HOUSE MEMORIAL 17

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Ambrose Castellano

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING JANUARY 20, 2022 "NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY

DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

 

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university has been an important educational, cultural, social and economic asset in New Mexico, particularly northern New Mexico, since 1893; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university serves nearly three thousand students each year and has over five hundred employees at the school's main campus and centers; and

     WHEREAS, the vision of New Mexico highlands university is to be a premier university, transforming lives and communities now and for generations to come; and

     WHEREAS, the core values of New Mexico highlands university are excellence, diversity, accessibility and responsiveness; and

     WHEREAS, the priorities of New Mexico highlands university are academic excellence, academic integration and student success; strategic enrollment management; vibrant campus and university life; community partnerships; technological advancement and innovation; and enhanced communication and efficiency across the university; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university effectively serves students across the state and beyond its borders, online and on its campuses and centers in Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Farmington, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque and Roswell; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university has many active alumni, representing every state, nineteen Indian nations, tribes and pueblos and many countries, and seeks to effectively reach out to all alumni through the establishment of a vibrant alumni association board of directors while offering engaging events for alumni and community members; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university was named one of the most diverse regional universities in the western United States by U.S. News & World Report; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university is partnering with New Mexico state university, eastern New Mexico university and the developmental disabilities council in designing an adult guardianship court visitor program to support the New Mexico court system and to enhance the training and professional development of students in social work; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university had an unprecedented grant year with over thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) awarded and continues to navigate the unchartered waters of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, providing over fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in emergency financial assistance to students through the foundation and university, over and above federally funded coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic assistance; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university acquired a New Mexico governor's emergency education relief fund grant to support students and fund purchases resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university developed three new degree programs: a master of arts in criminology, a master of arts in cultural resource management and a bachelor of science degree in wildlife biology and conservation; acquired a three-million-eight-hundred-thousand-dollar ($3,800,000) five-year grant from the national science foundation to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics students in a partnership with the university of California, Santa Barbara; received seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) for two United States department of agriculture projects to support technology and connectivity to New Mexico highlands university in the Mora community; and supported high school and community college students with science, technology, engineering and mathematics summer programming at the Rio Mora wildlife refuge; and

     WHEREAS, only three out of twelve athletic teams have been able to compete during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, while one hundred thirty-two New Mexico highlands university athletes earned a cumulative three-point-zero grade point average or higher; eighty-one athletes earned a cumulative three and five-tenths grade point average or higher; twenty-one athletes earned a four-point-zero grade point average; nine athletes were recognized as all Rocky Mountain athletic conference performers; twenty-one athletes were recognized as Rocky Mountain athletic conference academic performers; one athlete was a gold glove recipient; three Rocky Mountain athletic conference champions were recognized in women's track; and student athletes contributed over two thousand hours of community service; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university established the general store to address the basic needs and food insecurities of students; implemented the engage@hu co-curricular transcript system and created multiple guided pathways; partnered with El Centro family health to continue access to medical and behavioral health care through telehealth services for all students; renovated Connor hall and the natatorium; and increased access to coronavirus disease 2019 testing for the community by establishing a testing site on campus; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university is a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution, with Hispanic students comprising more than fifty percent of enrollment, and strives to be a Native American-serving institution, with Native American students comprising nearly nine percent of enrollment; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico highlands university welcomes students from northern New Mexico, all of New Mexico, the United States and the world;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 20, 2022 be declared "New Mexico Highlands University Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico highlands university be commended for its service and dedication to the residents of New Mexico; and

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

- 5 -