Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Rawson

DATE TYPED 03-04-05 HB

SHORT TITLE NMSU Info & Communication and Tech Degree

SB 1064

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$158.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.

Relates to HB295

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 1064 – Making an Appropriation for the Bachelor Information and Communication

Technology Program at New Mexico State University – appropriates $158,000 from the general

fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for expenditure in FY06 to main-

tain and expand the Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology program. Any un-

expended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general

fund.

Significant Issues

NMSU indicates that the Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Pro-

gram is offered through the Department of Engineering Technology, one of seven departments in

the NMSU College of Engineering. Like the other programs offered by the department, the ICT

program places an emphasis on practical applications of engineering and science rather than

Senate Bill 1064 -- Page 2

placing an emphasis on theory and derivation. There is an overlap between the curricula of the

ICT Program and the department's Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology Program.

1

Unlike the other programs offered by the department, the ICT Program was not designed to be an

engineering technology program. For example, the mathematics and science requirements are

noticeably different. This and other differences do not compromise the program's objectives and

maximize the use of transfer credit from a variety of programs.

The ICT curriculum covers the topics and concepts that are required to design, implement, and

manage a variety of computer-based information systems. The curriculum includes the study of

computer hardware, application and operating systems software, system integration, database

design and management, networking, and network security. Graduates can expect to fill positions

with titles such as Information Technologist, Project Manager, Systems or Network Administra-

tor, Computer Support Specialist, and Database Administrator.

2

The ICT courses are junior and senior level. This makes the program an attractive path to the

baccalaureate degree for associate degree graduates of computer and other technology-related

programs. However, an associate degree is not a requirement. Freshmen and sophomore students

that are majoring in the program have numerous options and course combinations that will pre-

pare them for their junior-senior ICT courses. These options include computer technology, busi-

ness information systems, computer graphics, computer assisted design, and engineering tech-

nology.

This program was not included in the CHE’s 2005-2006 Higher Education Funding Recommen-

dation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $158,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

New Mexico State University will retain oversight of this program.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.

Relates to HB295 in that HB295 seeks to appropriate $158,000 from the general fund to the

Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for expenditure in FY06 to pay for the bache-

lor's degree completion program in information and communication technology.

BFW/lg

1

http://et.nmsu.edu/~et-ict/background.html

2

http://et.nmsu.edu/~et-ict/index.html