NEWS RELEASE
For More Information
Contact:
Virginia Padilla
505-428-1506
Contact: Jill Janov
505-428-1776
For Immediate Release
SFCC and TVI Receive Federal Funds to Develop a Cooperative Distance-Education Plan
Santa Fe, NM, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004 - Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) will receive $643,906 in
federal education monies to develop a cooperative plan with Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) to
improve higher education opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students and for professionals who want to make
career changes or enhance their skills.
The partnership will expand access to programs through a state-of-the-art distance education network to be
called Colegio: A Virtual College for New Mexico.
"By cooperatively designing and supporting this system, we can greatly improve our mutual capacities to reach
rural Hispanic and low-income students, increase student opportunities for success and educational attainment, and
accomplish our common goals effectively and in the most cost-effective manner," said James N. McLaughlin, president
of SFCC.
SFCC and TVI share common student populations and are both Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) with nearly
50 percent of their student populations being Hispanic.
The new shared system of instructional delivery will address high-demand programs; provide students with
support anytime and anywhere; strengthen faculty and staff development in distance learning; and build the
technological infrastructure necessary to support distance learning.
"Through effective use of new distance-learning strategies and technologies, this funding will provide us with
an exciting opportunity to remove many of the existing barriers to student success," said Virginia Padilla, director of
the SFCC teacher education department and project director for the cooperative grant.
A Virtual College for New Mexico will allow SFCC to target professions experiencing shortages such as
teacher education, emergency medical services and nutrition. TVI is planning to offer programs in other health-related
careers such as pharmacy technician, surgical technician and health information technician.
(more)
Virtual College (page 2)
"The project will also develop online services to support student success and retention and will fund faculty and
staff training to effectively implement the strategies. The result will be an increase in the educational levels and
professional development opportunities," said Albert Reed, dean of the business and technologies division and director
of distance learning at Santa Fe Community College.
About Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College serves more than 14,500 students per year in its credit, noncredit and adult basic
education programs. The college contributes to the area's economic, technological and cultural development by offering
programs ranging from art to business management and directly addresses regional job shortages through its nursing,
teacher education and culinary arts programs. For further information, visit www.sfccnm.edu or call (505) 428-1000.
About TVI
With enrollment of about 23,000, TVI is the second largest postsecondary institution in New Mexico. Classes are
offered at the main campus near downtown Albuquerque and at campuses in the Northeast Heights, South Valley and
Rio Rancho. For general information about TVI enrollment or classes, call (505) 224-3160.
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