New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University Summary

New Mexico State University, or NMSU, is a land-grant university that has its main campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school was founded in 1888 as Las Cruces College, an agricultural college, and in 1889 the school became New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The university is home to New Mexico’s NASA Space Grant Program and is one of 52 institutions in the United States to be designated a Space Grant College. One year later, a foundation for much growth was established when the Territorial Assembly of New Mexico provided for the establishment of an Agricultural College and Agricultural Experiment Station with bill No. In a move to better represent its operations, the numerously titled New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts became New Mexico State University as it is presently known. NMSU has major rivalries with the University of New Mexico (the NMSU-UNM football game is called “The Battle of I-25”), and the University of Texas at El Paso (called “The Battle of I-10”, with the winner of the NMSU-UTEP football game getting the Silver Spade). At the dawn of the new century, NMSU volleyball also saw great gains, winning its first conference championship in 2003, and making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament that same year. The Round Up is “The student voice of New Mexico State University since 1907.” Colorado Plateau | Eastern New Mexico | Llano Estacado | Northern New Mexico | Sangre de Cristo Mountains | Las Cruces | Rio Rancho | Roswell | Artesia | Carlsbad | Clovis | Corrales | Deming | Española | Farmington | Gallup | Grants | Hobbs | Las Vegas | Los Alamos | Los Lunas | Lovington | Portales | Ruidoso | Silver City | Socorro | Catron | Chaves | Cibola | Colfax | Curry | De Baca | Doña Ana | Eddy | Grant | Guadalupe | Harding | Hidalgo | Lea | Lincoln | Los Alamos | Luna | McKinley | Mora | Otero | Quay | Rio Arriba | Roosevelt | San Juan | San Miguel | Sandoval | Santa Fe | Sierra | Socorro | Taos | Torrance | Union |

Summary content courtesy of Wikipedia.

New Mexico State University History

New Mexico State University is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. There are branch campuses located in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Dona Ana, and Grants. New Mexico State University was founded in 1888 as an agricultural land grant college, and received university status in 1960. The University now awards bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees; associate programs are offered at the branch campuses. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

New Mexico State University defines its mission as one of “serving the educational needs of New Mexico’s diverse population to comprehensive programs of Education, research, extension education, and public service.” Its Carnegie classification is as a Doctoral/Research University-Extensive.

Las Cruces College was originally opened in 1888. The following year it was merged with the newly founded New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts to become Las Cruces College. The University’s new name was adopted in 1960.

New Mexico State University Academics

The University is composed of several schools and colleges: the College of Agriculture and Home Economics, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration and Economics, the College of Education, the College Engineering, and the College of Health and Social Services. There is also an Honors College and a Graduate School.

Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in 76 different disciplines, including accounting, animal science, biology, community health, education, engineering, English, horticulture, management, music, philosophy, range land resources, soil science, theatre arts, and wildlife science.

Master’s degrees are awarded in agriculture, anthropology, education, English, criminal justice, agronomy, geology, engineering, astronomy, and family and consumer studies, among others. There is a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Public Administration (MPA), a Master of Public Health (MPH), a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Social Work (MSW), a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), including a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing.

The school awards 22 doctoral degrees, in fields such as education, the sciences, engineering, and rhetoric and professional communication. There are no doctoral degrees offered in humanities, although the social sciences are represented by counseling psychology and psychology. Some of the doctoral programs have concentrations in particular areas. The specialist in education degree (Ed.S.) is also offered, with specializations in diagnostics, education administration, special education, school psychology, and special education for the deaf or hard of hearing.

NMSU is the only land-grant university to be identified by the federal government as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and also a Carnegie Research-Extensive institution. NMSU offers 76 different undergraduate majors. Research expenditures at NMSU exceeded $134 million in the 2003-2004 academic year. The University represents the southern portion of New Mexico’s Rio Grande Research Corridor. Students are encouraged to undertake their own research projects during the course of their academic career.

New Mexico State University Unique Programs

The Center for International Programs was established in 1972 and is responsible for coordinating programs related to relations along the United States-Mexico border. The Center is responsible for leading the internationalization of NMSU, provide specific programs for international students, and implement an international outreach policy.

New Mexico State University Financial Aid

In-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students were $2103 per semester in 2004-2005. Students applying from out of state and graduate students will have different costs.

Financial aid is available with a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.

NMSU offers a variety of scholarship and loan opportunities. Scholarships include the President’s scholarship, New Mexico scholars opportunities, Regents scholarship, a special New Mexico Lottery scholarship, and tuition scholarship opportunities for transfer students. Out-of-state students also have the opportunity to apply for special aid consideration.

New Mexico State University Students

In addition to the numerous classroom, dormitory, and administration buildings, New Mexico State University has public outdoor art, several historic buildings, museums and galleries, an animal husbandry barn, and an observatory, among other features.

The New Mexico State University Library offers electronic catalogs and on-line databases, in additional to physical volumes stored on site or available through interlibrary loan. The Library maintains its own bindery.

The main NMSU campus enrollment is nearly 17,000, and half of those are minority students. Attractions and diversions on campus include the university museum and art galleries, a professional theater, music performances and a full symphony, both PBS and NPR stations on campus, an 18-hole golf course, tennis center, swimming pools, and an activity center.

New Mexico State University Local Community

The town of Las Cruces is located in southwestern New Mexico, just west of White Sands National Monument. The population is approximately 85,000, and the area offers historic, cultural, and outdoor activities.

Like much of New Mexico, Las Cruces is quickly becoming a favorite vacation destination. The local ethnic culture, a fusion between Native American and Mexican American cultures, combines well with the modern tourist industry. Golf is a favorite pastime, as is sightseeing amongst the traditional craftsmen and shops in town. Las Cruces has been recognized by Forbes and Money magazine for its affinity for business.