PROCLAIMING JANUARY 28, 2002 "UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT LEGISLATURE APPRECIATION DAY" AT THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, the graduate and professional student association of the university of New Mexico was created to actively advance the interests, promote the contributions and voice the concerns of all graduate and professional degree-seeking students at the local, state and national levels; and

WHEREAS, many of New Mexico's future leaders are the graduate and professional students of today; and

WHEREAS, graduate and professional students are a diverse group of individuals seeking to improve the quality of life in our state through higher education; and

WHEREAS, graduate and professional students contribute substantially to New Mexico's economic development and stability; and

WHEREAS, graduate and professional students promote the welfare of our state by collaborating with state agencies to advance community needs through innovative programs such as the graduate research development program; and

WHEREAS, graduate and professional students provide low-cost research, development, training and other specialized skills to many New Mexico companies, nonprofit and cooperative organizations, agencies and municipalities through clinical work, research projects and internships; and

WHEREAS, graduate and professional students are instrumental in bringing federal and private research funding to New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, expansion of the academic research sector is key to New Mexico's continued economic growth; and

WHEREAS, graduate and professional students make enormous personal and financial sacrifices to advance the state's interests; and

WHEREAS, many graduate and professional students must balance family and community responsibilities with academic obligations; and

WHEREAS, increasing tuition costs are forcing many graduate and professional students to seek additional loans to meet crucial financial obligations such as child care; and

WHEREAS, the average graduate and professional student debt is seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000), and this financial burden may preclude the graduate and professional student from staying in and contributing to New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, state funding to universities improves graduate and professional student education and strengthens New Mexico's competitive position in the United States and the global economy; and

WHEREAS, the graduate and professional student association requests that the legislature continue to expand its fiscal commitment to improve the quality of higher education in New Mexico;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 28, 2002 be proclaimed "University of New Mexico Graduate and Professional Student Legislature Appreciation Day" at the legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be

sent to the president of the university of New Mexico

graduate and professional student association.