BELONG, a strategic planning effort to support health professions expansion, launches at UNM

As New Mexico confronts a well-documented shortage of health care providers - compounded by an aging population - the need to expand the health care professions has never been more urgent. Preparing more physicians, nurses and allied health professions begins with a strong educational foundation.

To help meet this challenge, The University of New Mexico is building a unified response.

Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Rodríguez has launched a task force to ensure that UNM is strategically positioned to support student enrollment and strengthen pathways for students pursuing careers in health care.

The initiative, BELONG - Building Environments for Learning, Opportunity, Navigation and Growth - is a comprehensive, strategic enrollment and academic planning effort focused on health professions enrollment growth as well as its impact on undergraduate education, student support systems, academic resources and institutional capacity.

"Addressing New Mexico's health provider shortage - and preparing for the demand for care in the years ahead - is a clear priority at UNM," Rodríguez said. "Through BELONG, we are strengthening the academic pathways, student support structures and institutional capacity needed to support students pursuing careers in health professions. At the same time, this work builds upon - rather than diverts from - our broader academic mission."

She emphasizes that this effort encompasses far more than just health-related areas.

"Every discipline at UNM plays a vital role in educating the workforce and serving our communities, and a strong health sector depends on excellence across the arts, humanities and sciences," she said. "BELONG is about aligning our strengths to meet an urgent statewide need while continuing to advance the full breadth of UNM's academic enterprise."

BELONG brings together leadership from the Albuquerque campus, including the Health Sciences Center, and UNM's branch campuses in Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos and Valencia County.

The task force will:

• assess current and projected enrollment
• evaluate institutional capacity and resource needs
• identify impacts on undergraduate programs and student support systems
• develop actionable strategies with defined timelines, responsibilities and measurable outcomes
• recommend sustainable approaches to enrollment growth that advance student success.

The task force is co-chaired by Pamela Cheek, vice provost for student success, and Jennifer Love, chief of staff for the Office of Academic Affairs, in collaboration with national higher education partner Encoura.

The task launched in February and will present a summary of its findings by Oct. 31, 2026.