In alignment with the State of New Mexico’s COVID-19 guidelines, all contractors are required to submit their plans for protecting against the spread of the COVID-19 prior to beginning work at a CNM location, said Brad Moore, Director of Communications and Media Relations.
Due to social distancing guidelines, all contractors have submitted plans to ensure that employees wear face coverings, while working at a CNM location, said Moore.
The college has reviewed the safety plans submitted by all contractors at CNM, said Moore.
If it becomes known that agreed upon COVID 19 protocols are not followed by on-site contractor employees, CNM will address the situation with the contractor, said Moore.
Contractors have been reminded of their commitment to COVID 19 safety protocols while working at CNM, said Moore.
Contractor practices will continue to be monitored by the College and communicate the importance of complying with state directives and CNM safety protocols, said Moore.
“The health and safety of everybody at a CNM location is of utmost importance to the College,” said Moore.
The eastbound 97 bus rolled into the bus stop by CNM ‘s Jeanette Stromberg Hall, and deposited one passenger–and his bike. The passenger was Lance Wilson, a CNM Aviation Technology major. “I was having trouble registering for classes, so I decided to come over and see what I could do in person,” explained Wilson. As he gathered his belongings and prepared to mount his bicycle on this sunny, hot July afternoon, Wilson, 38, said he sees education as a path to a “good job.” A native of Los Lunas, said he did not graduate from high school, but stuck with his education, and got his GED in 2012. He recently used his stimulus check to get his education back on track at CNM, he said. Wilson said he is able to get around Albuquerque fine by bike and bus, and that he is a strong bike rider. “Lance Armstrong is Lance ARMstrong” he said, with emphasis. I am Lance ALLstrong.”
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.
This sign is located just to the north of the CNM South Vally Campus main entrence on Isleta Blvd.
By Mark Graven
Staff Reporter Modern day CNM South Valley Campus would have provided a nice rest stop for travelers of old along El Camino Real, starting in the late 1500s. The old trail followed the Rio Grande from Las Cruces to north of Santa Fe. In the South Valley the route was along what is now Isleta Boulevard, which runs in front of the CNM South Valley Campus.
Relake under the trees at this break area located at the center of CNM South Valley Campus.
Maria Castro, a 2020 graduate of Rio Grande High School says she will be studying at CNM this fall to become a teacher. She is currently working at the La Michoacana de Paquime, 3900 Isleta Boulevard, Southwest. Castro sees herself as a middle school teacher, and will take her courses online, if that is what is required.
According to CNM bookstore staff Ann Heaton the main campus bookstore is active and open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm via the side window.
Even when the bookstore is not open, Heaton said bookstore staff is still active, working behind the scenes to get things done.
CNM Bookstore, open Summer 2020 Monday through Friday 9am-3pm via side window
“Opening up the bookstore did mean we had to face a few challenges but nothing serious, everyone was excited and ready to go. We have also taken measures to ensure we follow the necessary social distancing guidelines as we require that all students and staff stand at least 6 feet apart in the queues, with their face masks on,” she said.
Heaton said that there are barriers in place between student and staff as well as protective gear made available for purchase for students without those items, all to ensure a safe environment for everyone.
”We do provide delivery services on most items ranging from 4 to 7 business days,” she said. “All you need is your student ID and an online payment method.”
However, for school supplies that were purchased along with course registration students will be required to go to the main campus library with their student ID, she said.
Heaton said that bookstore staff is trying to make the student experience of purchasing school supplies as pleasant as possible considering the on-going pandemic.
“We understand the challenges students face and we are always ready to help,” said Heaton.
Architecture student Brittney Nast said that getting school supplies was a little frustrating because she found it confusing and wasn’t sure if she was getting the right thing or what she needed.
Nast said that it depends on the time students go to the bookstore, that when she went on Wednesday there was a long line under the sun.
Remedying the mistake wasn’t difficult: “I ended up getting the wrong supplies and had to go back to get the right ones. The lady was nice. She asked for my student ID and course number, and even when I came back to return what I got she was really understanding about it,” said Nast.
Brandon Garcia, an architecture student, said that his experience was normal and that he had no problems.
“I went very early to get my supplies. I made sure to call ahead to inform them that I was coming on Tuesday,” he said. “I didn’t have a queue. I got there really early, no one else was there. The only thing I was worried about was parking.”
When Garcia arrived, the doors were closed and after he called again, staff informed him that he had to go to the window.
Professor David Miertschin with the CNM science department said that some of his students had to go to the bookstore to collect the necessary course materials for online learning.
“Some of the students don’t know what to do,” he said. “Some of them don’t have transportation, some are in another state.” Miertschin said that he feels that it is part of his job to help the students as much as possible and to inform them of what they need.
“My students know how to reach me quickly if they have any questions,” he said.
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.”
Badge provided by Adria Vaughn of Guide to Online Schools
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.
GETTING IT CLEAR– William Waldrep, a worker for CNM PPD cleans the window at Ken Chappy Hall on Monday, June 29th. Some 20 workers in PPD have been working on deep cleaning the campus since April, he said.
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.
