CAPS History
The University of New Mexico Center for Academic Program Support (CAPS) opened in August 1979 as the Skills Center. An academic support unit, it served students enrolled in developmental courses (English, Math, Social Science, and Natural Science 100) at UNM. The first year it served 350 students. Between 1979 and 1985, the Center expanded to serve students enrolled in all undergraduate courses numbered 100-499-math, sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and business. During the academic year 1985-86, the University changed the program's name from Skills Center to Center for Academic Program Support to better reflect the Center's growing mission.
When the Skills Center began in 1979, it was administratively connected to both the University Libraries and the Office of the Provost. Today, although located in Zimmerman Library, CAPS has no administrative ties to the University Libraries and reports directly to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. The Center receives funding from the Office of the Provost (75%) and the Student Fee Review Board (25%). The Center employs approximately 70-80 students as peer tutors, Supplemental Instruction (SI) leaders, Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) leaders, and support staff each semester. The College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certifies CAPS tutor training program. It was one of the first eleven programs to receive certification through this Association in 1989.
The Center continuously expands and alters its services to better meet the needs of UNM's undergraduate population. In 1989-90, CAPS developed Learning Support Services (LSS), a program for students with learning disabilities. This program has since left CAPS, joining another UNM program to form Accessibility Services. In 1998-99, with a grant from PNM Foundation and PNM Corporation, CAPS began to create and expand online services. In 2002, CAPS began CAPS-Across-Campus-tutoring not only in Zimmerman and Centennial Libraries, but also in the University dormitories and classrooms.
Since 1991, CAPS has served over 3700 individual students per academic year for over 20,000 contact hours per year.
| Academic Year | Courses Supported and Services Added | Students Served |
|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | University Skills courses: English, Math, Social Science, and Natural Science 100 | 350 |
| 1980-81 | Funded through Academic Affairs; administratively a part of the General Library; added Math 120 and 121 | 750 |
| 1981-82 | Added English 101 and 102, and Math 123, 150, 162, 163, 180, and 181 | 1900 |
| 1985-86 | Began tutoring all courses 100-499 and selected 500 level statistics courses | - |
| 1989-90 | Added a new service: Learning Support Services for students with learning disabilities | - |
| 1991-92 | Calculus lab services moved to Centennial Science and Engineering Library | - |
| 1993-94 | Educational Diagnosticians transferred from University College to CAPS / Learning Support Services | - |
| 1995-96 | Networked the Computerized Scheduling System | 3700 |
| 1996-97 | Added new programs: Success Strategies, Math Strategies, and Library Strategies | 3800 |
| 1998-99 | Formal opening of PNM Computer Room | 3700 |
| 1999-00 | Initiated online services | 3800 |
| 2000-01 | Learning Support Services transferred to Accessibility Services; added Supplemental Instruction Program | 3700 |
| 2002-03 | Added Smarthinking, an online tutoring service; began tutoring in the dormitories in the evening | 3600 |
| 2003-04 | CAPS reports directly to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, all administrative ties with the General Library end; Tutor-trac becomes new computerized scheduling and reporting system; Calculus lab returned to Zimmerman Library 3rd floor | 3700 |
| 2004-05 | Expanded Supplemental Instruction | 4160 |
| 2005-06 | Received additional funding to create a university-wide Supplemental Instruction program; supported the UNM BA/MD Program; added the SUB as a new tutoring location. | 3870 |
| 2006-07 | Expanded tutoring services to include drop-in labs at Mesa Vista Hall; Received part of UNM's Title V grant to expand Supplemental Instruction. | 3239 |
| 2007-08 | Expanded writing center to include serving graduate students; procured CAPS-specific room in Humanities for Supplemental Instruction and workshops; piloted online tutoring for a distance learning course in math. | 4445 |
