President's Message

It feels like the energy level on this campus has increased tenfold overnight. Welcome University of New Mexico students to the 2009 fall semester.  We're about to begin an incredible journey. The demands will be greater and so will be the rewards.  We wish the very best to all of our students as you embark on another year of challenge and opportunity.

Our unofficial first day enrollment numbers show a 6.4 percent increase in new freshmen and a projected 103 percent increase in National Scholars from fall 2008. The University is also showing impressive gains in graduate students with a 23.1 percent increase in headcount and in the number of transfer students - a 36.8 percent increase.
 
Among the ever-growing numbers of National Scholars on campus and brand new to UNM this semester are National American Indian Scholars.  UNM launched this new program, in partnership with the American College testing program, or ACT, to attract the nation's top American Indian students.  Eight scholars have been accepted and we welcome them to UNM.
 
The Enrollment Management Division has been working hard and also working collaboratively with units across the University to bring in these record numbers of students.  Our job is now cut out for us, but it is great to have swelling numbers in our Lobo Nation.
 
As record numbers of students pour in, we are preparing across campus for the flu.  Whether it's H1N1 or seasonal flu, it has the possibility to be miserable.  Outbreaks have already been reported at the University of Alabama, Mississippi State and at my former institution, Oklahoma State.
 
Students living on campus are getting the message about hygiene and how to avoid the flu. Our faculty will be addressing the issue in their classes. Everyone will be encouraged to get vaccinated as vaccine supplies become available.
 
Emergency management personnel from both main campus and the HSC have been activated in preparation for the outbreak that is sure to occur here sooner or later.  Our people are following the lead of the Center for Disease Control and are preparing guidelines for all campus sectors. Get acquainted with CDC recommendations at www.flu.gov. Bottom
line, flu will happen. We will be prepared.
 
If you've been following the local news over the past couple of weeks, you know that New Mexico's budget outlook remains grim. According to the most recent estimates, the State anticipates a revenue shortfall of about $433 million for the current budget year - the one that just began in July. In addition, the revenues for the previous budget year
did not come in as expected, so FY 2009 is suffering an approximate $309 million deficit.

So New Mexico will have to plug an anticipated budget hole of more than $700 million, making it imperative for Governor Richardson to call state lawmakers into special session in October to deal with the problem.

During the coming weeks of September, we will be engaging deans, department chairs and the university community in planning for another budget rescission and the very real possibility of a cut in next year's budget. Our goal is to navigate these troubled waters with minimum impact on our people and our mission. We will seek input from all campus sectors to find the most sensible ways possible to cope with the reductions. For updates, visit the Budget Impact website on the UNM homepage, www.unm.edu. We welcome your comments, will answer your questions and address any rumors as quickly and efficiently as possible.

College is a wonderful time for academic discovery and personal enrichment. It can also be a stressful time, requiring students to strike a balance between social activities and academic pursuits - and avoid situations where their health and safety are at risk with alcohol or other drug abuse. If students face a problem with alcohol or drugs, UNM is here to help. Call Student Health and Counseling at 277-4537 or visit the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention. The website is http://www.unm.edu/~cosap.

David J. Schmidly