state-supported university on a 640-acre (260-hectare) campus in the heart of Albuquerque. The university was founded in 1889, before New Mexico achieved statehood. It is located at the foot of the Sandia Mountains and features architecture influenced by both the Pueblo Indians and the Spanish. The campus has a collection of native New Mexican plants and was named a national arboretum in 1992. The University of New Mexico is the largest public university in the state. Total enrollment is approximately 25,000 students, 20,000 of them undergraduates. The majority of students are state residents, and a high percentage live off-campus or commute. Hispanic American students make up about a quarter of the undergraduates, and Native American enrollment is about 5 percent. Slightly more women than men pursue bachelor's degrees. Many classes are offered in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate the substantial number of part-time and older students. The academic calendar is divided into semesters. The university offers an extensive array of courses at all degree levels. Roughly 90 percent of the full-time faculty hold doctorates. At the undergraduate level, majors are available within the areas of architecture, arts and sciences, education, engineering, fine arts, management, nursing, and pharmacy. Some of the schools more unusual offerings include Southwest Hispanic studies, lithography, multicultural instruction, and laser optics. Many students take courses through the University College and receive a bachelor of university studies degree. Bilingual education for students, in both Spanish and Native American languages in addition to English, is a priority for the university. Graduate school offerings are likewise numerous. The programs in photography and printmaking are ranked among the best in the United States. The University of New Mexico is home to the state's only law and medical schools. The campus and the surrounding area hold many opportunities for enrichment outside of the classroom. The university has some 250 extracurricular organizations, including intramural sports teams, fraternities and sororities, special interest clubs, performance groups, the student-run newspaper, and the campus radio station. Varsity sports teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (except in football, in which they participate in Division I-A). About 300 sports scholarships are awarded. The schools teams are nicknamed the Lobos, and school colors are cherry and silver. The university is also involved in a cross-cultural program called Arts of the Americas, featuring various activities centered upon United States and Latin American artists and educators. A popular annual event is Nizhoni Days, a celebration of Native American culture. Within driving distance are various Spanish and Indian ruins as well as ski resorts and camping areas. , |