1996-1997 Undergraduate Catalog

 NMSU


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 903,732 volumes and over 6,800 currently active serials subscriptions. In addition, there are nearly 890,000 pieces in microform and over 750,104 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 the subject-searchable, machine-readable databases provided by DIALOG, STN, and BRS After Dark. 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Archives maintains two important collections of unpublished materials: The Rio Grande Historical Collections which includes all types of records and papers relating to New Mexico and the border, and the university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.-7:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 noon-12 midnight for a total of 99.5 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, Dept. 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, and graduate school and professional skills test preparation. The services are available to students in the following formats:

Computing and Networking Technology Organization (CANTO)

Computing and Networking Technology Organization supports all facets of campus computing and provides state-of-the-art resources at no cost to students. Students have access to a wide variety of computers ranging from Macintosh computers, IBM PCs and clones to X-terminals, NeXTs, UNIX machines, Cray supercomputers, and the IBM ES/9000 mainframe. Computing devices are available throughout the campus, (some available 24 hours per day, seven days per week) with major labs in Jacobs Hall and the Computer Center building. Labs are equipped with software for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, statistics, desktop publishing and more. Laser printers furnish students with high quality output. The campus network, NMSU-Net, interconnects all computer center labs with other computing resources across campus and around the world, providing students with access to electronic mail, remote archives; and electronic bulletin boards, news groups, and WWW resources. For further information, contact CANTO, Box 3AT, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, (505) 646-1840 or send e-mail to help@nmsu.edu. NMSU's WWW home page 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 enjoys accreditation 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, working a minimum of two workphases throughout the U.S. or abroad; each phase may last up to six months. Workphases are separated by semesters of on-campus classroom instruction.

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 Box 30001, Dept. 3509, 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 122 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 taken year round, but the bulk of applications are accepted from November through mid-February 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.

Servicemen's Opportunity College (SOC)

NMSU is a member of the Servicemen's Opportunity College consortium. As such, the university has agreed to write contracts with servicemen and women on active duty that will enable them to continue degree work in the event of transfer from the local area. See "Servicemen's Opportunity College (SOC)" heading in "Regulations" section for more information. For further assistance, the student should contact the SOC coordinator in the appropriate college.

Student Support Services

Student Support Services is a program of encouragement and academic support to ensure that eligible students stay in school and graduate. To qualify, students must be first generation (neither parent graduated from a four-year college), low income, or disabled.

Services include tutors, mentors, cultural enrichment (tickets provided to plays, symphonies, etc.), and exam files.

Mentors are upper-class students who know the university well and can help participants with motivation, problems with roommates, relationships, adjusting to college, learning and using campus resources, developing effective study skills, applications for financial aid, and academic peer advising.

Tutoring is available in science, math, engineering, agriculture, social sciences, humanities, business, and foreign languages.

Student Support Services can only take 400 participants, so students should apply early in Garcia Annex, Room 143.

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 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, provided the funds are made available by the state legislature.For further information write Certifying Officer for New Mexico, WICHE's Student Exchange Program, University of New Mexico, Student Services, Room 260, Albuquerque, NM 87131 or call (505) 277-9036.

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