2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog General Information - Academic Services

Branson Hall Library and the New Library

The NMSU Libraries consist of a science/agriculture/business/engineering library and a separate social sciences and humanities library. Both buildings are in close proximity and maintain similar, although not identical, services and hours of operation.

The collection has approximately 1,000,783 volumes and over 7,418 currently active serials subscriptions. In addition, there are nearly 1,000,000 pieces in microform and 863,029 government publications issued by the U.S. Government. The library budget exceeds $5 million. The full-time staff includes 29 faculty-ranked librarians.

Books are classified according to the Library of Congress system. About 80% of the library's collection is accessible through the online system. The library also makes available dozens of Web-based access as full text products. There are over 67 CD-ROM titles available in the library.

Special Collections houses the following: New Mexican and western Americana, a southwestern literature collection, the collections of Witter Bynner and Eugene Manlove Rhodes (a southwestern writer), Edward Gorey's illustrated books, and Herman Ilfeld Bacharach's illustrated children's books.

Archives maintains two important collections of unpublished materials: The Rio Grande Historical Collections which includes all types of records and papers relating to New Mexico and the border, and the university archives.

During the academic year, the library is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.-12 midnight; Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-12 midnight for a total of 95.5 hours per week.

Center for International Programs

The Center for International Programs coordinates international activities at NMSU. In addition, direct contacts with U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, and the private sector concerning international activities are handled through this office. The center also coordinates the university's participation in the Consortium for International Development, and provides assistance for NMSU students and faculty who may wish to study or work overseas.The Center for International Programs is responsible for providing services, advisement, and programs for foreign students and faculty. The Foreign Admissions Office processes undergraduate and graduate admission applications from foreign nationals. As part of this process, they analyze foreign academic credentials and provide special services for placement of sponsored students in academic programs.

The foreign student adviser serves as the university representative for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and is the alternate responsible officer for the U.S. State Department's Exchange Visitor Program. Appropriate immigration documents and advice on visa regulations are provided through the center.

Orientation programs are held each semester to assist new foreign students in learning about the university and the community. These programs typically include information about U.S. customs and culture, immigration, health services, banking, housing, and academic affairs.

In cooperation with international student associations and community organizations, sociocultural activities are organized for international students and their families. Such activities may include receptions, dinners, picnics, dances, spouses' programs, host families, field trips, and celebrations of national holidays. Specialized services are provided by the center for sponsored students, including academic monitoring, transportation assistance, and academic placement.

Foreign students or agencies sponsoring foreign students receiving special services are expected to pay additional administrative fees not to exceed $550 annually. The current "Foreign Student Special Service Fee Schedule'' is available upon request from the center, Box 30001, MSC 3567.

Center for Learning Assistance

The center provides study skills assistance in such areas as time management, memory, concentration, note taking, study reading, test preparation, test taking, math/science study skills, speed reading, critical thinking, and graduate school and professional skills test preparation. The services are available to students in the following formats:

1) Individualized assistance is provided to any student who drops in at the center. This is a no-fee service.

2) Degree credit is offered under UNIV 110, Personal Learning Skills, UNIV 112, Academic and Personal Effectiveness, UNIV 150, The Freshman Year Experience, UNIV 300, Preparing for the GRE, and UNIV 350, Peer Education.

3) Learning strategies and study skills workshops provide quick assistance in one-hour presentations offered weekly throughout the semester.

4) Professional and graduate school workshops provide development in such areas as speed reading, getting into graduate school, preparing for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, or NMTA.

5) Project Support workshops assist nontraditional and re-entry students in making the study skill and personal adjustments back into academic life.

Computing and Networking (C&N)

Computing and Networking supports and facilitates information technology at NMSU. Through the campus network, NMSU-Net, students have access to mainframe and Unix processors that support instruction for all NMSU colleges. In addition, computer clusters located around campus provide PC's and Mac's loaded with typical personal computer software as well as course-specific software. Students will find word processing, spreadsheet, statistics, drawing and image processing, presentation, scientific computation, and other tools to assist them in a successful college career. Access to other campus resources such as the Library, email, bulletin boards, newsgroups, etc. are all readily available. Remote archives, databases, news, and all of the resources of the WWW are also easily accessed. Student admissions, registration, and grades are provided on the WWW for easy student use. For further information, contact C&N MSC 3AT, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, (505) 646-1840 or send email to help@nmsu.edu. NMSU's WWW homepage is located at <http://www.nmsu.edu>.

