About Southeast New Mexico College

Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) is the oldest and newest community college in New Mexico.  SENMC was founded in 1950 as the Carlsbad Instructional Center, the state’s first two-year college.  Ten years later, the Center became a branch campus of New Mexico State University.  For the next sixty years much remained the same, until the community, in an amazing display of hometown support, expended the political capital necessary to wrest the campus away from the university.  SENMC was established as an independent college effective July 1, 2021, with the transfer of all functions, personnel, property, contracts, and references in law taking effect on April 10, 2022.  SENMC is in Eddy County, which has been ranked as the first or second highest producing oil and gas county in New Mexico for years.  Recently, due to a boom in the Permian Basin, the county has been one of the top producers in the United States.  Other unique industries in the area include the U.S. Department of Energy Waste Isolation Pilot Plant that accepts low-level radioactive waste from across the country, offices for two national laboratories—Los Alamos and Sandia—in Carlsbad, and two National Parks—Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains—within an hour’s drive.  SENMC is the only higher education provider in the area.  The community is deeply invested in the college and the college in the community.

SENMC Education

SENMC offers a variety of quality educational opportunities. The college is the Eddy County provider of Adult Education (AE) services. The college offers developmental studies designed to provide students with basic skills needed to achieve academic success. Certificate programs of 30 to 36 credit hours are designed to provide the students with marketable and employable skills upon completion. Associate of Arts degrees are designed for individuals who plan to complete their educational goals with a baccalaureate degree. Associate of Applied Science degrees are designed for those who enter the workforce upon graduation. Transfer programs are designed to provide freshman- and sophomore-level coursework for students planning to transfer to institutions offering baccalaureate degrees. Non-credit programs offered through Community Services and Continuing Education programs provide a variety of educational, personal interest, and enrichment programs for all ages. Southeast New Mexico College hosts the regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Manufacturing Sector Development Program (MSDP) that serves business and industry training needs through customized programs.