5 Northern Degree Programs Approved

By MARTIN SALAZAR Journal Staff Writer

ESPAOLA — The agency that accredits colleges and universities in this region has given the green light to Northern New Mexico College to begin offering five new bachelor’s degree programs, school officials announced Thursday.

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools has approved Northern’s request to offer bachelor’s degrees in business administration, biology, environmental science, information technology and integrative health studies.

Northern already offers a four-year elementary teacher education program.

Until just a few years ago, Northern was called Northern New Mexico Community College and was barred by state statute from offering higherlevel college courses. School officials successfully lobbied lawmakers to change the school’s name and to eliminate the prohibition on the constitutionally created school offering bachelor’s degrees.

The approval of the new degree programs further bolsters the school’s goal of becoming a regional university like New Mexico Highlands University, Western New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico University.

“Northern is now officially a comprehensive, four-year college,” said school President Jos Griego, who discussed the school’s progress during a news conference Thursday. “The HLC approval is a historic occasion for NNMC, north-central New Mexico and the state.

“In addition to raising the academic and social/cultural consciousness of students, they will now have the opportunity to earn advanced degrees, which translate into higher salaries and job promotions.”

Griego said the bachelor’s programs Northern is now offering were the results of a needs assessment conducted in its service area, which includes Rio Arriba, Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Taos counties. He said the school is also looking into offering a bachelor of science degree in nursing, a degree in business administration with a focus on project management and a master’s degree in teacher education.

Northern also wants to establish a presence in Santa Fe, perhaps partnering with Santa Fe Community College or Santa Fe Indian School, Griego said.

School officials also announced that Northern has become the fastest-growing higher education institution in the state. Griego said that over the past year, enrollment has grown by 12 percent. According to the school, 2,102 students had enrolled for spring semester classes as of Jan. 29.

Griego said the college is asking state lawmakers to approve 16 bills during the current legislative session to help the school continue its progress. Among the requests are $3 million to be spent during the next three fiscal years to start new bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, $2.3 million to increase the school’s library acquisitions and $3 million to pay for additional property so the college can grow its campus.

Northern is also pushing for the approval of legislation that would provide it with $250,000 for athletics. The legislation would also give Highlands, Eastern, and Western $250,000 each for their athletic programs. Griego said that if the funding comes through, Northern plans to launch basketball programs for men and women.

Despite the movement toward becoming a four-year college, the school plans to continue offering its vocational courses, Griego said.

“We are maintaining our community college mission,” he said. “We’re not abandoning that.”

The college, with campuses in Espaola and El Rito, will be celebrating its centennial in 2009.

(c) 2007 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.