April is a month to celebrate at SENMC!

In April 2021, Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 212 into law. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Cathrynn Brown and James Townsend, created Southeast New Mexico College. It transferred “all functions, personnel, appropriations, money, records, equipment, supplies, grants, real and other property” from New Mexico State University to SENMC effective April 10, 2022.

Now—again in April—we are pleased to report that another milestone has been reached for our college. Earlier this month, exactly one year after the transfer, we opened registration for the fall semester in our new student information system—one that is entirely separate from NMSU. It was a fitting way to mark our own Independence Day!

With registration entirely under our control, it is easier than ever for students to get started and stay enrolled. We have eliminated the $25 per credit hour fee for online coursework, allowing students to choose between in-person and web-based courses at no additional charge. Our Board of Trustees held tuition flat for 2023-24, with the same low price of $49/credit hour for Carlsbad residents and $82/credit hour for all other New Mexico residents. Even better, students can take 12 to 18 credit hours each semester at the 12-credit hour rate—and there are amazing scholarships for New Mexico residents that cover all tuition, including the Opportunity Scholarship, which was just reauthorized and funded in the latest legislative session, and the Lottery Scholarship. To learn more, visit www.reachhighernm.com. If you are from out-of-state, there is reason to celebrate too. You can now take up to six credit hours each semester at the New Mexico in-state rate.

April is also Community College Month, a time to remember why colleges like SENMC are vital to the communities they serve. We are not here to turn out graduates for jobs in some far away city. SENMC offers programs in Nursing and Surgical Technology with clinical placements in the region. You can take Fire Science and Emergency Medical Technology classes, Welding and Industrial Maintenance classes, and Business and Early Childhood Education classes. Whether you are interested in Engineering coursework at our college or transferring into any number of 4-year programs in-state or out-of-state, we are here to help you realize your dreams. Our classes are small and our faculty are hired not for their research agenda, but for how well they teach and how focused they are on students. This is the time of year that many high school seniors finalize their college selection. If you know someone who is making that decision, ask if they have considered SENMC. Sometimes life develops in surprising ways and plans change. We are close to home and an excellent choice.

There is more good news from this legislative session as well. Representative Brown ushered $875,000 to SENMC in House Bill 505, which was signed into law earlier this month. We will use it to upgrade our HVAC system and purchase a new vehicle (or two) for the college. We are very thankful for her good work on our behalf.

Next month, on Friday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m., we will hold our last commencement ceremony for NMSU-Carlsbad graduates and the first one for SENMC at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center. If you are considering starting—or restarting—your educational journey, you too could walk across the stage someday soon. It is a story yet to be written, but the paths are countless. Stop by SENMC to learn more. We are here for you!

Kevin Beardmore may be reached at kbeardmore@senmc.edu or 575.234.9211.