CNM international students pay a $75 fee every semester, which would normally have been used to pay for outings to places such as museums, the Tram, the Zoo, and other places, said Mr. Ari Rosner-Salazar.
international student advisor Diana Matier handing out gift packages at Main campus
Because of the pandemic, the students are not able to do these trips, and this is why the care packages were created, Said Mr. Ari Rosner Salazar.
The winter package to international students is one way of reminding them that staff is always available to the students for anything they may need, said international student officer Diana Matier.
After talking to our Safety team, they have told us that packages can not be dropped of directly to the residents of the students, she said.
For that reason, she will be at different campuses during the week for students to pick up the winter package, she said.
Her email address is arosnersalazar@cnm.edu and she looks forward to hearing from all the international students, said Mr. Ari Rosner Salazar.
The president of the Executive Council of Students (ECOS) Alex Crossland, says he believes that the CNM Administration will respond positively to the ECOS Board’s call for improvements to its remote learning program. Crossland offered the opinion after the Board’s December 11th meeting– at which it was noted that ECOS had received a response from CNM President Tracy Hartzler to a letter that ECOS had sent out through email the previous week to Hartzler and a half a dozen key people in the administration, calling for reforms to remote learning. Crossland said he was “encouraged” by Hartzler’s response, but that he did not expect the administration to react precipitously. “I believe that our letter was effective, and that the administration is listening to us,” said Crossland, adding that he expected that administrators would give ECOS ideas careful consideration, and not just slap a “bandaid” on the problem. He said he is hopeful that the process will result in improved remote learning during the upcoming intercession and the conduct of Spring Semester. Kristopher Gaussoin, director of student life and discipline at CNM, also the advisor to the ECOS board, said that the ECOS letter has already been taken up at an administrative meeting. Gaussoin has been urging the board to frame its concerns about remote learning in a constructive manner to get good results with the administration– which he predicted would welcome input from ECOS, the voice of the student body. Remote learning has been the main topic of discussion for the ECOS board at meetings held over the last two months. The ECOS letter to CNM administrors was drafted by ECOS Vice-President Imane Bahji, and then approved by the full board on December 4th. Bahji has consistently criticized the fact that many remote learning classes lack a lecture component, wherein students can ask professors questions in real time, and clarify difficult concepts or processes. She has said that there is a danger that when student’s don’t understand, they might quit classes, or even drop out of school. Crossland said that, in fashioning its letter to the administration, ECOS got input from students through conversations, and through a Suggestion Box, set up on its CNM web page. The Board also considered information from surveys conducted by CNM that included questions about remote learning. CNM turned to a largely remote learning format during Spring Semester, after the onset of Covid-19 cases in New Mexico, although some classs were allowed to meet on campus during the fall. Linda Martin, a representative of CNM’s Office of Data Strategy, appeared at Friday’s meeting. She said that the most recent information on student enrollment and retention is still being processed, so that the statistical picture of the impact of remote learning on enrollment numbers and finances is still unclear. Crossland said that ECOS would not immediately release for publication the letter to the administration, or the administration’s response, although it might do so at a later date. Such an approach could be more productive in the short run, he said.
The following information was provided by a group of students within the Paramedics program at CNM and due to the nature of the information they provided they have requested to maintain some form of anonymity. The CNM Chronicle has removed the names of the students.
The students are not allowed to use on-campus appliances
The Covid 19 virus has affected the whole Paramedic program here at CNM. Students have already had to re-imagine a lot of scenarios. The transition to online only makes it worse, said one CNM paramedic student.
Our lectures are pretty much independent studies. There is a lot of prescribed YouTube videos providing a lot of information but also creating a lot of question marks, with no physical instructors to provide answers, meaning we have to email our teachers a lot, said another student.
“We are not doing better without the other students around, we like that it is quiet, but we do not like being in college with no one on campus, we miss talking to people, we like working with other people, 100% we miss the students”, said the group.
The one good thing is that the parking lot is usually empty, although even though the campus is basically empty students still have to pay for parking, at least there is not a fight for parking spots, said another student.
Directions for EMS students.
General parking should be free. It is only five dollars, but in the student’s opinion it is a tactic by the school to make extra income, said the group.
Students try to follow the covid-19 guidelines but sometimes they forget to wear their masks. It is hard to be perfect, said another student.
The students share a belief that they will not contract covid-19 on campus, if they were to get it anywhere it would be off-campus, said the paramedic students.
