HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 14

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT WESTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY BE DESIGNATED THE PUBLIC APPLIED LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES UNIVERSITY IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, western New Mexico university is strongly committed to workforce and career education in its professional programs and applied technology and is also committed to excellence in providing essential skills embedded in broad applied liberal arts and sciences curricula; and

     WHEREAS, employers across all occupations consistently identify communication, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, the ability to work successfully in teams, the practical application of knowledge and adaptability as the core skills needed for work and career success, along with ethical and socially responsible behaviors; and

     WHEREAS, these skills and behaviors are the basic goals and outcomes of western New Mexico university's applied liberal arts and sciences education; and

     WHEREAS, western New Mexico university graduates must compete in a global economy with accelerating change brought about by technology and new knowledge; and

     WHEREAS, knowledge of the individual's place in the world and understanding of the human journey is a fundamental obligation of a university education, and that knowledge is the foundation for success and happiness in life; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico does not have a public four-year higher education institution designated with the specific liberal arts and sciences identity; and

     WHEREAS, the council of public liberal arts colleges is a consortium of public colleges and universities that advances the aims of its member institutions and drives awareness of the value of public liberal arts education in a student-centered, residential environment; and

     WHEREAS, the specific designation as the public applied liberal arts and sciences university in New Mexico would advance western New Mexico university's membership in the prestigious council of public liberal arts colleges and would add to the state's higher education reputation; and

     WHEREAS, western New Mexico university's faculty, staff and administration have established focused and connected applied liberal arts and sciences core curricula that ensure that its graduates:

          A. understand themselves within the cultural, philosophical, social, political, scientific, artistic, civic, moral, ethical and sustainable dimensions of the past, present and future;

          B. possess a high-quality education and training in specific career and workforce areas;

          C. acquire the essential intellectual, adaptability and behavioral skills employers need;

          D. demonstrate the ability to make practical application of their knowledge and training for immediate employment with a foundation for long-term success and lifelong learning; and

          E. are prepared to use their knowledge, understanding and skills to contribute to their communities, state and nation as productive and civically engaged individuals; and

     WHEREAS, western New Mexico university is committed to sustaining through assessment and continuous improvement its identity as New Mexico's public applied liberal arts and sciences university;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that western New Mexico university be designated as the public applied liberal arts and sciences university in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the president of western New Mexico university.

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