Let me first introduce myself.  My name is David Johnson and I am Dean of Graduate Studies at New Mexico Tech.  Another part of my life is spent as a member of the faculty in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science.  New Mexico Tech is a small school with a solid reputation in the sciences and engineering; a school which offers direct, personal contact with student colleagues, faculty and administrators.  We may not have the bright lights of the big city, but we have something I regard as more important - a sense of  community.

We are delighted that you have decided to undertake your graduate studies at Tech.  Perhaps the most important, single piece of information that I might communicate to you is that I encourage you to come by for a visit, particularly if you have any questions about graduate study at Tech that are unanswered.  If you just drop in (and you are welcome to do so), you may find that I am engaged with other matters.  If so, I encourage you to make an appointment with Debbie Wallace .   If you would like to be assured that I will be able to devote my attention to you when you come by, email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), or phone Debbie (835-5513) in advance.

I serve three constituencies: graduate students, graduate degree granting departments and the Faculty Senate.  My overriding goal, and that of the Graduate Office,  is to make your educational experience at Tech productive, pleasant and (ultimately) profitable.  I believe that the guidelines provided by your department and by the Graduate Studies program are designed to help us meet this goal.  While you should expect your advisor and committee to keep you up to date on requirements, it is in your best interest to know these or, at the very least, to know where to go to find out about them when you need to know.  I'd be happy to serve that function, but there are other resources available.  

Your best resource, and the final authority on graduate requirements, is the New Mexico Tech Catalog.  Particularly appropriate are the portions of the catalog that deal with Graduate Program Policies.  These sections include information on degree requirements; what course loads are required and what grades you must earn to maintain satisfactory academic progress; how and when to form your advisory committee, submit a list of courses required for your degree; what to do if you must interrupt your studies; thesis and independent study requirements; time limits; and if all else fails what you might do to appeal decisions that are not in your favor.

While the basic rules are in the NMT Catalog, much more information regarding how these rules are implemented, along with policies not covered in the catalog, can be found in the online Graduate Student Handbook.  

While at Tech, consider participation in the NMT Graduate Student Association.  In recent years, the GSA has become a vital member of the graduate community.  Besides a few social activities, the Association funds graduate student travel and other awards; sponsors speakers, performances, workshops; and lobbies (usually successfully) for graduate student benefits.  One of the very valuable activities of the group is the Graduate Student Association web pages  which include everything from helpful tax information to a survival guide for new students.

We hope that your stay at Tech is an enjoyable one.  In the meantime, spend some time 'surfing' the Graduate Program web pages - now and later.  We have worked hard to make this a resource of value to you during your stay at Tech.  And come by for a visit.  Everyone else does.

D. Johnson