Northern New Mexico College

Northern New Mexico College is a public college in Española, New Mexico.[1]

Northern New Mexico College
TypePublic College
Established1909
PresidentDr. Richard J. Bailey
ProvostDr. Ivan Lopez Hurtado
Students1,100 (2017)
Location
Española
,
New Mexico
,
United States
CampusEl Rito, New Mexico
Española, New Mexico
Colors     Rust: PMS 7580
     Blue: PMS 541
AthleticsNAIA – Independent
NicknameEagles
Websitewww.nnmc.edu

History

Northern New Mexico College is a regional comprehensive college offering bachelor's, associate degrees and certificates, located in Española and El Rito, New Mexico.

Northern was founded in El Rito, New Mexico in 1909 as the Spanish American Normal School with the original mission of providing teacher training for the area's Spanish speakers.[2] The College's original mission and Constitutional charter makes Northern the first Hispanic-serving institution in the United States. Northern opened its Española campus in 1971 and expanded its mission to include technical vocational programs, eventually becoming the state's first designated community college.

In 2004, new legislation allowed Northern to offer a baccalaureate program in Elementary Education. In 2013, Northern applied for a change of mission from a two-year to a four-year college. Between 2014 and 2015, ten more baccalaureate programs were approved. The main campus is now in Española; the El Rito campus still operates.

Currently, in addition to over 35 associate and certificate programs, Northern offers bachelor's degree programs in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Business Administration (Accounting, Management, and Project Management), Biology, Environmental Science, Electromechanical Engineering Technology and Information Engineering Technology, Integrated Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences (with emphases in Psychology, Crime & Justice Studies, Humanities, Pueblo Indian Studies, and Self-Design), Mathematics, and Nursing (RN-BSN).

Northern primarily serves rural communities from within a 40-mile radius of its main campus in Española, New Mexico, including eight Native American pueblos, in one of the most underserved regions in the state.

Academics

The college is organized into five colleges:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business Administration
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering and Technology
  • College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Accreditation

Northern is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to grant associate's and bachelor's degrees. Its student body is predominantly Hispanic (74%) and is 38% male and 62% female.[3] It is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.[4]

Additional accreditations include:[5]

  • The Bachelor of Engineering in Information Engineering Technology Program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET
  • The associate degree Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
  • The Bachelor in Nursing (RN-BSN) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
  • The College of Business Administration's bachelor's and associate degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
  • The College of Education is accredited based on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards from November 2016 to Spring 2023.
  • The college's occupational courses are approved by the New Mexico State Department of Public Education; the Barbering, Cosmetology, and Nursing programs are approved by their respective state licensing boards.

Campuses
Española Campus, Administration Building on left.
  • The primary campus in Española, consists of a 200-acre (810,000 m2) tract extending from U.S. Highway 84/285 to the banks of the Rio Grande. It is approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of Santa Fe.[6]
  • The El Rito campus is Northern's historical campus. It is 25 miles (40 km) north of Española.

Governance

Northern New Mexico's president is Dr. Richard J. Bailey, Jr.. He reports to a Board of Regents who are appointed by the governor of New Mexico.[7]

Athletics

Northern New Mexico teams, called The Eagles, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing as an Independent of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII). Men's sports include basketball, cross country and golf; while women's sports include basketball, cheer, cross country and golf.

The athletics department was launched in 2005. The Eagles began their first competitive men's and women's basketball seasons in 2009.[8]

Notable alumni

References
  1. NNMC website
  2. El Rito Campus overview
  4. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities membership directory
  5. https://nnmc.edu/home/academics/accreditation/
  6. https://nnmc.edu/home/about-northern
  7. Governor of New Mexico website: New Mexico Boards and Commissions: NNMC Board of Regents
  8. http://www.goeaglesonline.com/
  9. Votesmart.org.-Philip Archuleta
  10. Commissioner Valerie Espinoza- District 3 – New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
  11. Votesmart.org.-Debbie Rodella
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