Associated Students
of New Mexico

"Serving Students in Higher Education"

1998 Legislative Priorities

ASNM member colleges include all four-year universities and some two-year colleges. There are an estimated 100,000 students in higher education in New Mexico. Students are the end product and should be the main priority of higher education.

ASNM works cooperatively to identify and articulate the concerns of students in higher education. Some of the issues that are of concern to students are as follows:

I. Full Formula Workload

a. Four-year universities - cut by 1%
b. Two-year colleges - no new appropriation

Funding 100% of the formula workload, which is also the CHE's number-one priority and typically a high priority of the legislature for higher education, enables institutions to be responsive to growth and be able to predict and plan for available revenues (or shortfalls) from year to year.

II. Compensation

a. Two and four-year college faculty below peer institutions
      1. (about 16% for two year schools)
      2. (about 10% for four year schools)
b. Graduate student stipends are about 20% below peer institutions.
c. Last year NO increases for compensation.

Compensation increases supportive of the CHE recommendation of 5%. Recognition needs to take into consideration that there was NO increase for faculty or staff in higher education. Funding compensation for higher education was vetoed last legislative session. In addition, consideration needs to be made for graduate student stipend increases at the same level.

III. Library Funding

Recognizing that higher education libraries in New Mexico are under funded.

ASNM recognizes that the backbone of any school is its library. Funding New Mexico college libraries so that students and faculty have the necessary resources to complete their academic endeavors and missions. We support increased funding for Libraries.

IV. Distance Education

Distance education is an important issue facing all education.

ASNM recognizes the importance for distance education to students and the educational system. We see, at this point, that distance education is a good complement, but not a replacement to traditional education.

V. Legislative Internship.

ASNM supports the Legislative Internship Program which is operated through the Legislative Council Service. Currently three positions are available. We support six student positions for maximum representation.

VI. RPT Funding

ASNM supports the Research, Project and Travel fund for all graduate students. Presenting research is important for graduate students and research programs.

For More Information, Contact:

Carlos Rey Romero, Executive Director
505-450-8009

Tony Martínez, Southern Lobby Director
1-800-386-8569

Juan Fidel Larrañaga, Northern Lobby Director
1-800-687-8416

ASNM
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Back to ASNM Homepage

http://www.nmt.edu/~asnm/asnmlp.html