Date:
3/16/2004
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) will sign a five-year agreement with school superintendents in Lea County on Thursday, March 18, for ENMU to offer courses in Hobbs leading to a master's degree in education.
Representatives from ENMU, including ENMU president Dr. Steven Gamble, and Lea County superintendents Stan Rounds of Hobbs, T. J. Parks of Tatum, Rick Ferguson of Jal, Jimmy Derrick of Lovington, and Dr. Steve McCleery, president of New Mexico Junior College, will be at the signing ceremony at 9 a.m. in the REC Building at 315 E. Clinton across from Will Rogers Elementary School in Hobbs.
The agreement will expand educational opportunities for school teachers in Lea County, particularly for those desiring to work on a master's degree in education. We are very excited about this agreement," said President Gamble. "The superintendents are committed to helping all of their teachers obtain master's degrees and other professional development opportunities.
We are pleased that they have invited us to offer programming which will enhance their teachers' professional credentials." New Mexico Junior College and Hobbs Municipal Schools will provide ENMU with classrooms for course experiences designed particularly for the needs of public school teachers. These will lead toward a master's of education degree in mutually agreed uponmajors/emphases.
ENMU will deliver the courses through a combination ofENMU professors being on-site in Hobbs, as well as over the Internet andthrough instructional TV to several sites. All degree requirements can becompleted without leaving the Hobbs area.Hobbs Municipal Schools will also work collaboratively with ENMU to develop an Institute to be offered each summer in Hobbs. The Institute will allow public school teachers to enhance their teaching credentials, including being able to teach advanced placement courses for high school students to earn college credit, as well as expand the teachers' professional growth opportunities.
ENMU personnel will be available in Hobbs on a regular schedule to advise teachers regarding admission requirements, degree requirements for beginners and transfers from other colleges, and to develop individual degree plans.
For more information, call ENMU's College of Education and Technology at 505.562.2443, or e-mail steven.russell@enmu.edu.