UNM-Taos Report: Spring semester on tap; openings in jobs-related programs

Believe it or not, the spring semester at University of New Mexico-Taos (UNM-Taos) is just a few days away. Jan. 17 is the first day of classes.

More than 700 students have already enrolled, but there are still openings in many courses. If you are interested in an academic degree, a career path or just want to explore a class or two for the pleasure of learning, now’s the time to make it happen. You can start the process by calling student services at (575) 737-6215 or taking a drive to Padre Martinez Hall on Klauer Campus, located on County Road 110 in Ranchos de Taos.

Victoria Gonzales, area coordinator for business and professional skills, says that there are plenty of openings in jobs-related programs for people who want to either improve their skills or develop a new skill. These courses include everything from hospitality and culinary arts to construction, business computing, woodworking and more.

Take the commercial driver license (CDL) program as an example. If you can commit to 16 weekends of instruction and on-the-job training, your CDL could be the ignition key that starts a lucrative career in trucking. CDL instructor Max Kaufman, a 20-plus-year veteran driver, administrator and instructor, says that average income for drivers is in the mid-$40,000 range nationwide — and several of his graduates are pulling down $1,500 a week. Seasoned professionals in the oil fields can make six figures, he says.

“I’ve carried the same CDL in four different states now,” Kaufman said. “As long as you have a current CDL with no suspensions or other negating conditions, it stays. I consider it an insurance policy that can last a lifetime. You can make the initial investment in time and money back pretty quickly.”

Kaufman added that the CDL adds value to the individual. “One of the things that we are finding is that a third of the people who go through the class may not drive a truck, but it was the determining factor in getting a job anyway — as a mechanic or running cable or other construction work because it’s value added. It’s a prerequisite for a lot of positions in the county and the city. Having your CDL is just another feather in your cap,” he said.

CDL graduates from UNM-Taos have worked just about anywhere trucks are being used, Kaufman said.

“At Waste Management, the [North-Central] Regional Transit District, the Ski Valley, Taos Gravel, Vigil’s, Medina’s, Silva’s —the American Trucking Association says that on any given day, 50,000 trucks sit idle around the country because they don’t have drivers,” he said. “The other advantage, which I think is very important, is that being licensed builds a person’s confidence. They’ve achieved an objective and accomplished something that maybe they thought was beyond their ability. It can make a significant positive impact on their lives because they’ve proved something to themselves. And small victories add up.”

UNM-Taos is in the business of helping people achieve success through education. Don’t let another semester pass you by. Give us a call or come see us today.

Knief is communications director for UNM-Taos.