Goal: New Mexico Tech will substantially improve student quality of life

Oversight: Vice President for Institutional Development

a. Enhance student commitment to the Institute to heighten academic success

• Freshman
  Metrics: Present plan to faculty and administration in Spring 1999. At least 80% of new freshmen will return for their second year at Tech.
  
  • Appoint task force to develop First-Year Experience and present to faculty and administration. Quality of Life committee will form core of new task force and will invite additional members to participate. The First-Year Experience could include, but is not limited to:
    
    • Advising center, which could include, but is not limited to:
      
      • Focus on first-year students and undecided majors
        
      • Early warning and intervention system
        
      • Improved tutoring program
        
      • Training of key faculty and staff members and peer mentors to serve as advisors
        
      • Financial and other incentives for faculty who participate
        
      • Integration with web-based student database
        
    • Student success course
      
    • Extracurricular activities
      
    • Restructured orientation experience
      
    • Grading first semester courses on pass/fail basis
      
      • Determine what peer and similar institutions are doing and how successful their programs have been
        
      • Present report to faculty and administration
        

• Transfer Students
  

  • Designate faculty member in each department to advise transfer students and get them on track
    Metric: Departments will identify faculty member by Fall 1999.
    

  • Restructure orientation experience for transfer students
    

• Continuing Students
  

  • Move advising to departments as soon as possible
    

  • Provide lounge for commuting students, including lockers, study space, and computers
    

• Graduate Students
  

  • Increase stipends (see Growth)

• Graduating Students
  

  • Explore possibility of having Placement Center for job interviews at Tech building in Albuquerque
    

b. Improve physical environment for students

Metric: Begin improvements as soon as they are supported by student enrollment increases.

• Improve study facilities, including
  
  • 24-hour access to TCC
    
  • Extended library hours
    
  • Additional library resources
    
  • Additional common space for students in department
  Metric: Extend library and TCC hours by Fall 1999.
  

• Build new student facilities, including:
  
  • SUB
    
  • Fitness center
    
  • Apartment-type residence halls
    
  • Permanent enclosure for the swimming pool
    

c. Increase extracurricular opportunities to encourage personal development and social bonding

Metric: New activities will be in place by Fall 1999.

• Increase involvement between students and faculty/staff
  

• Build upon success of SPLAT
  

• Encourage appropriate organizations (such as Student Association, Activities Director) to designate more funds for student clubs