The Voice of Central New Mexico College
Story by
Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
As the CNM Executive Council of Students (ECOS) delayed its project of submitting a letter to the college administration regarding concerns about remote learning, ECOS members voiced complaints about their inability to communicate with fellow students.
ECOS President Alex Crossland said, at a remotely attended meeting on Friday, October 16th, that he sensed that many students feel “isolated,” but that is hard to substantiate because of a lack of communication.
Board Vice-president Imane Bahji said she knows she is frustrated by remote learning, and the difficulty in having “give and take” with professors,
“I go through my weekly cry sessions,” said Bahji, adding, “I might have to finish my degree, never sitting in another classroom.”
Bahji suggested that ECOS should hold an on-line event where students “can vent” on remote learning, if they want.
No students from the student body at large attended Fridays ECOS meeting. The meeting are advertised on ECOS CNM web page, which provide the remote connection to the meetings.
ECOS does have a Suggestion Box on their CNM page, set up by ECOS Outreach Officer Colin Stapleton, although this has been rarely used. ECOS said it did receive one suggestion, in the week prior to last Friday meeting.
Stapleton has emphasized that suggestions can be made anonymously.
ECOS has been discussing ways that it can interact with students, and the many student clubs it funds, in one place, but has yet to settle on a solution.
ECOS members decided to give themselves to the “end of October” to finish their letter to the administration.
Crossland said it may be difficult to have an impact on remote learning for the current semester, but that the letter could help with the Spring term.
Story by
Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
CNM’s Executive Council of Students (ECOS) is working on a letter to CNM administration regarding concerns about remote learning– the primary method of instruction at CNM during Covid times, although some “hands on” classes have returned to campus on a restricted basis.
ECOS Vice President Imane Bahji. said she would draft a letter taking up concerns and suggestions students might have about remote learning.
ECOS board members said they would take up the draft letter at their next meeting which will be conducted remotely on October 9. (See CNM ECOS web page for details.)
ECOS President Alex Crossland said the CNM administration might be under a false impression that the “school is doing well,” with remote learning.
“It just feels like we are on a downward trend”
Said crossland
Bahji repeated a concern that she voiced at two previous ECOS meetings: that remote classes lack a lecture component where students can interact with professors, ask questions, and clarify concepts. Bahji says she fears that students feel frustrated when they don’t understand concepts, so that the may withdraw from classes, and ultimately drop out of school.
Bahji said many students are seeking “outside resources” to acquire the understanding the expected to get from their CNM course.
Cleopatra Romero, a CNM student, who wants to join the ECOS board, ( See ECOS website for information on how to join ECOS.) said students could be more assertive in contacting their professor with questions.
“We should encourage students to get in touch with their professor, if they are having trouble,”
SAid Romero
Kristopher Gaussoin, director of student life and discipline at CNM, the advisor for ECOS board, said students should be careful about using outside resources, such as UNM course materials, in that there may be legal implications– such as copyright laws involved.
Gaussoin said that ECOS has a “very powerful voice” in how the school is run, and that the administration “cares about your opinion.”
“You should use your power positively,” urged Gaussoin, noting that how ECOS packages its message could play an important part in getting results.
Meanwhile ECOS continues to seek input from students through its Suggestion Box on it CNM web page. That input can be made anonymously, according to ECOS outreach officer, Colin Stapleton.
Crossland said that he was hopeful that ECOS could improve remote learning in the future, but also effect some change in the current fall semester.
Story by
Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
After its last two board meetings were dominated by discussion of complaints about remote learning at CNM, the Executive Council of Student (ECOS) is seeking more input on the subject from the student body.
Board members say they are encouraging CNM students to give anonymous feedback through the suggestion box it has set up on its CNM web page.
By searching for “Executive Council of Students ECOS, Suggestion Box,” students can find a place to voice concerns and suggest improvements, according to ECOS board members.
ECOS Vice-president Imane Bahji brought up her cocerns about remote learning at the ECOS meeting of September 18. She said that her math and science courses lacked a lecture component, so that it was difficult to interact with professors, ask questions, and clarify difficult concepts. She said that if students don’t understand what is going on in a course, they might be inclined to drop out of class, and even quit school.
“It is frustrating to students, when they expect lectures, and don’t get them,” said ECOS President Alex Crossland, after discusssion resumed on remote learning at ECOS’s September 25 meeting.
Crossland said that remote learning is beginning to look more like a “self-study” project.
Board members noted that that they, as a board, could not make any decisions regarding remote learning, but they could act as advocates for student concerns to the administration.
Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer., said the ECOS suggestion box allows for anonymity, so student could feel free to express themselves.
Board members said they would be looking at other institutions to see what steps they are doing to make remote learning more palatable and productive.
Photograph by
Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
On Sept 23rd, nothing remained of N Building but a pile of rubble, which should be removed within a month, according to representatives of Bradbury Stamm Construction, contractors for the demolition. The area will become part of the North Parking Lot, according to CNM officials. It took about three weeks for two excavators to take down the building.
Story and Photos by
Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
Students will now be charged five dollars per semester for a General Parking Permit, according to CNM officials.
CNM President Tracy Hartzler partipated in a recent web meeting with the CNM Executive Council of Students (ECOS) and the end of free parking was one of the first things she was asked about.
