SANTA FE – The New Mexico Higher Education Department has wrapped up its annual capital outlay hearings on campuses across the state, where agency leaders solicit information from college and university representatives about high-priority infrastructure projects that will benefit students throughout New Mexico in the years to come.
Following the hearings, the department will recommend capital projects to both the executive and legislative branches for funding consideration, based on data and materials provided by campus leaders.
As part of these capital outlay discussions, Higher Education Department leadership toured several university facilities, including New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico Junior College, Eastern New Mexico University and the Alamogordo branch campus of New Mexico State University.
“We are laser-focused on bringing every campus facility across New Mexico into the 21st century,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez. “The work we do every year to analyze specific projects ultimately enhances student outcomes and ensures that public dollars are invested with intention and care at the state’s colleges and universities.”
Over the past two weeks, the agency hosted hearings at five campuses across different regions of the state where nearly three dozen universities, colleges, tribal institutions, branch campuses and community colleges presented to the five-member Capital Outlay Committee of the Higher Education Department and department leadership.
Last fall, the Higher Education Department recommended $307 million in campus infrastructure projects to the Department of Finance and Administration and the Legislative Finance Committee. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ultimately approved $325 million in capital outlay projects as part of the annual state budget enacted this spring.
In addition to presentations on capital infrastructure projects, college and university officials across the board reported that enrollment throughout New Mexico continues to increase or stabilize in the post-pandemic period as a result of the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship.
These statements underscore the findings of a recent national analysis showing New Mexico’s college enrollment continues to outperform the national average, as enrollment rates decline or stagnate in most other states, many of which have struggled with recent glitches reported in FAFSA processing.
The agency’s Capital Outlay Committee is made up of Chairman Luis Campos; Chief Financial Officer Gerald Hoehne; Joe Brown, capital projects analyst; Department of Finance and Administration Capital Outlay Bureau Chief Wesley Billingsley; Energy Technology and Engineering Bureau Chief Harold Trujillo of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department; and Cally Carlswell of the Legislative Finance Committee.
“Our New Mexico colleges and universities have had a prolonged facilities crisis,” said Campos, the Capital Outlay Committee chairman. “After many years of growth and expansion, campus leaders are struggling to care for and maintain their spaces properly. These hearings are crucial to prioritize stewardship and capital planning of our state facilities so that we can provide insight and recommendations to decision-makers in Santa Fe on the value of the potential capital projects.”
Over two weeks of on-campus hearings, the department met with representatives of the following institutions: the University of New Mexico and its branch campuses; New Mexico Highlands University; Santa Fe Community College; San Juan College; Northern New Mexico College; Luna Community College; New Mexico School for the Deaf; Central New Mexico Community College; New Mexico Tech; Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute; Diné College; Navajo Technical University; the Institute of American Indian Arts; New Mexico State University; the NMSU branch campuses in Grants and Alamogordo; Southeast New Mexico College; New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Western New Mexico University; New Mexico Junior College; Eastern New Mexico University; the ENMU branch campuses in Roswell and Ruidoso; Clovis Community College; Mesalands Community College; and the New Mexico Military Institute.