Education

By Jesse Gallegos
Luna Community College

A group of SMET students recently attended The New Mexico Alliance of Minority Participation 2011 Student Research Conference from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

Felipe Garcia presented on his research of a mechanized green chile destemming machine. Garcia attended a Summer Community College Opportunity Research Experience  program at NMSU this past summer,  where he performed the research for the green chile destemming machine.

From The Associated Press

UNM grad rate has gone up
ALBUQUERQUE — The University of New Mexico is crediting an increase in its graduation rates to its decision to hire more student advisers.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that the university’s six-year graduation rates rose about a half percent this year and 1.5 percent in 2010.

Still, the university’s new 45.1 percent six-year graduation rate for full-time students remains well below the national six-year average of 55.1 percent.

From The Associated Press

Protesters demand more
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Hundreds of teachers, farmers and union members have gathered outside the Dominican Republic’s Congress to demand the government spend more on public education.

They want the government to allocate 4 percent of the Caribbean nation’s gross domestic product to education as required by law. The 2012 proposed budget allocates a little less than 2.5 percent.