May 12, 2009
Lobo Athletics
What: Lobo Center For Student-Athlete Success
Where: 1115 University Blvd (North of Pit; West of Isotopes Park)
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed on Saturdays; Sunday 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
For Henry Villegas, the building is a bright beacon, a vibrant message to all present and future University of New Mexico students that UNM is an institution of higher education that really is committed to the support and success of UNM students and student-athletes.
“This building is a symbol of our commitment to academics,” said Villegas, an assistant athletics director in charge of academic services. “We just aren’t saying that we care about our students. We can point to something and prove that we are backing up what we say.”
Said Tim Cass, UNM’s Senior Associate Athletics Director: “This building is one of finest facilities on campus, whether that’s an athletic facility or an academic facility.”
The building’s title really says it all: Student Support and Service Center. It truly is a one-stop shop provided by the Division of Enrollment Services and the UNM Athletics Department to take care of all the needs of current and prospective students and student-athletes.
This innovative blending of technology and specially trained and highly motivated professionals in one convenient location provides key services in admissions, financial aid, registration, veterans’ outreach services, scholarships, tutoring and advisement .
The Center is located on the Northwest corner of the intersection of Avenida Cesar Chavez and University Blvd – North of The Pit and West of Isotopes Park (1115 University Blvd/South Campus). The Enrollment Services also offer a one-stop service center in Mesa Vista Hall on the UNM main campus.
“The one-stop facility on South Campus serves the needs of all students in all enrollment related services focusing efforts on non-traditional transfer students and those seeking admission for the first time to UNM,” said Carmen Alvarez Brown, a UNM Vice President for Enrollment Management.
Alvarez Brown also points out that the facility houses an enrollment communication center often referred to as the Virtual One-Stop. This center handles more than 2,500 phone calls and 500 chats during a school-term week. “These state-of-the-art facilities are designed for the sole purpose of enhancing services to all we serve,” said Alvarez Brown.
On the second floor of the Student Support and Services Center, you’ll find the Lobo Center for Student-Athlete Success (often called the Success Center). It’s a one-stop shop for Lobo athletes in need of academic support and information.
There are computers, advisors, tutors, compliance officers, representatives from CAPS (Center for Academic Program Support) all conveniently located a short block from the hub of the Lobo athletic facilities.
“This whole building tells the student and their parents that the University of New Mexico cares,” said Villegas. “I think this gives us a “wow” factor. You come over to the Student Center and you are impressed with what UNM is offering to the student.”
Said Cass: “I think this is as impressive a student-academic center as any in the country. I think the bar has been raised in terms of the facilities we are providing to our students. And the Lobo Success Center is a tremendous asset, a tremendous tool, for our student-athletes.”
|
“This building is one of finest facilities on campus, whether that’s an athleticfacility or an academic facility.” Tim Cass, UNM’s Senior Associate Athletics Director |
The Student Support and Services Center merges many services into this one-stop building. It also brings athletics closer to some of the mainstream services that before were available only on the main campus. Karen Olson, director for CAPS, said she hopes this relationship continues to grow.
“The role that CAPS is playing (at the Lobos Success Center) is directly related to the athlete and this has the potential for an excellent partnership,” said Olson. “I think it would be good if eventually the student-athlete is tutored by the same people responsible for tutoring all UNM students. I think we are moving in that direction.”
CAPS houses the UNM tutoring program, supplemental instruction, online services and the Writing Center. It offers free academic support for UNM students and the Student Support and Services Center would be incomplete without their presence.
Olson also sees this one-stop building as an attractive recruitment tool to impress both UNM student-athletes and UNM students.
“I think that’s one way the university plans to use it,” said Olson. “I also see the potential for us to expand to serve more students there. There is ample parking and ample space. It’s a beautiful building.”
Of course, beauty is only skin deep. It’s the guts of the Student Support and Services Center that make it such a dynamic attraction for all UNM students and their parents.
“With what we have over here to offer, the whole university is in a better position to serve the students,” said Villegas. “We also don’t like to have the athletes over here on a island. This brings some of the mainstream services from main campus over here and with the space and parking, it improves their ability to serve the student.”
Parking, not always the easiest hurdle to leap on main campus, is a snap at the SS&S Center. There is a large – free – parking lot just north of the building. There also is shuttle service available from the main campus.
The Lobo athlete used to have to travel to Johnson Gym for extensive academic support, but the Lobo Center for Student-Athlete Success is a short walk from the athletic complex.
“We have the space and the facilities we need now,” said Villegas. “We had maybe 35 computers over at Johnson Center and often the students had to wait. We have about 70 computers now. We have the space we need for tutoring. We have larger space for group tutoring. This is an environment that is convenient and comfortable for students to come in and study.
“I want to thank everyone for making this possible from regent Jamie Koch to UNM President David Schmidly to Paul Krebs (UNM Vice President of Athletics).”
The Lobo Center for Student-Athlete Success includes three computer rooms, a large lounge, a welcome desk, tutoring rooms, conference rooms, offices. The large computer room has 40 computers and the two smaller computer pods each have 15 computers.
The Lobo Success Center is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Center is closed on Saturdays. Sunday’s hours are 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Center’s summer hours will be Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. after the spring semester ends. For additional information on the Lobo Success Center, call 277-2303.
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net . Previous GoLobo.com articles can be found on The Richard Stevens Corner.