One of the most frustrating things they have to deal with is when they are on campus for nine hours but they are not allowed to bring food, and technically not allowed to bring drinks either, said the group.
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.
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.
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.
CNM students should participate in the Balloon museum virtual field trip because
Anderson Abruzzo international Balloon Museum
it is fun, educative, informative and a great opportunity to acquire a wealth of knowledge without leaving their couch, said Balloon Museum’s Field Trip and Volunteer Coordinator Katie Farmin.
The Virtual Field Trips will take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 am, the lesson is approximately 40 minutes and will be a mix of PowerPoint, video, and some movement, she said.
The field trip will cover the history of early ballooning, the anatomy of a balloon, the science behind balloon flight, and a short history of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, she said.
Photo Puzzle Exhibit at the Balloon Museum
“The available dates for the virtual field trips will be provided in the registration form (here). You will have a first and second choice, however, they are not guaranteed. If your choices are not available, you will be contacted to coordinate other possible choices,” she said.
“Once you register, a confirmation email will be sent out with the date of the field trip. You have the choice of the museum sending a Zoom link, Google Meet link, or we can pop into your class if you have a recurring link with whatever platform you are using for your digital classroom,” she said.
Exhibition at the balloon Museum dedicated to Brave Airfare
After the field trip, another email will be sent out with additional material for students to reflect on what they learned, she said.
If students have any more questions they can send an email kfarmin@cabq.gov or call (505) 768-6027, said Katie Farmin.
The Market Place, CNM’s newest building is reaching its final stages of completion. Recently construction workers were seen laying concrete sidewalks on the western side of the building. Meanwhile, on the eastern front, facing University Boulevard, the building projected a finished look with modernistic chandeliers visible through the plentiful windows. Brycon Construction, of Albuquerque, is the general contractor for The Market Place project, which was designed by FBT Architects, also of Albuquerque.
A couple of Albuquerque teens are cooking up a story that may sound a little corny, but could be a good recipe for success. The 18-year olds–Donald Garule and Amaya Sirena–say they are planning to attend CNM this fall, and will both major in Psychology. This summer the have been selling corn from a booth they often set up next to Sirena’s parents La Sirenita Authentic Mexican Food (truck). The idea for the corn booth was Sirena’s parents, but the teens apparently saw it as an “amaizing” opportunity. Now the teens are business partners in Casa de Maiz, in addition to being a couple, they say.
Garule and Sirena say they met at SageBrush Community Church, where they sing in the choir together. Garule graduated from Freedom High School, while Sirena graduated from Atristo High School. Now they sell tasty sweet corn–on the cob, or in a bowl–spiced with plenty of butter, mayonaise and chili powder.
The recipe has the approval of Sirena’s parents, who have been attracting folks who like Mexican food to their food truck which they set up near campus at Yale Boulevard and Lead Avenue Southeast on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. “Their corn is pretty good,” commented Marco Sirena, Amaya’s father. He and his wife, Anjelica, have been encouraging the teens.
The Sirenas are finding that enough folks are attracted to their food and that they may look at expanding into the restaurant business. Garule and Amaya Sirena say they are excited to be attending CNM this fall, even if their courses are on line.
“It’s as cheaper option ( than UNM) to start,” said Garule, and the class sizes are not as large.” Sirena admitted to being “a little nervous” about entering college, because she is not sure what she wants to do. However she says she may eventually go to UNM, and take up Neurology. Garule says he is looking at a career in social work. Garule and Sirena say that they plan to look into obtaining a food truck of their own to help pay for their educations–a plan that just might have more than a kernel of common sense. Not too corny.
Who are these masked women, welcoming Suncat students back to Main Campus for fall semester? From left to right, they are Aline Gonzales, CNM events manager; Amy Ballard, CNM dean of Applied Tecchnology; and Liz Encinias, CNM Security officer. The trio were among a group of CMM officials stationed in front of Ted Chavez Hall, on hand to direct students to class on Monday, August 31st, and to inform students of campus protocols, and pass out hand sanitizer and maps.
According to Gonzales, the first two days of a semester are typically designated as Suncat Days. Applied Technology is one subject area that has quite a few in-person classes on campus, while most classes remain on-line.
Meanwhile, Carmen Avitia, a Math and Science tutor at CNM for the TRIO program, was available to answer students’ questions by W Building, in the courtyard in front of the Coal Avenue Theater.
