adjusting to college, learning and using campus resources, developing effective study skills, accessing financial aid, using academic peer advising, staying motivated, and dealing with personal issues associated with college as a first generation college student.
Tutoring—individual tutoring is available by appointment in science, math, engineering, agriculture, social sciences, humanities, business, and foreign languages. Tutors are approved by department and many are certified through the College Reading and Learning Association.
Tutoring/Computer Lab— complete assignments, check email, drop in for tutoring.
Cultural Activities— participants receive tickets to activities attended in groups. These activities include plays, dance productions, concerts, and symphonies.
Loans—laptops, desktop computers, books, tape recorders, and programmable calculators are available to participants.

To qualify for the program, students must be a first generation college student (neither parent received a four-year baccalaureate degree), meet low income guidelines set by the US Department of Education, have an academic need or have a learning or physical disability and be registered with the SSD Office at NMSU. The Student Support Services TRIO Program is highly competitive with only 350 slots available for eligible students. Students should apply early in Garcia Annex, Room 143. Visit our web site at www.nmsu.edu/~sss or call (575) 646-1336.

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

NMSU collaborates with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) in recommending graduates of the university for programs in dentistry, graduate library studies, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, podiatry, public health, and veterinary medicine in universities of other western states. The State of New Mexico subsidizes the education of New Mexico residents when approved for training in these fields in other states. This subsidy is a loan-for-service program which permits New Mexico residents to attend state-supported institutions at in-state tuition rates and private institutions at approximately one-third the standard tuition cost if they practice in New Mexico for an equal number of years after graduation. This program is contingent upon funding by the state legislature. For further information write the Certifying Officer for New Mexico, WICHE Student Exchange Program, New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, 1068 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501-4295.