UNM-LA News:

The November election is quickly approaching. One of the items on the ballot is General Obligation Bond C, which supports higher educational institutions throughout the state of New Mexico.

Bond C will help maintain the institutions and provide resources to deliver a safe, quality education. This funding, which includes $1.7 million for UNM-Los Alamos (UNM-LA), will develop high-quality learning environments for students.

It is important to note that Bond C will not increase taxes (as verified by the New Mexico State Department of Finance and Administration). 

An investment in higher education is an investment in the future of our state. An increasing number of jobs require post-secondary certificates and degrees. Employees with post-secondary education earn more money than high school graduates. 

UNM-Los Alamos continues to build partnerships with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), N3B and other key employers in the community. The requested $1.7 million for UNM-LA will be used to renovate workforce development/career technical education classrooms on campus. These funds will be utilized to re-purpose training rooms to provide simulation equipment and facilitate training to develop a qualified workforce with specified hands-on use of equipment related to identified workforce needs.

A past GO bond provided funding for the EMS classrooms at UNM-LA to train EMTs, CNAs and firefighters to help meet the workforce needs of the community. 

In addition to the projects at UNM-LA the bond also provides funding to many other higher education institutions. The largest project is $30 million to the UNM Health Science Center (HSC) to construct a new nursing education facility (which is the only new construction initiative).

This new facility will enable the HSC to double the number of nurses it graduates. Other large projects include $18 million to NMSU to renovate agricultural, science, and engineering facilities statewide, $13 million to UNM-Albuquerque, and $10 million to New Mexico Tech.

A complete list of projects is available at BondC4NM.com.  

New Mexico students, employers, and others will benefit from these newly-renovated facilities and updated technology. Higher educational institutions in New Mexico must stay competitive with out-of-state institutions if we are to recruit, educate, and graduate the best students in our state. 

Also on the ballot is General Obligation Bond B, which will provide statewide funding for libraries including both local and college/university libraries. 

UNM-Los Alamos is committed to continuing to provide a high quality, affordable education to our community.

Absentee voting begins Oct. 6 and early voting starts Oct. 17. Election Day is Nov. 3.

UNM-Los Alamos is an innovative, rigorous, and affordable comprehensive branch community college that provides foundations for transfer, leading-edge career programs, and lifelong learning opportunities. More information about UNM-Los Alamos is available at losalamos.unm.edu.