UNM-Los Alamos Policies
Academic Policies
The policies described below are supplemental to the information found in every Course Syllabus. These are standard policies that students are encouraged to review at the beginning of each semester.
Technical Needs
Computer Requirements
Many courses at UNM-LA require the frequent use of a computer. This is particularly true of web-enhanced, hybrid and online courses. For these courses, you must have access to a computer and to the internet, and you will need to be familiar with the use of a browser such as Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox. Access to a broadband (high speed) internet network, such as DSL, cable, wireless, or satellite, is strongly recommended because some of the assignments may involve audio and video clips. You can access a broadband network at many libraries and on campus.
From the UNM-LA campus, you can access the internet from public computers, from computers in computer labs, and from computers in the library. To log into computers on campus, simply use your UNM Net ID and password. If you wish to use your own computer on campus, you can connect to one of the UNM-LA Wireless networks. See here for instructions for accessing these.
In web-enhanced, hybrid and online courses, some minimum hardware and software are required in order to complete the course. A list of software that is required for Canvas can be found here and in your online classroom. You can also contact your professor directly; they can also supply you with a list of course-specific software that you will need in your course. Some software is available to download for free from UNM here.
Canvas can be accessed on a desktop computer, laptop computer or mobile device. Please keep in mind that mobile browsers are not supported in Canvas, and many course features may not function as expected (i.e. Kaltura; Respondus Lock Down Browser). You can also find more information about the Canvas mobile app here. See the document available here for more information about the Canvas mobile app functionality. UNM Canvas support does offer some minimal support for the mobile app (canvas@unm.edu). Please keep in mind that UNM-LA IT and/or instructors may not be familiar with the Canvas student app and will not be able to assist you if you have questions about its use.
UNM-LA Computer Account Policy
You are required to have a UNM campus account (NetID). You will use this account to register for classes through MyUNM. This account is also used to read and send e-mail (the UNM email address looks like NetID@unm.edu), print transcripts, check financial status, and check degree progress.
You are required to check your UNM email (LoboMail) periodically, because this is the main communication method used by the university. You may forward your LoboMail to another email address; however, this is not encouraged by UNM and not supported by UNM IT personnel. Click for more information.
You can access your email via MyUNM by clicking on the “MyUNM” at the top of the UNM–Los Alamos web page or the Main Campus web page, or by typing in the web address https://my.unm.edu. Just to the left of the Login button for MyUNM are icon buttons to access Lobomail and Canvas. You must then log in using your NetID and password. Secondary authentication may also be required.
You should be aware of the computer use policies as they affect your education at UNM-LA. See our Computer Use Policy links on this page.
Computer Support and Resources
Student Support
UNM-Los Alamos offers support for students enrolled in classes using Canvas and online publisher sites. This includes help accessing and navigating sites such as Pearson Mastering, MyLab, Wiley platforms, etc. Please contact Kevin Rosenberger at rosenbergerkm@unm.edu.
Technical Support
If you are having computer or software problems, you can contact free UNM and UNM-LA technical support in one of the following ways:
- UNM IT Computer Support: 505-277-5757. See here for hours of operation.
- Canvas Technical Support: call 505-277-0857, option 2, or Toll-Free: 1-877-688-8817; email canvas@unm.edu , or click on “Help” in the Global Navigation menu after logging into Canvas
- UNM Canvas Information Website
- Canvas Student Guides
- UNM FastInfo (UNM searchable knowledge base)
- UNM-LA IT support
Training and Help for Canvas
Canvas provides a Student Resource Course to help you to get acquainted with Canvas. This course may be available in the course orientation of your online course. If it is not available there, please access the Canvas Resource Course or visit this page to find other Canvas training resources for students.
Academic Support
Academic Support
Questions related to course organization, course setup, or course content should be directed to your instructor.
UNM CTL
The UNM Center for Teaching & Learning is available to all UNM students and provides many online services, including the Online Learning Center and free online peer tutoring for many courses.
Libraries
The UNM-LA Library webpage contains information about library holdings and services and electronic resources available in the UNM-LA Library.
You can access many electronic resources, including books and journals, through the UNM Main Campus Libraries.
Student Services
Student Services is a central hub of information for prospective, current, and former students to find assistance and answers to questions about admissions, academic advising, registration, financial aid, and other resources on campus.
UNM and UNM-LA Policies
Assessment
UNM-Los Alamos conducts ongoing assessments of student learning so that we can continue to improve the curriculum to give students the best education possible. The data collected for this assessment will be selected by the instructor or the department and may come from exams, projects, or other assignments. The assessment will focus on the learning outcomes in this syllabus (listed above). The data from this assessment will be collected and reported anonymously. Data summaries will be reported to the department, to the Office of Instruction, and posted on the web. The information collected will be used to make improvements to curriculum and teaching. This assessment is not a reflection of your grade and is not a grading exercise; it is simply an evaluation of how well students are mastering certain skills.
