In Fall 2025, the University of New Mexico is launching a new way to share the stories behind its digital innovation efforts. The Digital Mesa, an inaugural newsletter created by UNM Academic Technologies, UNM Online, and the Institute of Design and Innovation (IDI), highlights the people, projects, and ideas shaping how teaching, learning, and technology intersect across the University.

Each year, the University of New Mexico's Faculty Senate Teaching Enhancement Committee honors a faculty member who exemplifies outstanding teaching in distance education, recognizing excellence in online pedagogy, student engagement, and inclusive course design. The Online Teacher of the Year Award recognizes instructors who not only master the art of online teaching but also center their students in every decision they make, from course design to community building.

No one starts a college degree thinking that they won’t finish it. Things just happen sometimes and before you know it three, four, or more years have passed, and you just don’t know how to get back on track and finish your degree.

Since the 2018-2019 academic year, the Faculty Senate Teaching Enhancement Committee has given a deserving faculty member the Online Teacher of the Year award. This award acknowledges excellence in the challenging teaching and learning arena of online education.

Curanderismo, a term describing the practice of curanderas and curanderos, is also the subject of one of the more popular courses available through The University of New Mexico.