New Mexico voters will soon decide on a significant investment in higher education, including renovations for The University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Pharmacy. This year's general election ballot includes a series of General Obligation (GO) Bonds, with Higher Education GO Bond-3 proposing to release $230 million to institutions across the state.
If approved, $35 million from GO Bond-3 will be allocated to renovate the UNM College of Pharmacy building, which has been in use for over 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," said Donald Godwin, PhD, Dean of UNM College of Pharmacy.
The renovation aims to consolidate the College's operations from eight buildings into three, fostering new connections and collaboration among students, faculty, and staff. Phase-I will focus on creating modern learning spaces and collaborative environments.
Key aspects of the renovation include emphasizing a welcoming atmosphere and enhancing energy efficiency with a new high-performance facade. Biophilic design strategies will also be used to connect the interior spaces with nature. The updated building will feature reliable HVAC systems, updated networks, and enhanced communication systems.
Currently, the College’s building is the most expensive for UNM to operate per square foot. The planned energy-efficient systems are expected to reduce operating costs typically covered by public funds.
Godwin highlighted the importance of this investment: “The College of Pharmacy possesses a proud legacy as the primary provider of pharmacy professionals to New Mexico. 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 practicing in rural and underserved areas.”
The College has pioneered new models in patient care and expanded roles for pharmacists through advanced practice pharmacy initiatives like pharmacist clinicians and independent prescriptive authority. Faculty at the College conduct research that addresses significant health issues locally and globally. In FY24 alone, extramural research funding exceeded $21 million—a 191% increase over seven years.
GO Bonds appear on New Mexico ballots every two years as a method for funding infrastructure projects statewide. Their economic impact is estimated in hundreds of millions of dollars through new spending and job creation across New Mexico.
Other UNM projects benefiting from 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
Further details about Higher Education GO Bond-3 can be found at https://bonds.unm.edu/
