Contact / Begin Date / End Date / Notes
Proposals Needed for Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning / Erica Reed
John Wright / CNM’s Cooperative for Teaching and Learning (CTL) invites you to submit proposals for the 5th Annual CNM Conference on Teaching and Learning, titled “Empowering Learners to Be Critical Thinkers.” Read more.
Faculty Input Needed on State’s General Education Core / Nathan Saline
David Valdes
Erica Volkers / Oct 20 / The New Mexico Higher Education Department has recruited a Statewide General Education Steering Committee to recommend revisions to the State’s General Education Transfer Core. The committee, which includes CNM employees, is now requesting CNM faculty input on drafts of five content areas, five essential skills, and accompanying learning outcomes. You may select specific content areas and/or essential skills, or comment on all of them. The content areas and essential skills that have been identified are: Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Creative and Fine Arts, Communication, Quantitative (Literacy), Personal and Social Responsibility, Critical Thinking, and Information Literacy. Feedback on these drafts needs to be in by Thursday, Oct. 20. CNM representatives anticipate sending out a follow-up survey after implementing what is learned from this initial survey. This survey is set up so that you can select the areas that are relevant to you for comment. You don’t have to respond to every section. Please use your CNM email address so CNM steering committee representatives can better understand CNM faculty views and concerns. You can access the survey at:
Nominations for Individual Excellence Awards Now Being Accepted / Nominations are currently being accepted for individual Excellence Awards. If you know a CNM employee who has provided excellent service to the CNM community, nominate him/her for an Excellence Award. Any employee, student or community member can make a nomination. The deadline to make an Individual Excellence Award nomination is Oct. 28.Click here to make a nomination or for more information.
Nominations Now Being Accepted for MSE Gill Bentley Faculty Excellence Award / Nominations are now being accepted for the School of Math, Science & Engineering Gill Bentley Faculty Excellence Award. The award recognizes outstanding full- or part-time instructors who have demonstrated excellence in one or more categories. Read more.
CNM’s Fall Festival Set for Oct. 25, 27 and 28 at Montoya, Westside and Main Campuses / Libby Fatta / Students, staff, faculty and community members are invited to attend the second CNM Fall Festival.Included in the festivities will be live music by the Team ITS Band, activities and displays by CNM and local organizations. At the Main Campus event, the Executive Council of Students will sponsor a Haunted House and also show the movie “Hocus Pocus.” Here is the schedule:
- Tuesday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Montoya Campus, in the outdoor area between H, J & K Buildings.Enjoy live music and a hot dog social from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Westside Campus, roundabout. Enjoy live music from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 28, 4-8 p.m.: Main Campus, Student Resource Center lawn. Visit the Haunted House and watch the movie “Hocus Pocus” at 6 p.m.
Help Those in Need by Giving to Leading the Way Campaign / CNM’s Employee Giving Campaign -- Leading the Way -- is currently underway with 193 employees pledged. To sign up, please email . You can also visit Leading the Way’s webpage to learn more about employee giving and to download a pledge form. If you give $24 to $47.99, you will receive a desk cube, and for gifts of $48 or more, you will receive a lunch bag. You can get both for your donation of $72 or more.
Girl Scouts Visit Applied Technologies to Learn About Electricity / The usual busy sounds of the Electrical Trades labs were recently replaced with children’s laughter and cheering. Nineteen girls aged 7-13 visited the School of Applied Technologies to learn about electricity and the work of electricians, and they had a good time all the while.Read more.
CNM’s ‘Water in the Desert Series’ Offers Activities and Lectures / CNM will be hosting a “Water in the Desert” educational series for four weeks in October as part of its Campus as a Living Lab and Sustainability initiatives. Read more.
Students Work with National Museum of Nuclear Science & History to Develop Virtual Tour / CNM students in the Computer Information Systems (CIS) program in the School of Business & Information Technology (BIT) have been working with the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History to develop a virtual docent application. Read more.
Students Who Need to Enroll in Same Course for Third Time Must Get Permission from School / Students who plan to enroll in the same course for a third time in the Spring Term must request permission from the School in which the course is offered. CNM does not allow students to self-enroll in the same course for the third time without permission. Each appearance of a course on a student’s transcript counts as an attempt, including withdrawals. For the Spring Term, students can request permission to repeat a course between Oct. 10 and Dec. 16. Click here for more information.
