Mesalands, UNM expand partnership

Mildred P. Lovato, president of Mesalands Community College, and Jerónimo Dominguez, vice provost, distance education programs and services at the University of New Mexico, recently signed an agreement to expand the partnership between both institutions in order to better serve the community. The new agreement allows for an advisor on the Mesalands campus to assist students enrolling in UNM upper-division and graduate-level courses.

Last year, Mesalands and UNM signed an agreement to offer bachelor's and master's degree completion programs online for area students and had an advisor available once a week on the Mesalands campus.

This original agreement was initiated by Dominguez, a native of Tucumcari, who wanted to make it easier for area residents to continue their college education. Dominguez said this continuing partnership with Mesalands, will fulfill his lifelong commitment to provide additional educational opportunities for the surrounding communities and the state of New Mexico.

"We are offering over 750 online sections annually compared to the dozen or so we had ten years ago," said Dominguez. "We are hoping to reach those who cannot come to the campus and who might have a degree and require special training or certification for their job. In addition, the Master's in Public Administration can be available via Interactive Television (ITV) to those who might want to take advantage of the government positions that Quay County and the City of Tucumcari have to offer. We want to make available those courses that might be of value to the community."

Jaclyn Dominguez has been selected as the outreach assistant and is the primary point of contact for UNM. Jaclyn works closely with students assisting them with a variety of pre-admission and admission activities, program requirements, and course pre-requisite information. She is available to meet with students Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm in Building A, Room 113.

"On behalf of Mesalands Community College, I want to thank Dominguez for her continuing support of Mesalands and to this community. This partnership will allow our college to better serve our students," Lovato said.

For more information about upper-division or graduate-level courses through UNM's Distance Education program, contact Jaclyn Dominguez, UNM Outreach Assistant at Mesalands at 461-4413, ext. 171.