Cooperative Education Program

New Mexico State University enjoys a national reputation for its Cooperative Education Program, which contributes to students' total educational experience and realization of career goals by integrating academic theory and practical application. The engineering portion of the Cooperative Education Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). This honor has only been accorded to a select number of programs in the southwestern United States.

Co-op assignments provide varied work experiences with employers from business, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations. Students may also develop specially tailored co-op assignments.

Students can register for the alternating plan, usually working a minimum of two workphases throughout the U.S. or abroad; each phase may last up to eight months. Workphases are separated by semesters of on-campus classroom instruction. Note: While on alternating workphase, students are afforded full-time status with the university, whether or not they are enrolled for credit.

Continuous enrollment can be maintained through the parallel plan, working 20-30 hours per week concurrent with classroom instruction. Employers are generally located within commuting distance of the university. In addition to gaining academically related work experience, co-op students establish positive work ethics, receive remuneration for their educational experiences, and also may arrange for course credit through an academic department. In some instances, where co-op work assignments are either not available or are not appropriate for specific students' needs, information is available on internship opportunities offered by government, nonprofit organizations, and business/industry. During the summer months and throughout the academic year, internships may be arranged for academic credit. Internships are not always paid.

Another alternative to the Cooperative Education Program is summer employment, which may or may not be career related. Working during the summer affords students the chance to earn additional income and gain valuable work experience without affecting their academic schedules.

For further information, contact the Cooperative Education Program at MSC 3509, NMSU, P. O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, or call (505) 646-4115.

National Student Exchange Program

Under the National Student Exchange Program (NSE), students may pay NMSU tuition and attend any of 149 colleges or universities across the nation. NSE allows students to broaden their academic, social, and cultural awareness through study in different geographical settings. To qualify for the program, an applicant must be a full-time student with a 2.5 grade-point average and must be a sophomore or junior at the time of exchange. Applications for the program are accepted from October through December for the following academic year.

Grades and credit hours earned at the host institution become part of the official NMSU transcript upon approval of the academic adviser and records officer. Grades are recorded according to the NMSU grading system.

Servicemember's Opportunity College (SOC)

NMSU is a member of the Servicemember's Opportunity College consortium. As such, the university has agreed to write contracts with active-duty military, National Guard servicemembers and their families. This contract will enable them to continue degree work on an Associate's degree in the event of transfer from the local area. See "Servicemember's Opportunity College (SOC)" heading in the "Regulations" section for more information. For further assistance, the student should contact the SOC coordinator through Doña Ana Branch Community College.

Student Support Services

Student Support Services is a program of encouragement and academic support to ensure that eligible students succeed at NMSU. Services include

Mentoring--Participants meet with a mentor each week for help in adjusting to college, learning and using campus resources, developing effective study skills, accessing financial aid, using academic advising, staying motivated, and dealing with personal problems.

Tutoring--Individual tutoring is available by appointment in science, math, engineering, agriculture, social sciences, humanities, business, and foreign languages.

Computer Lab--Individual instruction is provided.

Cultural Activities--Participants receive tickets to plays, dance productions, concerts, and symphonies.

Exam Files--Exam files are available to assist with test taking.

To qualify, students must be first generation, (neither parent received a baccalaureate degree), low income, or have a disability. Student Support Services can only take 350 participants, so students should apply early in Garcia Annex, Room 143. Visit our Web site at <www.nmsu.edu/~sss/>.

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

New Mexico State University collaborates with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education in recommending graduates of the university for programs in dentistry, graduate library studies, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, podiatry, public health, and veterinary medicine in universities of other western states. The State of New Mexico subsidizes the education of New Mexico residents when approved for training in these fields in other states. This subsidy is a loan-for-service program which permits New Mexico residents to attend state-supported institutions at in-state tuition rates and private institutions at approximately one-third the standard tuition cost if they practice in New Mexico for an equal number of years after graduation. This program is contingent upon funding by the state legislature. For further information write Certifying Officer for New Mexico, WICHE's Student Exchange Program, New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, 1068 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501-4295.