ECOS President Alex Crossland said, the move away from free parking would be quite a shock to students, many of whom are economically strapped during the Covid pandemic.
“The timing is lousy,” said Crossland.
President Hartzler said, the fees were necessary to pay for a security camera system being installed around the CNM campuses.
“The security system will make the campuses safer for students and faculty,” she said.
Hartzler noted that even though the parking fee will be increased the CNM governing board had decided against any increases to student tuition.
Crossland asked if facility fees could be reduced in light of most campus buildings being closed during the Covid lockdown.
Hartzler response was that facility fees needed to be maintained so CNM could convert to the technology needed for remote learning.
Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer, asked Harzler about CNM’s new policy of including textbook and supplies with in the registration fee of a class. Stapleton said that the “including in” practice might preclude students from going for cheaper alternatives like buying used textbooks, or renting, or borrowing books or course materials.
“I may be paying more for a book I don’t need,” Stapleton said.
Hartzler said putting a package of materials together to be included in a courses often results in saving money for the students, and that the choice of “included” is up to the instructors of the courses. She said instructors have been encouraged to find open source materials on-line that reduce the costs to the students. Hartzler said she would provide further information on the matter at a future meeting.
ECOS Vice President Imane Bahji expressed concern that CNM was losing the sense of community that is emphasized in Community Collage with everything being converted to remote learning.
ECOS members inquired whether the library and CAT Theater could be re-opened, and whether clubs could conduct meetings in a safe but outdoors setting.
Hartzler said that how far CNM can go in reopening the campus would depend largely on the orders of the governor, and the governor’s health advisors.
She encouraged ECOS to let the administration know what the students would like to see open.
Hartzler said CNM would be going forward with a the plan for transferring from Blackboard to Bright Space as the formal communication system for remote learning.
She said she expected Bright Space to be in place for the spring of 2021 semester.
Photos and Story by Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
The “iconic” University of New Mexico Duck Pond is down, but not out. It it just having its every-other-year cleaning, according to Steve Howe, the public relations representative for the university’s Facilities Management.
The ducks seem understanding, as they observe their domain being drained, from the shade of the pond’s grassy banks.
The 10-day cleaning project should be completed by July 17th, Howe said. Fish have been removed from the pond by Aquatic Consultants, of Albuquerque, and will be restored to the cleaned water after they have been checked and inventoried, according to Howe.
The pond is accessible to CNM students, via a three/quarter mile, or so, walk, along the Yale Boulevard corridor. The pond experience is free; the ducks won’t bill you.
Story by E.C. McRoy
Managing Editor
CNM ranked first for online colleges according to Guide to Online Schools, a site that strives to be a comprehensive guide to schools and a resource for students to make the best decisions in regards to choosing a school, according to Adria Vaughn, a Guide to Online Schools representative.
“Guide to Online Schools has been publishing rankings of online colleges since 2009,” said Vaughn. “Our ranking system helps students better understand the return on investment of a specific degree option.”
Of course it’s also a tool for schools to leverage when looking for potential students, said Vaughn.
The schools considered for the ranking had to be offering at least one online associate degree program, according to Vaughn, meaning that there were a total of five community colleges in New Mexico that were included.
Each school considered was given a score that was calculated by retention or graduation rate, online enrollment percentage, and the number of online associate degrees offered, said Vaughn.
Although CNM has a higher tuition than some of the school on the list, said Vaughn, it is only supplemental information and is not used to consider the quality of the school.
“Graduation or retention rate was weighted highest to ensure that the rankings highlighted the schools whose students are most likely to earn a degree,” said Vaughn.
Financial aid and resources available at each school is not a factor when considering ranking, according to Vaughn.
Vaughn said that the rankings are meant to be a tool to help students find programs best designed to fit their educational goals and needs and that while “rankings may not directly impact how potential employers view individual resumes, we hope that the information provided will guide students to select a program that allows them to pursue their career goals”.
According to Vaughn, there is an overall ranking across the nation, but CNM unfortunately did not make that national ranking for 2020.
Guide to Online Schools is a resource for students and potential students, including tools beyond school rankings, said Vaughn.
These tools include rankings by degree levels and program titles, student reviews, and supplemental resources pertaining to online education, said Vaughn. Guide to Online Schools: https://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/best-online-community-colleges/new-mexico
Photo by Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
Story by Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
Yes we do have an “N” Building on the CNM Main Campus as of Wednesday, June 24th. But after next week, it will be gone, according to Peter Siebert, a facilities project manager with CNM’s Physical Plant Department.
Workers were on site cleaning out classrooms this week. A special crew (Keers) is being utilized to handle the presence of asbestos and lead for the demolition, according to Siebert.
The asbestos and lead did not pose a threat to occupants during the building’s history, because hazardous materials were “encapsulated,” under tile, Siebert said.
Art classrooms, among those being cleared this week, will be moved temporarily to the newly renovated Max Salazar Hall, until they find a permanent place in Ken Chappy Hall, after it is renovated, Siebert said.
The N site will become part of the North Parking Lot, and also provide space for an enlargement of the plaza in front of Louis E. Saavedra Administration Building, according to Siebert.
