In September, Gov. Bill Richardson announced a $2 million award from the state to help NMSU create new programs in film and digital media, animation, visualization and related technologies. The award is part of a $10 million statewide initiative to make New Mexico more attractive to the film industry.

“New Mexico State is going to be a major component in this effort,” the governor said in announcing the award.

NMSU President Michael Martin says the university will draw on the resources of the main campus, branch campuses and Cooperative Extension Service to develop programs throughout the state, including a digital media certification program and two-year degree program, and a four-year degree program in digital media animation and science.

The four-year degree program will build on existing programs at NMSU and its Physical Science Laboratory. It will provide training in traditional television and digital arts and develop a digital animation and artificial environments studio.

The two-year degree in digital graphics will combine film and video with other digital media, including animation, multimedia and Web development. The 30-credit-hour media certification program will cover video and film editing and production, crew member training and Web design.

“This award provides a tremendous opportunity for New Mexico State to build on the strengths we have in areas such as visualization, animation and the other digital arts and create new career paths for our graduates,” says Provost William Flores.