Skip navigation.
New Mexico State University

Spring 2007 Convocation

In 1968 Kenny Rogers and The First Edition released a song entitled “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In),” by Mickey Newbury. This is the theme of my comments. I want to share with you the “condition our condition is in.” It is an optimistic, yet cautionary story.

I. Realities: Our Budget

There are two primary ways we can increase our discretionary fund in order to (a) add new positions, (b) enhance compensation above what is specifically provided and (c) launch or expand programs:

  • Tuition increases—limited by political and economic pressures;
  • State-based budget (I&G) increases—via the state funding formula, which is driven heavily by enrollment growth.

Combined, this totals 52 percent of our budget. The balance is largely tied to specific programs or items.

Last year we approached an important corner with respect to enrollment. We faced a potentially serious budget cut if enrollment dropped. The upturn in enrollment did not trigger new funding but avoided a cut in funding at NMSU (five New Mexico institutions did face cuts).

In my view, we must continue to focus on increasing enrollment as we seek to pursue strategic priorities.

II. Complexities

  1. There is a decline in the number of university-prepared high school graduates in New Mexico. Many graduates also leave the state for their higher education.
  2. The Legislature and governor expect us to address state priority needs:
    • Improving PreK-12 education;
    • Meeting the needs in health care professionals—nurses;
    • Economic development.
  3. A number of programs for a number of years have been funded by federal earmarks. We face an end to, or a reduction in, earmarks. We have some hard choices to make.

III. Our Response

  1. Seek change in formula to reward quality, not just quantity, and recognize mission differentiation.
  2. Continue to seek ways to control, and hopefully reduce, costs of business.
  3. Request legislative funding for ongoing programs specifically.
  4. Work with Congress and federal agencies on funding.
  5. Continue efforts to build our endowment from private giving.
    • Reallocate current resources to:
    • Recognize performance;
    • Invest in growth areas/programs;
    • Advance strategic priorities;
    • Invest more I&G in programs;
    • Have ongoing reallocations as conditions/ performance changes (losses today can win tomorrow);
    • Make reallocations transparent;
    • Those getting new resources will be held accountable for performance.

This will be hard. This will cause some stress, but is, from my perspective, our only choice. If successful, we will be able to reinvest in core programs and pursue other initiatives.

IV. Highlights

  • Fantastic GPAs and graduation rates of student-athletes;
  • Impact of increased enrollment and retention in Fall 2006;
  • NMSU’s number one priority, re: faculty and staff salaries;
  • Significant increase in professor endowments.

This spring semester, the Office of Institutional Equity, in conjunction with New Media Learning, will roll out on-line training on the topic of preventing harassment on all of our campuses. All NMSU staff, faculty and students will be able to access this important training on a 24/7 basis. Additionally, this effort will bolster our commitment to proactively address discrimination issues in the university community.