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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/13/07

HB

SHORT TITLE “New Mexico Highlands University Day"

SB SJM 43

ANALYST Hanika Ortiz

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial proclaims March 3, 2007 as “New Mexico Highlands University Day" at the

Legislature.

The Memorial provides for the following:

•

Since 1893, New Mexico Highlands University has provided innumerable opportunities in

educational advancement and professional development for New Mexicans.

•

New Mexico Highlands University has produced first-rate graduates in the fields of

education, social work, business and arts and sciences.

•

New Mexico Highlands University is dedicated to serving students from distinctive cultural,

socioeconomic, linguistic, geographic, religious and educational backgrounds.

•

New Mexico Highlands University is committed to excellence in teaching, discovering,

preserving and applying knowledge and is responsive to new opportunities for community-

based partnerships, economic development, research and public service.

•

New Mexico Highlands University envisions becoming the premier Hispanic-serving

institution in the country, welcoming students from all ethnic backgrounds, while providing

unrivaled quality higher education.

•

New Mexico Highlands University believes wholeheartedly in the concept of student-

centered education and personal attentiveness to the individual student.

Senate Joint Memorial 43 – Page

2

•

New Mexico Highlands University is determined in its focus on its multiethnic student body

with special emphasis on the rich heritage of Hispanic and Native American cultures that are

distinctive to New Mexico and particularly northern New Mexico.

The Memorial further resolves that March 3, 2007 be proclaimed as “New Mexico Highlands

University Day" at the Legislature.

-

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation attached to this legislation.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

First established as New Mexico Normal School in Las Vegas, the institution became New

Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) in 1941, as it expanded its role beyond teacher

education. Today, NMHU in Las Vegas offers graduate and undergraduate programs in arts and

sciences, business, education, and social work. Through distance education, Internet courses, and

on-site faculty, NMHU also offers some degree completion and graduate programs in

Farmington, Rio Rancho, Española, Santa Fe, and Roswell. Although students from all over the

world attend NMHU, the majority of its approximately 3,500 students is from New Mexico and

is Hispanic. Highlands’ programs focus on its multi-ethnic student body, especially the Hispanic

and Native American cultures distinctive of New Mexico.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The Memorial requests that a copy of this legislation be sent to the Board of Regents of New

Mexico Highlands University.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

March 3, 2007 will not be set aside to recognize New Mexico Highlands University and their

contribution to New Mexico.

AHO/nt