Strategic Planning Community Survey Results

Question 1

What is SENMC's greatest strength?

• Its people
• Providing affordable, accessible education opportunities for local students
• The ability to react quickly to the educational needs of the local area including academic as well as workforce demands.
• Open admissions; friendly environment
• We have the support of the community.
• Its dedication to the community
• The people within the organization.
• Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) is in a unique and promising position as it navigates its path as a newly independent institution. With a new strong leader, SENMC is set to make impactful strides. The college’s prime location places it at the heart of the energy industry, particularly oil, gas, and mining, positioning it as a critical hub for workforce development. This advantage allows SENMC to effectively train and empower the local community, ensuring that the region can cultivate and sustain its own skilled workforce to meet current and future industry demands.
• The diversity on campus is amazing.
• They are a community that works together
• Community
• The support services to our students and community needs.
• Community involvement and community support
• Participating in events
• Individual attention to each student due to our small size
• I think that the greatest strength of SENMC is the context. The sense of uniqueness that one is surrounded by when they find themselves affiliated with the college. That uniqueness is related to the community, resources and the dynamism of changes. SENMC is the only higher education institution that serves the community so it receives a lot of attention that bears a lot of responsibility.
• Local, community focused
• Close community ties.
• We have low tuition
• The community and surrounding oil and gas industries.
• Its sense of community engagement
• The staff and the students
• Its relationship to the community
• Diversity, Administration open doors.
• Our strength is our long history in the community. Most of the employees have a personal connection to the college. Overall, our employees seem to have a real passion for this college.
• SENMC is located near the Oil and Gas industry. Our students can have world class intern-job training opportunity with these industry professionals if SENMC works closely with these industry professionals.
• Diversity
• Fresh start with our independence.
• The connection and support it has with the community.
• Diversity and accessibility
• Our commitment to serving the community in as many ways as possible.
• Involvement with all students and staff.
• Our diversity. Employees from around the world.  Diverse students (cultural, age, etc.). 
• Its newly found independence matched with the expertise of the faculty
• Its connection to the community it serves.

Question 2

What is SENMC’s greatest opportunity?

• A deeper partnership with the community
• Tailoring educational opportunities to the needs of the community to create an educated, employable workforce
• Elevating the total interest in SENMC through workforce training as well as focusing on females to assimilate into the workforce skills training programs.
• Room for growth to expand programs and resources
• SENMC can not only to provide education and job training for young people and parents, but it can provide quality child care for their children.
• Continuing to grow in trades and health care education to address shortages and skill.
• Expanded programming to serve Eddy County and the community. We have an opportunity to become a real shining star and something the community can be very proud of.
• The greatest opportunity for Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) in the next five years is the development of its new trades and technology building. With the college’s strategic location in a region rich in energy resources, this new facility will support the growing demand for skilled professionals in trades and technology to serve the booming oil, gas, and mining industries. The trades and technology building will enhance SENMC’s ability to train and prepare the local workforce with specialized skills for high-demand, high-paying jobs. This initiative positions SENMC as a pivotal force in shaping the future workforce of the region.
• The projects we have coming to SENMC. It is time the main building gets remodeled.
• The growth from the school
• Not sure
• To offer more needed programs for our students. GROW.
• The construction of the Trades and Technologies building
• All the building changes and hopefully dorms.
• The ability to truly grow in ways that meet the needs of our community
• I think that I would use my response for the first question because to spin off the response for the second question. I say capitalize on the strength (see above) to create a long-term culture. I mean stratification of processes and operations (there is a lot of work done there but we need more and more tightening). Processes and operations will serve as a foundation for a culture that honors student learning and success.
• To build a robust workforce for local business needs
• Expanding vocational programs.
• Additional Workforce development, and updated college building
• Establishing the energy and trades vocations.
• Developing programs and establishing itself as the place for Eddy County residents to get education and training to move toward a degree or for career advancement
• Expansion and serving the community.
• Upgrade infrastructure in the college. Make it more welcoming by creating spaces where people can be people and not just students and staff.
• To expand its programs and update curriculum to fit community's need
• We have a real opportunity with the Trades & Technologies building to strengthen our connection to the surrounding industries and provide programs that will connect our students to in-demand jobs here in our area.
• Increase the students' retention rate.
• The programs the best fit to our students and community needs.
• The efficiency of the college and programs.
• The optimal employee-to-student ratio.
• Accommodations for dining and traveling students and daycare
• Shed the old association of NMSU and provide better "customer service" to our local community.
• The flexibility to expand and meet the needs of the students and community
• Grow workforce programs that can lead to associate degrees.
• Creation of SENMC specific programs, pathways, and/or opportunities that can only be completed here. Example: Degrees for students who are labeled ESL.
• Recruitment of students but also getting more companies to collaborate with our Workforce Development.
• To expand technical programs with the T squared building
• Establishing the college as a leader in workforce
• Create a pipeline to success for people who need to go directly from a 2-year degree into the workforce.

Question 3

Please rank the following potential improvements and initiatives based on how positively you believe they will enhance our college's student and community experience.

Potential project

Rank

Score

Question 4

Other suggested improvements and initiatives

• Partnerships with Universities that allow for bachelor’s degree and advanced degree attainment on SENMC Campus
• 1) Provide many non-threatening opportunities for potential students to visit the campus to understand the offerings and ease of enrolling. 2) You need to reach out to surrounding communities for educational requests.
• Security camera on corner of Pierce and University Drive
• Workforce/Community Ed building
• Renovation of the main building
• Offer academic courses in Spanish when appropriate.
• More recruitment, both in the area and outside Eddy County.
• Provide educational signage on the campus trail pointing out native Chihuahuan desert vegetation.

Question 5

What other feedback would you like to share with the college?

• Thank you for asking for input on continuing improvement for SENMC
• You need to get your fiscal responsibilities in order to provide an accurate balance sheet and P&L statement.
• Weekly updates to the community in the newspaper will be helpful as well as presentations to civic clubs & others.
• We need to bring back our PE courses. We have our clinic which is fantastic-but exercise should be a part of what we offer.
• We are doing great. I'd like to see more intermingling and cooperation between Faculty and the rest of the staff in the organization. Keep eliminating those silos!
• I believe that SENMC could be a solution to our needs for childcare seats in Eddy County. It would be such a unique opportunity for southeastern New Mexico to have an Education learning lab/childcare center on campus similar to Midland College Pre-K. I believe that working with organizations such as neighboring school districts, Education Partnership of the Permian Basin and Permian Strategic Partnership, this could be successful. It would be a unique opportunity to grow on own workforce of childcare providers and teachers in the region, while also solving a need for the community. If SENMC and Carlsbad Schools formed a partnership, I believe this would be very successful.
• We need more office space and a new look in the main building.
• I think the school is moving in the right direction
• We need to have some recognition with "little people"
• Make sure contactors and vendors are paid in a timely manner to avoid delays.
• I wish to believe that this feedback is not just being gathered, but also considered, and that not only the priorities of those in charge will be considered when ranking our priorities in the future.
• I have learned a lot from the vector LMS. I am having a great time and feeling home with the Academic community. What worries me a bit the lack and limitations of medical services. An appointment may take 5 to 6 months! unless it is emergency.
• Happy to see changes
• I believe SENMC is on the way to being the premier college in the region. I love what we are doing for students and the community.
• While enrollment is down, now is the time to try new ideas. If they work and increase enrollment, great!   If after adequate time they do not work, then try other ideas.
• Would like to see more public events, outreach opportunities for the public to visit campus. The more that people are familiar with it, the more they will view it as "our" campus and see it as a true community resource and a good opportunity for their kids to enroll in college.