Students can now get a master of fine arts in creative writing.
The MFA degree is considered professional and requires more rigorous work from students than the master of arts.
UNM's Board of Regents voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the degree that will replace the MA program in creative writing.
During the Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting, Scott Sanders, chair of the English Department, said since 1990 the department has hired four tenure-track professors to support the program.
"It's one of the hallmarks of a distinguished university to have a creative writing program," Regent Doug Brown said.
The board also approved all recommendations brought to the meeting from the regents' three standing committees.
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UNM graduate Frank Williams spoke up during the public input session at the Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting.
He expressed concern about strip club advertisements in the Daily Lobo, explicit content during KUNM's daytime programming and the sculpture in the Cornell Mall.
Provost Brian Foster presented a newsletter stating UNM is No. 1 in minority population with a 41 percent minority enrollment.
"We were literally off the chart in the graphic," he said.
On another chart that takes into consideration the state's minority population, UNM only ranks No. 7, Foster said.
Although UNM is attracting students from all areas of the state, Terry Babbitt, director of Recruitment Services, said southeastern New Mexico is a concern.
"They (Clovis) graduate 400 seniors and we only get six," he said. "That is something we really want to turn around."
Babbit said eliminating the Bridge to Success Scholarship and instead giving the Lottery Success Scholarship to freshmen immediately would affect about 100 people. He said freshmen have high enough GPAs to sustain the lottery scholarship through their first semester.
The Health Sciences Center Committee met earlier in the day and approved appointments and reappointments to the medical staff.
There was no public input at the Board of Regents meeting.
Regents President Jamie Koch said he was concerned about the process to get into UNM's medical school. He said he didn't understand why the admittance numbers at the medical school fluctuate if there is such a long waiting list. If people decide to not continue with the program, he said people on the waiting list should be contacted.
The Board of Regents meet the second Tuesday of every month. Meetings are open to the public and meeting agendas are available 24 hours in advance.
