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Jobs for All

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Jobs for All

Story by Angela Harrington

Staff Reporter

CNM offers current students and all CNM graduates assistance with job placement, said Stacey Cooley Associate Director of Career Services at CNM.

A recent job fair held by CNM Career Services hosted a multitude of employers and had food and beverage trucks on site for the event.

According to Cooley, the CNM Jobs Database Hire a Suncat has seen an increase in the number of businesses that are interested in posting jobs.

“There is a high demand; we allow employers to post jobs for free and then we do outreach to students via Hire a Suncat,” said Cooley.

Because all students have an account at Hire a Suncat, they are notified when a new job posting that relates to their certificate or degree becomes available, Cooley said.

“We can help with resumes, cover letters, practice interviews, and job search through the databases,” said Cooley.

Cooley said these services are available to current students as well as all previous CNM graduates.

“There are a lot of CNM graduates out there, so that includes a whole lot of people,” said Cooley.

CNM graduates receive CNM career office services for life, stated Cooley.

“The whole thing, all the workshops, one-on-one assistance, whether virtual or in person, the whole thing, for life,” Cooley said.

Virtual and in-person career coaching is available through CNM Career Services Monday through Friday 10am – 3pm.

Setting the Stages

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Photo by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer

The concrete podiums are installed for sculptures that will grace Ken Chappy Hall’s outdoor south side courtyard.  Workers under the supervision of Franken Construction Company of Albuquerque, are working toward completion of the remodel of KC by beginning of Fall Semester.  This photo shows progress as of July 14th.  

CNM to Buy UNM Student Family Housing Property

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Story and Photo by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer

Family Housing Units to be demolished, as CNM to acquire property from UNM

The CNM Governing Board voted July 13th to purchase property from the University of New Mexico, along Buena Vista Avenue, on the southeast side of CNM’s Main Campus.  The property has been used for student family housing for UNM students.
The vote at the Board’s regular meeting was unanimous to purchase the property for 1.5 million dollars, but the sale must still be approved by the UNM Board of Regents, CNM officials said.
The tenants have already vacated the units in anticipation of the sale, CNM officials said, and it is expected that the sale will go through without controversy.  
CNM will tear down the housing units, but what exactly CNM will do with the property is yet to be determined, CNM officials said.

The American Families Plan: Colleges Wait and Wonder

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Story by Angela Harrington

Staff Reporter

As the American Families Plan moves closer to legislative action, CNM, like many community colleges across the U.S., will be watching and waiting to see what happens, said CNM’s Interim Vice President of Student Services, Ann Lyn Hall.

 The bill proposes to make two years of community college free for students according to Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan | The White House

CNM leadership is continuing to monitor this bill because students, staff, and faculty all want to know what is going to happen with it, she said.

“We do believe that making community college free, or more affordable, will really help our community and our students. We definitely see a major impact in New Mexico if this bill is passed,” she said.

According to Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan | The White House, the legislation also proposes an increase of $1400 to the amount awarded through the Pell Grant.

Having a larger Pell Grant would also help students because that not only pays for tuition and fees but also helps students pay for other costs as well, said Hall.

According to Hall, this could help students to stay in school and be able to finish a degree because finances would be less of a barrier.

“Nobody comes to school to not complete. People come to school because they have something that they want to do. So, my sense is something like this legislation would really allow some additional resources to help students meet those goals,” stated Hall.

For the school, according to Hall, the benefits proposed in the plan could equate to higher enrollment rates and better student retention.

Daylight at Max Salazar

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Photos by Mark Graven

Staff Writer

(slide show)

Daylight positively impacts the mental health and well-being of students according to CNM officials.  This supposition is reflected in the myriad of windows incorporated in the newly renovated Max Salazar Hall, and incorporated in a hallway sign.  
Welcome to our photographic tour of the wonderful world of windows from the third and fourth floors of MS, as the early July sunlight shines in. 

Here comes the sun!

RIO RANCHO CAMPUS BEGINS TO BLOOM

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Story and Photos by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer

Two huge “CNM” block-letter signs and a large solar panel welcome visitors to the CNM Rio Rancho campus, located near the edge of the desert, at the end of a road that passes by Rio Ranch City Hall. 

About a 30-minute drive due north of Main Campus, the Rio Rancho campus, at 2601 Campus Boulevard, Northeast, has won recognition for its energy-efficient design.  It consists of one 62,000 square foot, mostly red-brick building, with many large windows that afford spectacular views of the desert.

