The University of New Mexico has become the latest university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. The UNM Anderson School of Management Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and MBA with a Finance Concentration programs have been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the program.
These programs position students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. UNM is the first university in New Mexico to receive this honor.
Yearly more than 70 Anderson students graduate with a concentration in Finance, many of which go on to pursue full-time positions in the field. Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers and the marketplace that UNM curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations.
The application was the culmination of an effort led by Reilly White, associate professor of Finance, and Sonny Gokhale, president of the CFA Society New Mexico. In addition to providing materials and other connections with the CFA Society, the designation guarantees five student scholarships annually to take the CFA exam.
“We are extremely pleased to have achieved this designation,” said UNM Anderson Dean Mitzi Montoya. “Becoming a CFA affiliate university signals to our students and the community that Anderson is a premier educator of business professionals and reflects our commitment to their success.”
UNM's BBA in Finance is a comprehensive program, offering both theoretical and applied courses that support banking, investments, and financial entrepreneurship. “The UNM MBA in Finance prepares students for leadership roles around New Mexico and beyond, with many of our graduates moving on to wealth management, investment banking, commercial banking, and corporate finance roles,” said White.
Both programs support the $4.1 million UNM Regents' Student Run Portfolio, the largest student-run portfolio in New Mexico.