Microbiology Students Have New Tool in Labs – iPads / Students in CNM’s microbiology classes on Main and Westside campuses are learning in a way only a few other colleges around the country offer. For the first time, they are using computer tablets for notetaking in the labs. Read more
Donated Ambulance Converted to Training Environment for EMS Students, With Help from AT Students / Jessica Medrano / Students in CNM’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Paramedic Program have a valuable new training environment to hone their skills in before being deployed to the field – the confines of an ambulance. School of Applied Technologies (AT) Automotive and Welding students recently completed a training trailer constructed around an actual ambulance body. Read more.
You’re Invited to Attend Workshop on Internationalizing Curriculum / Donna Diller / Michigan State University’s International Business Center will be will be holding a workshop, “International Business Institute on the Road” - at the Workforce Training Center, Friday, Oct. 21 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The focus is internationalizing curriculum at two-year institutions. Faculty from the School of Business & Information Technology will be attending, and other interested faculty and staff are welcome to participate. Faculty from other New Mexico community colleges are also being invited to attend. Lunch will be provided. To view the agenda and to register, click here. For more information about MSU’s International Business Center go to . For questions about the event, contact Donna Diller at 224-3824 or .
Five Graduate from Crianza, an Early Childhood Business Accelerator / The five participants in the second cohort of Crianza, an early childhood business accelerator, graduated on Sept. 24. The accelerator program is designed to teach participants how to build a successful child care business. All of their classes were taught in Spanish. The next Crianza accelerator, taught in English, will be held from Oct. 11 through Dec. 8, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Applications are still being accepted. The course and textbook are free of charge. The fall home-based business accelerator for Spanish speaking participants, which is taught in Spanish, is full, but people are invited to fill out applications and be on a waiting list. For more information, contact Andrés Armijo at 224-4000 Ext. 53113 or .
Montoya Campus Book Group Survey / Daniel Hay / Help us choose a book to read for spring 2017. Follow this link the Library’s Book Group Guideto cast your vote. The last book group discussion of the fall will be on Tuesday, November 22, from 3-4:30 p.m. in J Building, Room 123-C. For more information, contact Daniel Hay at .
Construction Work on Montoya Campus K Building Begins Oct. 12 / From Oct. 12 through Nov. 4, construction work will be occurring to replace the rooftop mechanical equipment on the K Building. The parking lot south of the K Building (South Lot 2) will be closed from Oct. 12 through Nov. 4. The work will be noisy and will require the shutdown of the HVAC equipment beginning Oct. 17. With fluctuating temperatures this time of year, occupants may want to bring extra layers of clothing.
Open Enrollment for Benefits Begins Oct. 13
(Date change from Oct 10 to Oct 13) / Oct 13 / Nov 11 / The timeframe for enrolling in benefits is scheduled for Oct. 13 through Nov.11. To ensure your benefit enrollment process is quick and easy, go to this NMPSIA website and make changes if necessary to your basic information – address, phone, email and beneficiaries. Make sure to have the appropriate paperwork on hand to support any changes that need to be made. Some common documents needed are: marriage certificates, birth certificates and Social Security numbers.
For 2017, the New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority (NMPSIA) has implemented some important changes to note.A third medical insurance provider, New Mexico Health Connections, has been added to the current Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Presbyterian options. Also, both Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Presbyterian have enhanced their wellness programs. Wellness program plans now feature diet and nutritional information, exercise guides, and access to health and fitness advisors online. For information on the 2017 programs, contact your provider or visit the NMPSIA website.
Fall Evaluations / Elsie Hall / Nov 06 / Nov 19 / Fall 2016 Course Evaluations are scheduled to run November 6 – November 19.
Former CNM Student Takes Unusual Path to Becoming Chair of Faculty Senate / David Valdés, chair of CNM’s Faculty Senate and former Presidential Fellow, almost never made it to college. But enrolling in then-TVI to get a GED dramatically changed the trajectory of his life. Read more.