Rio Rancho takes advantage of nature’s gifts.  Solar panels are placed strategically around campus to provide power.   A deep-well system brings up water from the earth at a temperature of 68 degrees, Fahrenheit. The water then heats the building in winter, and cools it in summer, according to a CNM website.

(slide show)

A concrete path by the north parking lot puts a person right at desert’s edge, and a sign explains what kind of flora an fauna one is likely to find in the area.   Personnel at the front desk say they sometimes have to shoo rattlesnakes from the parking lot.   Hawks, ravens, spiders, and coyotes also enjoy this environment.

And now more people are returning, after a Covid-induced drought of more than a year.  CNM employees at the front desk, say that students are beginning to trickle in to register and receive academic coaching, as Fall Semester approaches.

Today, a group of prospective electric linemen are seen on the grounds east of the main building, addressing a set of utility poles, undeterred by a few raindrops on this cloudy day of June 30, 2021.  A mobile unit parked east-side enables welding students to pursue their craft outside.

Inside the building, class-room chairs are still stowed on the top of desks.  Tables and chairs in RR building’s central courtyard, and various alcoves around the building await users.

The Rio Rancho campus, when it is going full-bore, may serve upwards of 1800 students who come to attend classes in general studies, but also receive specialized training in nursing, paramedics, teaching, business, and more.

Built more than a decade ago, the Rio Rancho campus seems adjusted to its place in the desert.  The campus provides a comfortable venue for a student to find a spot to sit and observe the desert as it comes to bloom again.

Food and Water in Supply at Smith-Brasher

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Photos and Video by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer

  • Hydration station fun fact.
  • Fully stoked vending machine on Main Campus at Smith-Brasher Hall.
  • The new hydration stations at CNM’s main campus.


A vending machine off the main lobby of Smith-Brasher Hall on Main Campus is fully stocked with candy, chips, and other goodies, on Friday, June 25th, as it awaits the arrival of hungry students. The bottled water vending machines are depleted of their stocks, but two drinking fountains nearby are fully operational. They are now part of what is called a “hydration station,” as a sign clearly indicates.

ECOS Strives to Rejuvenate CNM Clubs

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Story by Mark Graven

Staff Reporter

The Executive Council of Students (ECOS) met with Dean of Students Chris Cavazos to discuss the number of members and officers need to charter, or renew, a club at its June 18th on-line meeting. 

Currently, CNM requires that clubs have at least eight active members, with four of them serving as officers.

ECOS members and Cavazos discussed a proposal whereby five active members and two officers would be sufficient to charter a club.

“Five (members) would be great,” said Cavazos, adding that it would represent an effort by the college and ECOS to get students more engaged.

When students are more engaged, they are more successful, he said.

CNM had more than 25 clubs and organizations in operation before the Covid pandemic shut down in-person activities on campus.  Some clubs were able to stay active but others have fallen off over the last year and a half.  

ECOS, which is in charge of allocating funds for the clubs, which comes out of student registration fees, last year decided to allocate funds at 50 percent of previous levels, until the campus returned to normal operations.

The ECOS  board members discussed with Cavozos, the problem of club continuity, and officers being able to know the proper procedures in obtaining, and using, funds.  

Kristofer Gaussoin, CNM director of student conduct and responsibilities and the official advisor to ECOS, noted that the college is working on an on-line training program for club officers, which could help overcome the problem of getting officers to in-person training.

ECOS President Alex Crossland said that at a community college, there can be more frequent turnover among officers, so clubs might need to lean more on faculty advisors to help maintain continuity.

Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer, noted that faculty advisors tend to have a wide range of involvement.

Cavazos said that the role of faculty advisors in maintaining club continuity was a factor to consider in deciding how to proceed.  ECOS is expected to revisit the question at its next meeting. 

ECOS is meeting every other Friday at 2 p.m. during Summer Semester.

Cracking Down on Free Parking

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Photos by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer

  • Front of Market Place Bookstore at Main Campus.
  • Empty Parking Lot on Main Campus.

A sign in front of the entrance of the Market Place Bookstore at Main Campus indicates that folks will have to pay for on- campus parking.  A survey of the parking lot by the Bookstore on Tuesday, June 22nd, shows not many folks taking advantage of the opportunity.