IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 04/04/06 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

Silver    City—Western New Mexico University professors Magdaleno Manzanarez and Manuel Bustamante were asked to make a presentation Feb.18 at the Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning Conference in Saint Paul, Minn. regarding assessing, learning and engagement of minority students. The presentation was an interactive workshop to explore approaches and to assess student learning and engagement of minority students from the perspective of different minority-serving institutions.

Manzanarez and Bustamante co-presented with representatives from Clark Atlantic University and Salish Kootenai College. The Clark Atlantic University presented from a historic black institution viewpoint, the Salish Kootenai College reported from a historic American Indian institution perspective and Western’s presentation was from a traditional Hispanic-serving institution standpoint. Professors Manzanarez and Bustamante compiled data for two to three years and utilized that information for the presentation. They were invited to make the presentation by the Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning.

Professor Bustamante stated, “Several people approached us with positive comments afterwards but they were also asking questions about how we accomplished certain things, in order to incorporate it at their respective Universities.”

Professors Manzanarez and Bustamante have a national reputation for expertise in areas such as the Building Engagement and Attainment of Minority Students Project and the American Democracy Project.

“ The purpose behind the BEAMS Project is to increase active and collaborative learning. Also the idea is to provide engaging activities for students to help retain them,” said Professor Manzanarez. “ We decided in the BEAMS committee that one way to facilitate that is to use the current technology that we have through Mustang Express, the WNMU portal, to achieve and enhance this communication between students and the faculty but also among the students themselves.”

Professors Manzanarez and Bustamante are creating another project called the Master Teacher Award. The BEAMS committee developed this award last year to help recognize outstanding faculty members that have had an impact on students, allowed for collaboration with others, enhanced students learning experience at Western. This will be an award given to a faculty member that is chosen by the students who they feel is deserving of the recognition.

            If you would like more information on the BEAMS Project or the American Democracy Project, visit the website at www.wnmu.edu/beams/.

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