New Mexico has an opportunity to invest in The University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, other UNM capital projects, and several other higher education institutions across the state.
During this year’s general election, voters will be asked to approve a series of General Obligation (GO) Bonds, including Higher Education GO Bond-3. Passage of GO Bond-3 will release $230 million to higher education institutions around the state.
If passed, the UNM College of Pharmacy is earmarked to use $35 million of the bond for long overdue renovations to the building it’s been using for than five decades.
While the building has served us well over the years, our 50-year-old building needs a full-scale renovation to move forward as the home of an outstanding and dynamic College of Pharmacy.
With the renovation, the College will be able to consolidate from eight buildings down to three allowing new connections and collaboration amongst students, faculty, and staff.
Phase-I of the renovation will create modern learning spaces, collaborative environments for students, faculty, and staff, and a welcoming atmosphere that embodies the heart of the College.
Key drivers of the renovation will be:
- Emphasizing a welcome and open atmosphere. The design of the updated building will enhance the longevity of the building and bolster the pharmacy program’s strong identity.
- A new high-performance facade will increase energy efficiency, offer access to natural daylight, and support healthy interior spaces while also offering a “wow-factor” that speaks to the future of the College and the innovative research and education happening within.
- Utilizing biophilic design strategies, the building will offer a strong connection to landscape and supporting our human need to connect with nature, establishing the facility as a healthy environment for learning and working.
- Equipped with reliable HVAC, updated networks, and enhanced communication systems, the building will be a vibrant, multi-functional destination complete with multi-purpose classrooms and collaborative areas for both students and faculty alike, fostering a sense of community and connection to the greater UNM campus.
Currently, the College’s building is the most expensive for UNM to operate per square foot. The renovation will create energy efficient systems reducing operating costs, generally paid by public funds.
An investment in the building this November is a direct investment towards the future of pharmacy education and the health of New Mexico.
“The College of Pharmacy possess a proud legacy as the primary provider of pharmacy professionals to New Mexico,” Godwin said. “We are the state's only College of Pharmacy and UNM's oldest health professional school. I’m proud to say, 81% of practicing pharmacists in New Mexico are graduates of our program – many of them practicing in rural and otherwise underserved areas of the state – advancing the profession and supporting our students.”
The College has been a leader in developing new models of patient care and new roles for pharmacists. It’s the birthplace of advanced practice pharmacy and the expanding role of pharmacists in new models of patient care via pharmacist clinicians and independent prescriptive authority. The College partners with colleagues across the health care spectrum to provide innovative practice sites in telemedicine, HIV, transgender medicine, hepatitis C, comprehensive medication management, as well as direct patient care in cardiology, nephrology, gender affirming care, pulmonary, ambulatory care, substance use disorder, neurology, pediatrics, hospice, and geriatrics.
“Our faculty conducts cutting-edge research in basic, clinical and translational science, answering important questions to improve the health of New Mexicans and people around the world,” Godwin said. “Our research enterprise has achieved – and sustained – impressive growth. Extramural research funding at the College exceeded $21 million in FY24, representing an increase of 191% just over the last seven years. This innovative enterprise provides incredible opportunities for both pharmacy and graduate students to learn the art of scientific inquiry and discovery from some of the best scientific minds in the nation.”
More about GO Bonds in general
GO Bonds come before New Mexico voters every two years. They are a proven and accepted method of funding bricks and mortar projects throughout the state. The economic impact of GO Bond is estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars, providing new spending and jobs across New Mexico. Other UNM projects that would benefit from a passage of this year’s bond include:
- Humanities & Social Sciences Complex $52 million
- Gallup Gurley Hall Renovations $4 million
- Taos Science & Space Education $1.5 million
- Los Alamos Student Services & Success Renovation $1 million
- Valencia Nursing & Health Sciences Phase-1 $1 million