The College of Health and Social Services seeks to improve the individual health of New Mexicans and grow a culturally competent health and social service workforce through the Southwest Center for Health Disparities Research (SCHDR) and the proposed Border Health Discovery Center (BHDC).

The SCHDR serves to foster student interest and capacity in research, and support the research activities of CHSS faculty and their partners across campus and the southwest border region.

The BHDC will represent the College's portal for outreach and service to the community - especially K-12 - and serve as a teaching and service- learning gateway for undergraduate and graduate students. The BHDC will enable the CHSS to partner with K-12 schools through web- and site-based educational programs, and will include a 250-seat lecture hall for oral and video presentations. Interactive learning modules will teach K-12 students how the human body works and why smart health choices are important throughout the lifespan. In addition, the BHDC will provide a venue for the practical application of research to be shared with the community.

The CHSS seeks funding from state, federal, corporate, private foundation, and other sources to construct a two-story wing that will house the SCHDR and BHDC. Additional funding will be sought to outfit the BHDC and develop initial outreach programs.

• Estimated cost of the two-story wing ~ $5.5 million
• Estimated cost to begin BHDC and develop outreach programs ~ $2 million

Scholarships have a direct impact on the life of each student recipient. Without scholarships, many students would not be able to pursue their academic goals. You may choose to establish an endowed scholarship fund in any academic department on campus. Alternately, you may also choose to give a "current-use" scholarship, which requires an annual gift from you that is used entirely to award a scholarship for that year. The CHSS Development Office can help you determine which approach meets your philanthropic goals. Graduate study is essential to the continued success of the college. Our graduate programs in nursing, social work, and public health provide students with the education and leadership skills necessary to advance in their careers and make a difference in the life of our communities. Graduate students have a choice in where they continue their studies and fellowships enable the college to attract these promising leaders to our campus.

CHSS is fortunate to have dedicated faculty, especially when you consider that our average salaries are below those of our peer institutions. Faculty recruitment and retention is a critical issue at NMSU and private support can mean the difference between retaining a quality faculty member or losing her/him to another institution. Chairs and professorships offer a means to supplement the salary of an exemplary faculty member.

Certain gift options may result in a naming opportunity for a donor. These require a major gift - most often in the form of an endowment - and approval from the Naming Committee and Board of Regents (in most cases). Opportunities include:

• College of Health and Social Services
• Health and Social Services Building
• Department of Health Science
• Department of Nursing
• School of Social Work
• Endowed chairs and professorships
• Endowed scholarships and fellowships
• CHSS distance education room
• CHSS computer classroom
• CHSS Media and Resource Center
• Nursing skill labs (3)
• Reading rooms (2)
• Southwest Center for Health Disparities Research
• Border Health Discovery Center