AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; AUTHORIZING NORTHERN NEW MEXICO STATE SCHOOL TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM IN TEACHER EDUCATION; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1.  Section 21-4-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1909, Chap­ter 97, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

"21-4-3.  NORTHERN NEW MEXICO STATE SCHOOL--PURPOSE OF INSTRUC­TION--ACADEMIC COURSES--BOARDING OF STUDENTS.--

A.  The courses of instruction at northern New Mexico state school at El Rito shall:

(1)  meet the needs of young people of New Mexico who cannot be served adequately by the local public schools in their home communities;

(2)  prepare technical and trade students for occupa­tions and vocations that are useful and necessary in the economy of New Mexico; and

(3)  provide academic, technical and vocational instruc­tion beyond the high school level and, in the event that the university of New Mexico northern branch is dissolved, may in addition pro­vide not more than two years of accredited college level academic in­struction at those areas presently served by the university of New Mexico northern branch and by the northern New Mexico state school, except as provided in Subsection D of this section.

B.  The board of regents of northern New Mexico state school is authorized to provide quarters for the boarding of resident students.

C.  Nothing in this section shall preclude the university of New Mexico from continuing to provide upper college level and graduate courses in any areas in which such courses were being offered prior to January 1, 1977.

D.  The board of regents of northern New Mexico state school is authorized to develop, implement and seek accreditation for a baccalaureate degree program in teacher education for the Espanola campus.  The program shall be authorized when the board of regents certifies that the baccalaureate degree program in teacher education:

(1)  has been developed and is ready for implementation; and

(2)  is ready to receive the accreditation review team from the appropriate accrediting agency.  In the development of the program, northern New Mexico state school shall engage in a partnership with New Mexico highlands university, an educational institution that is sensitive to the socio-cultural conditions of the region and that is prepared to offer collaborative programs to support the critical higher education needs of the students in north central New Mexico."