Drop Policy
If you decide to drop this class, it is your responsibility to do so; you should be aware of University-wide posted deadlines for tuition refunds and mandatory assignment of grades. You should not assume that I will drop you before a deadline if you simply stop attending class.
Dropping a course may affect your financial aid status and/or tuition refund. A drop will result in a grade of “W.” If you do not officially drop the class, you will receive the grade earned based on the syllabus grading criteria, which may be an “F.”
Students’ Online Classroom Participation May Be Monitored
Online learning environments provide tools for instructors to monitor students’ participation and use of the environment. In addition to seeing all of the work that you submit online, I have access to records of when you logged in and what course materials you opened and submitted during each session. This data is made available to me to enable evaluation of class participation and to help me identify students having difficulties using the online environment.
Course Evaluations
You will be requested to participate in a course evaluation near the end of the course. UNM-LA requests that all students participate, because the information they provide is helpful in improving courses for future students.
Citizenship and/or Immigration Status:
All students are welcome in this class regardless of citizenship, residency, or immigration status. Your professor will respect your privacy if you choose to disclose your status. As for all students in the class, family emergency-related absences are normally excused with reasonable notice to the professor, as noted in the attendance guidelines above. UNM as an institution has made a core commitment to the success of all our students, including members of our undocumented community. Learn more at Campus Climate.
Sexual Misconduct Policy
In an effort to meet obligations under Title IX, UNM faculty, Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Assistants are considered “responsible employees” by the Department of Education. This designation requires that any report of gender discrimination which includes sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence made to a faculty member, TA, or GA must be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at the Office of Equal Opportunity (oeo.unm.edu). For more information on the campus policy regarding sexual misconduct, see here.
Other Policies – Student Handbook
UNM-LA follows the UNM policies as stated in the Pathfinder – Student Handbook, which can be found here.
Inclement Weather Policy
Students, faculty and staff are not expected to take unnecessary risks with their personal safety. However, it is the policy of UNM-Los Alamos to remain open and conduct classes in all types of weather, unless appropriate authorities have prohibited travel. For additional information, please refer to UNM Inclement Weather Policy #3435.
On days when there is bad weather, please listen to local radio and television stations for information about UNM-LA. If you do not hear an announcement specifically referring to UNM-LA, then the campus is open and operating on a regular schedule. A delay means that classes scheduled before the late campus opening are CANCELED (For example, if a two-hour delay is announced, then classes scheduled to start before 10:00 a.m. are canceled. Classes that begin at or after 10:00 a.m. are on the regular schedule).
Campus delays and/or closings will be announced on the following radio and television stations:
Television
- KOB-TV 4
- KOAT-TV 7
- KRQE-TV 13
- KASA-TV 2
Radio
- KRSN-AM 1490
- KDCE-AM 950
- KKOB-AM 770 and KKOB-FM 93.3
- KKSS-FM 97.3
A message will also be recorded on the UNM-LA phone system indicating delayed classes or campus closure. Please call 800-894-5919 or 505-662-5919 for inclement weather information.
Faculty members who cannot meet their regularly scheduled classes should call the Office of Instruction and ask that staff notify their students as early as possible of a delay or cancellation for a specific class. Faculty members should also make arrangements to reschedule any canceled classes. Students should inform their instructors if they are unable to make it to class due to inclement weather.
UNM-LA Employees: According to UNM policy, time off due to the announced delay or closure will be reported as paid administrative leave and shall not be considered as time worked for overtime compensation purposes. When an employee misses additional work time beyond the time indicated for the delay to end or because he or she needs to leave early even when the University is not closed, the employee must:
- make up the time missed under suitable conditions approved by the supervisor, if operational needs permit (up to two [2] hours);
- take annual leave; or
- take leave without pay.
(Please refer to UNM Inclement Weather Policy #3435 for more specific details).
Parking Policy
Although UNM-Los Alamos does not have an official parking policy, students, staff and faculty are asked to follow correct parking procedures. Parking at UNM-Los Alamos is available at two primary parking lots located on the campus grounds. The smaller but more accessible lot is immediately east of the main administration building; a larger lot is located behind and west of the campus. Both parking lots are accessible via University Drive (off of Diamond Drive) or 40th Street (off of Sandia Drive). In the rare event that there are no parking spaces available in either of the two campus lots, additional spaces are located adjacent to Sullivan Field.
Handicapped parking is located on the cul-de-sac due north of the campus at the end of 40th Street and in front of the Learning Center. All of the facilities at UNM-Los Alamos and most of the facilities at the Los Alamos High School are accessible to disabled persons.