New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

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New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Image:nmtlogo.gif
Established: 1889
Type: Public
Endowment: $16.1 million [1]
President: Dr. Daniel H. López
Faculty: 150
Undergraduates: 1,336 (Fall 2006)
Postgraduates: 510 (Fall 2006)
Location: Socorro, New Mexico, USA
Campus: Rural, 320 acres (1.3 km²) central, 40 mi² (100 km²) adjoining
Focus: science and engineering
Colors: silver and gold
Website: www.nmt.edu

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (also called New Mexico Tech, Tech, The Tech, and originally known as the New Mexico School of Mines) is a research university located in Socorro, New Mexico, USA.

Renowned for its undergraduate and graduate educational opportunities[1], Tech offers over 30 bachelor of science degrees in mathematics, the sciences, engineering, management, and technical communication, as well as graduate degrees in areas of specialization through the doctoral level. It is widely considered one of the best small technical schools in the US for many areas of science, engineering, and computer science[1].

Contents

[edit] History

New Mexico Tech is a small research-oriented university focused on science, engineering and technology. Tech was founded by the Territorial Legislature in 1889 as the New Mexico School of Mines, in order to boost the state economy and train young mining engineers. During the 1930s, petroleum engineering also became an important field of study at the institute. In 1946, Tech began offering graduate degrees. The institute adopted its current name in 1951, but the change was not legally effective until 1960 when the name was changed by amendment of the New Mexico Constitution, Art.XII, Section 11.

[edit] Research and teaching

New Mexico Tech's notable areas of research and teaching include hydrology, astrophysics, atmospheric physics, geophysics, information technology, information security, Earth Science, energetic materials engineering, and petroleum recovery. The growth in federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security, often with the assistance of senior US Senator Pete Domenici, has turned the university into a major research center in this area (even going so far as to purchase the entire city of Playas, New Mexico, a former company town, as a research site). Because of its especially strong research programs, the school offers numerous scholarships and unique research opportunities for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels with a very low professor to student ratio of approximately one professor per twelve students.

In addition to its strong focus on science and technology, Tech has seen much recent growth in the humanities and social sciences. Minors are now available in history, Latin American studies, and philosophy, in addition to minors in science and engineering fields. The university's most recent NCA reaccreditation was in October of 2004.

New Mexico Tech's Joseph R. Skeen Library
New Mexico Tech's Joseph R. Skeen Library

[edit] Affiliated Science and Engineering Centers

In 2003 the university bought the town of Playas, New Mexico for use as a research and training facility for the university’s first responders and counter-terrorism programs.

[edit] Rankings

  • 2007 Ranked as an "America's Best Value College" by The Princeton Review
  • 2007 Ranked one of the nation’s best institutions for an undergraduate education by the Princeton Review
  • 2006 Ranked as one of Kiplinger's Top 100
  • 2005 Ranked #2 Best value in education by The Princeton Review
  • 2005 "Publisher's Pick" in Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine
  • 2005 Ranked among top western colleges by The Princeton Review
  • 2004 Ranked among top western colleges by The Princeton Review

[edit] NSA

The school is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE). This brings several major scholarships and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

[edit] School culture and student life

Primarily a science and engineering school, New Mexico Tech is widely considered to be somewhat of a nerd or geek college. While not every student fits in this blanket characterization, many do. Tech hosts an annual Performing Arts Series that is free to students, and, along with the broader Socorro community, city, and county, support a great number of special events each year. New Mexico Tech is located approximately an hour south of Albuquerque in a region of high deserts to subalpine mountains that offers considerable outdoor recreation opportunities, including rock climbing, road and mountain biking, a triathlon, and hiking opportunities. [3] [4] Tech also hosts numerous active student clubs and a monthly student newspaper, Paydirt. The campus also includes an 18-hole championship golf course.

The campus population has historically been predominantly male, but has moved increasing towards a balance[5], with women now equal with men in most majors. However, the most recent class of 2011 has reformed to the old man-woman ratio of about 5:1.

The economic vitality of Socorro, New Mexico has increased in recent years, allowing for more Tech graduates to live in the vicinity of the city. As a result, an increasing proportion of the population is composed of NMT graduates.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Carey, John A. (Feb. 2003) "New Mexico Tech One of State's Best Assets" New Mexico Business Journal 27:2 pp48-49
  2. ^ Aster, R., Beaudoin, B., Hole, J., Fouch, M., Fowler, J., James, D., and the PASSCAL Staff and Standing Committee, IRIS PASSCAL program marks 20 years of scientific discovery, EOS trans. AGU, 86, 26 April, 2005.
  3. ^ Recreation in Socorro Socorro Public Library
  4. ^ "Outdoor Recreation in Socorro County" New Mexico Tech Earth and Environmental Science Department
  5. ^ New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (2005) NM Tech 2004 Affirmative Action Report New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM;

[edit] External links


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