Participate in Fall Graduation Ceremony on Dec. 10 / Dec 10 / The 2016 Fall Graduation Ceremony will be held at Tingley Coliseum on Saturday, Dec. 10.It’s the perfect opportunity to show your support for CNM’s graduates and their academic success. You’re encouraged to show your support by participating in the procession. Click here to submit a request to order graduation regalia or to state that you own your regalia but plan to participate.The deadline to submit the online form is 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14. The form must be submitted to order regalia and to secure a free parking permit for the event. There will be an e-mail sent to you once your graduation regalia has arrived. A parking pass and a map will be provided. If you own regalia, a parking pass will be required to enter the gates of EXPO New Mexico. Email for more information.
Insurance Premiums Changing for September Paychecks / CNM’s health insurance provider, New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority (NMPSIA), has announced insurance premium increases that will go into effect on Oct. 1.Since premiums are collected one month in advance, however, the new premiums will affect paychecks beginning with the first pay period in September. NMPSIA has approved an 8.3 percent increase for the High Option Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Presbyterian plans and a 7.15 percent increase for the Low Option Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Presbyterian plans.Click here to view the new rates.
Improvements Coming for New Employee Orientation
/ Karen Hughes / CNM’s Human Resources in conjunction with Payroll is in the process of revamping New Employee Orientation (NEO) to provide a better and more valuable experience for new employees. The revamped NEO will include: a new schedule for new employees to come in at least three days prior to their NEO date to complete paperwork; bi-weekly sessions; improvements to the overall experience so new employees have better first impressions of CNM. These changes will also help new employees better understand CNM’s mission, vision and values; it will allow for the tailoring of NEO for specific employee groups; it will improve communication about pay and benefits; it will offer benefit labs to help new employees better understand their benefit options; and more. Look for more information about changes related to NEO soon. The new schedule will begin on Oct. 10, and the second schedule for NEO will be Oct. 24.More information about the schedules will be in News Link next week. If you have questions, please contact the following individuals: Trish Heaton () – Employee Training; Veronica Gonzales () – Payroll, Karen Hughes () - Benefits.
Max Salazar Hall Restroom Renovations Begin Oct. 3 / Melanie Archibeque / All of the Max Salazar Hall restrooms on the first through fourth floors will be renovated in two phases. The renovations are expected to last six months.The first phase of the project will begin Oct. 3, when renovations will start on the men’s and women’s restrooms on the third and fourth floors. The first and second floor restrooms will remain open for use during Phase 1.The construction work will occur between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the 2016 Fall Term and 2017 Spring Term.
Montoya Campus J Building Renovation Scheduled to Begin During Winter Break / Jenni Davis / A major renovation of the J Building is scheduled to begin during the Winter Break, pending a final New Mexico Higher Education Department approval in November. If approved, a renovated J Building would be scheduled to reopen for the 2018 Fall Term. The renovated J Building will house: a Learning Commons space including the Library, Assistance Centers for Education and Computer Lab, similar to the Learning Commons in the Student Resource Center and Westside I; a multi-purpose space similar to the Richard Barr Boardroom; chemistry labs; dental assistant lab; cosmetology lab; computer lab; general classrooms; and faculty offices.
CNM’s Non-Discrimination Notice / Mark Cornett / Central New Mexico Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities that received Federal financial assistance from the US Department of Education and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries on CNM’s policies regarding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Mark Cornett, Director of Disability Resource Center, 525 Buena Vista Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. He is also available at 505-224-3259 or . For more information on CNM’s notice of non-discrimination, visit
Governing Board Approves Addition to Employee Handbook on Employee Debt Collection / Michael Anaya / At Tuesday’s Governing Board meeting, the Board approved a new addition to the Employee Handbook, Section 12.24 Employee Debt Collection. The new policy covers the following:
- Sets forth CNM’s obligation to collect any outstanding debt owed to the College by its employees in accordance with state law.
- Requires employees to repay any outstanding debt.
- Outlines collection methods
Graduates of Deep Dive Coding Bootcamp Develop State’s First Website for Internships / Three graduates of the CNM STEMulus Center’s Deep Dive Coding Bootcamp, along with a student from the School of Business & Information Technology, have helped develop the state’s first website dedicated to listing internships available to students in New Mexico. Read more.