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Since 1953, New Mexico has partnered with and benefited from WICHE through regional collaboration, resource-sharing, sound public policy, and innovation.

 

Download the factsheet for New Mexico here.

 

2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR

0 TOTAL SAVED

by New Mexico students through WICHE Student Access Programs

0 SAVED

through WUE

0 SAVED

through WRGP

0 SAVED

through PSEP

WICHE’s Student Access Programs

WICHE operates three Student Access Programs that together saved students $613 million in 2023-24. Each program supports students at each level of postsecondary education: undergraduate, graduate, and professional healthcare studies.

  • Students gain from increased choice and savings.
  • Schools gain by optimizing enrollments.
  • States and Pacific Island members gain by growing the skills of those they serve and strengthening their workforce.

 

Becoming a veterinarian was a distant
dream due to financial constraints. As a 31-year-old entering veterinary school, I face a condensed timeline to repay loans and establish my career. Thanks to PSEP, I can focus on my passion for animal welfare rather than financial burdens.

GEORGE, New Mexico resident, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University

Improving Lives in New Mexico

WICHE works collaboratively to expand educational access and excellence for all residents of the West. By promoting innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy, WICHE strengthens higher education’s contributions to the region’s social, economic, and civic life. Learn more about our mission.

WICHE brings together senior academic leaders to foster dialogue about issues facing individual institutions through its leadership and professional development networks.

WESTERN ALLIANCE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACADEMIC LEADERS – 2-YEAR INSTITUTIONS

  •     New Mexico Military Institute
  •   New Mexico State University Alamogordo
  •   San Juan College

Orlando Griego, New Mexico Military Institute, serves on the Alliance executive committee.

WESTERN ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM – 4-YEAR INSTITUTIONS

  •     Eastern New Mexico University
  •  New Mexico Highlands University
  •   New Mexico State University
  •   Northern New Mexico College
  •   University of New Mexico
  •   Western New Mexico University

James Holloway, University of New Mexico, serves on the Forum executive committee.

WESTERN ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY is a year-long professional development program for academic leaders aspiring to become chief academic officers in the WICHE region. Six cohort members from New Mexico institutions have participated in the Academy since its inception in 2015.

Thanks to collaboration with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), one of four U.S. regional higher education compacts, WICHE-region educational institutions, nonprofits, and public education entities can benefit from three programs: MHECtech, which provides competitively bid purchasing contracts for an array of hardware, software, and technology services; MHECare, which provides a student health insurance plan and teletherapy services; and a MHEC Cyber Insurance Program, which offers risk transfer and advisory solutions. Learn more.

New Mexico participates in the STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT (SARA) through WICHE. This voluntary agreement provides reciprocity for the state authorization of distance education.

WICHE Behavioral Health Program (BHP) works with partner agencies to develop a broad and culturally relevant training program to support the preparation and retention of doctoral-level psychologists through the New Mexico Psychology Internship Consortium (NM-PIC).

The BHP Together With Veterans Program, focused on reducing Veteran suicides, supports three communities in New Mexico: Chaves County, San Juan County, and Taos County, and has served more than 700 rural veterans.

Knocking at the College Door is the leading U.S. resource for projections of college-ready students. Knocking, which includes a quadrennial publication with additional analysis, is essential for postsecondary policymakers, planning and workforce efforts, and economic development.

WICHE offers curated data and policy resources to support better-informed decision-making:

CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS NETWORK Staff from the New Mexico Higher Education Department also participate in regular collaborative calls with colleagues around the region.

WCET- The WICHE Cooperative for Education Technologies is the leader in practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education. Eastern New Mexico University, Navajo Technical University, New Mexico Highlands University,  New Mexico State University,  Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, University of New Mexico, and Western New Mexico University are WCET members.

Additionally, New Mexico State University (NMSU), NMSU Alamogordo Community College, NMSU Carlsbad Community College, NMSU Doña Ana Community College, and NMSU Grants Community College, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, and the University of New Mexico are members of the State Authorization Network (SAN), which helps guide institutions through state regulations around online courses and programs.

WICHE has convened the OERWest Network, which is part of a nationwide collaborative to scale the development and adoption of free course materials. Open educational resources (OER) have shown promise in improving student outcomes, particularly for poverty-affected students, for whom the high cost of textbooks can be a barrier to postsecondary success.

WICHE Commissioners

*indicates Executive Committee member

* Barbara Damron

WICHE Vice Chair, Professor and Senior Advisor to the Dean, University of New Mexico

Bill Soules

Senator, New Mexico State Legislature

Patricia Sullivan

Associate Dean, College of Engineering, New Mexico State University

Legislative Advisory Committee

G. Andrés Romero

Representative, New Mexico State Legislature

Debra Sariñana

Representative, New Mexico Legislature

Bill Soules

Senator, New Mexico State Legislature