Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Enrollment numbers rise at Tech

Thomas Guengerich New Mexico Tech

The New Mexico Tech Board of Regents heard campus successes and gloomy outlooks at the Tuesday, Nov. 11, meeting in Albuquerque.

The Regents and administrators discussed the prospect of diminishing funding and budget cuts, but also heard about rising enrollment — both overall and minorities.

(For more about the budget outlook and steps the university is taking to address the larger economic crisis, see "Tech preparing for eminent budget cuts," El Defensor Chieftain, Nov. 15 issue.)

Total enrollment for the fall 2008 semester is 1,921, a 2 percent increase over the fall 2007 semester. Perhaps more importantly, for the first time in school history, the percentage of Hispanic students exceeds 25 percent. This year's student body is 26.1 percent Hispanic.

Board of Regents Chairman Jerry Armijo congratulated administrators for their efforts.

"This has been a high priority for the board and we appreciate your efforts," he said.

Vice President of Student and University Relations Dr. Ricardo Maestas said that if the university can sustain the 25 percent threshold for two full years, Tech will qualify for additional federal funding beginning in the fall 2010.

Dr. Van Romero, vice president of research, said being categorized as an Hispanic-Serving Institution is "extremely good news for research."

President Dr. Daniel H. López said Tech has seen steadily rising Hispanic enrollment over the past 10 years. Maestas said Associate Vice President Melissa Jaramillo-Fleming and the staff in the Admission Office have worked hard to recruit in largely Hispanic areas, especially in New Mexico and Texas.

"Our efforts in the Rio Grande Valley are paying off," Maestas said.

The fall 2008 undergraduate totals were bolstered by a large class of freshmen and transfers, increasing 3 percent to 1,173. The ranks of graduate students increased 10 percent to 577.

The number of non-degree seeking students fell — both for undergraduates and graduates.

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