NMSU-G sees enrollment increase

Amanda Oney, left, gets some schedule advise at the NMSU-Grants campus from Beth Armstead. Students at NMSU-G must speak with an adviser before they can register for classes. NMSU-G has a record number of students registered this semester, which started Wednesday. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Classes have started for the spring semester at New Mexico State University-Grants and there has been an upsurge in enrollment, said Stan Carlson, interim campus academic officer.

As the first day of classes opened Wednesday, the university campus had 352 full time equivalent (FTE) students enrolled, more than the past several years.

It is also not too late to register, Carlson said. Late registration continues through Jan. 27.

Last year the college had a total of 370 FTE students enrolled, but that was after late registration and all classes had their students for the semester.

"We are ahead by having this many students at this point in time," Carlson said.

"We won't get final results until next week, though," he said.

"We are seeing early enrollment by a lot of students because they have figured out that so many classes fill up so fast they are enrolling earlier during our 'early enrollment' period (before the semester begins)," he said.

"We ended up with 386 FTEs in 2004, the highest on record and we are about 21 percent ahead of schedule this year," he said.

Enrollment pattern
Carlson said the university is seeing a pattern in registration.

"We are seeing high enrollment in the education field. We now offer a bachelor's degree in public education that is probably helping us with our enrollment," Carlson said.

He said a lot of people who have been in the work force or away from the university for a few years are also starting to come back.

One of the highest enrollment areas at university is in its Corrections Officers Training Academy.

That program primarily supports the women's prison that is located in Grants, but those who graduate are fully certified corrections officers and are able to apply anywhere in the state, he said. There are three prisons and a county detention center in Grants and Milan.

The other strength is in the health sciences area.

The university offers a certified nursing assistant program and a number of pre-nursing courses, Carlson said.

"We handle all the prerequisites that students need going into the health sciences fields," he said.

New nursing degree
Beginning in the fall of 2006, the university is hoping to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing, he said.

"And the year after that, we are hoping to offer an associate degree in nursing program, the registered nurse program," he said.

The university is trying to work with the two high schools, Grants and Laguna-Acoma on what is called "concurrent enrollment," where high school students are allowed to take college courses as well.

It costs $47 per unit for local county residential tuition, with a maximum of $547 per semester, he said.

"We have an open door policy too," he said. "Students who graduate from high school or have a GED are able to enroll in a course here."

If that student had a hard time in high school, there is help at the college to allow them to succeed.

Accomodating students
If classes are full, there is a late sign-up sheet that is monitored by the university, Carlson said.

"If we can accommodate students it depends on the type of class we try to get classes for them," he said.

Registering late does cost extra, but the fees are nominal: $5 for the first late day, that was the opening day of classes on Wednesday, and $2 per day following that.

The late fees do not exceed 10 percent of the total tuition though, Carlson said.

The university also provides all the general education required classes, such as math, English and natural science.

The university has courses for the working professional and the stay-at-home spouse as well, offering 15 classes this semester that are entirely Internet based and nine others that are partially Web assisted, Carlson said.

"It makes it easier for working people to go to college," he said.

— To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jimtiffin1@msn.com.