Gubenatorial candidates, legislators invited to participate



The University of New Mexico Faculty Senate will host an on-campus Forum on Higher Education in New Mexico on Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 12 – 1:30 p.m. in ballroom C of the Student Union Building on the UNM main campus. Everyone is invited to attend.

Gubernatorial candidates Susana Martinez and Diane Denish have been invited to speak at the forum or to send a representative. Additionally, New Mexico legislators on the Legislative Finance Committee and Legislative Education Study Committee have also been invited to share their perspectives on higher education in New Mexico along with state representatives and senators representing Bernalillo, Socorro and Dona Ana counties, homes of New Mexico's three research universities.

Confirmed attendees include: Brian Colon, Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, Representatives Gail Chasey, Jack Thomas, Kathy McCoy, Tim Keller, Danice Picraux, Janice Arnold Jones and Antonio Maestas; and Senators Linda Lopez and Jerry Ortiz y Pino.

"Positive interaction between government leaders and the university community is crucial to the future of public higher education in New Mexico. And, effective higher education is crucial to the future of our state," said Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, chair of the Faculty Senate Governmental Relations Committee. "This event is one of a series of events sponsored by the Faculty Senate Governmental Relations Committee."

"New Mexico faces crucial decisions regarding higher education, as well as a crisis in higher ed funding," said Faculty Senate President Richard Wood. "It is crucial that our state legislators and candidates for governor be talking with New Mexicans about these issues. This forum offers the best chance to have that conversation."

Legislators will be asked to respond to a brief list of questions that have been culled from hundreds of questions submitted by faculty, students and staff members in an online survey. The questions will focus on higher education funding, strategic priorities for higher education in the state, regents' selection and student preparedness. Time permitting, there will also be a moderated question and answer session.

This forum is sponsored by the UNM Faculty Senate and co-sponsored by Associated Students of UNM, Graduate and Professional Students Association, Staff Council , UNM's Office of Government and Community Relations, and the UNM Parents Association.

Nearest available parking is at the Cornell Parking Structure east of Popejoy Hall. For more information, contact Rich Wood or Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, Faculty Senate, at 505-277-4664.

If you are unable to attend, a live broadcast will start around 11:45 am. To listen to the broadcast visit: Faculty Senate Higher Education Forum.

There is no need to log in at the upper right corner of the screen. Simply click on the presentation title for viewing on the day of the event. Viewers using Firefox and Safari (MAC users) should download and install Microsoft Silverlight (they will be prompted to upon clicking on the link to the presentation). Any other problems can be directed to (505) 277-9009.

If the above link doesn't work, copy and paste into your browser or click on the following: http://mtsmediasite.unm.edu/unm/Catalog/pages/catalog.aspx?catalogId=29075bb4-3321-4bae-8116-24d766721674.

Media contacts: Faculty Senate President Rich Wood or Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, chair, UNM Faculty Senate Governmental Relations Committee at (505) 277-4664.