by Aidan Turowski
Daily Lobo
Over the past 25 years, Peter White has made it a point to get to know his 5,000 students.
"So I tend to understand the student's perspective, because I hear it directly from them," he said.
In December, White was named Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate for his contributions to the freshman community.
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The award is sponsored by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and the Houghton Mifflin Company.
White, who is the dean of University College, came to UNM in 1977 as an assistant professor in English and American Studies. White became the dean of University College in 2001.
"I'm really pleased about the recognition," White said. "I really want to acknowledge the work of the faculty and the student affairs personnel who taught in the freshman programs that we've had for the last five years."
Former UNM President Louis Caldera nominated White for the award.
Caldera would not comment on White's nomination, but his senior adviser Breda Bova released a statement on his behalf.
"We're very proud and grateful for all that he's done at UNM," she said.
Bova said one reason Caldera nominated White for the award is because the retention rate of UNM freshman went up in 2005.
About 76 percent of freshman enrolled in 2004 returned in 2005, which was about 1 percent more than the previous year. This number met one of Caldera's goals stated the previous year.
Bova credits White and his programs for meeting the goal.
"He's the perfect recipient for all he's done in terms of freshman retention," she said.
In 2002 White, along with several colleagues, initiated Freshman Academic Choices, a series of programs aimed at first-year students who focus on specific majors.
White said about 80 percent of the freshman class is enrolled in the programs.
White has also instituted the Freshman Living and Learning Communities, a program that allows students with similar majors to share classes and live in the same residence hall.
Freshman Brandon Smith, a music composition and theory major, said participating in the Living and Learning Communities has been a great experience. He said some of his other roommates were guitar players, so they could get together and play music.
"There's only so much you can do inside a class, especially with music," he said. "It's really hard to fully understand that unless you put it into practice."
White said he is working on another program for freshman students called Research Service Learning. The program will encourage the students to be active members in the community.
"I think they will see how to apply what they're learning in the classroom and how to make a difference in people's lives," he said.
White said he wants to have about six classes ready by fall 2006, with at least 25 students in each class.
White was chosen out of 127 educators recognized for their impact on first-year students. He will be given the award later this month in Atlanta.
