New Mexico Highlands University

New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) is a public university in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Founded in 1893, it has satellite campuses in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Farmington and Roswell. NMHU has an average annual enrollment of approximately 3,000 students and offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across six schools and colleges, as well as online.^[3]

New Mexico Highlands University

Former names	New Mexico Normal School (1893–1902) New Mexico Normal University (1902–1941)
Motto	Artes, Scientiae, Humanitates
Type	Public university
Established	1893
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
President	Sam Minner
Students	3,765^[1]
Location	Las Vegas , New Mexico , United States
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Purple and White^[2]
Nickname	Cowboys and Cowgirls
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – Rocky Mountain
Website	www.nmhu.edu

History

 

Ivan Hilton Science Center

NMHU was first established as New Mexico Normal School in 1893, with prominent archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett serving as its first president. The institution became New Mexico Normal University in 1902, and primarily offered teacher education;^[4] it adopted its current name of New Mexico Highlands University in 1941, as it expanded its programs beyond teaching. NMHU now offers graduate and undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, education, nursing, and social work.

Located in Las Vegas, a city with a population of over 13,000, Highlands' main campus is close to recreational and wilderness areas and is within an hour's drive of Santa Fe and two hours from Albuquerque.

The majority of NMHU's approximately 3,765 students are from New Mexico and Latino; the university is recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, which denotes a total undergraduate enrollment that is one-quarter or more Hispanic.^[4][5] Highlands' programs explicitly focus on its multiethnic student body, especially the Latino and American Indian cultures distinctive of New Mexico.^[4]

Accreditation

NMHU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and also has specialty accreditations for many programs. The School of Education received full accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in 2012. The School of Business is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences is accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).^[6] The Department of Forestry is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF).

Academics

NMHU has several bachelor's and master's degree programs spanning six schools and colleges; these include business administration, counseling, nursing,^[7] social work, and the natural sciences.^[8]

According to U.S. News & World Report, NMHU is one of the top 100 schools for economically disadvantaged students and ranks among the top 45-59 public schools nationwide;^[9] it is among the top 12 percent of schools in the 2022 Social Mobility Index, which measures the extent to which institutions provide opportunities for students with family incomes below the national median, based on metrics such as tuition cost, indebtedness among graduates, and post-graduate employment.^[10]

Athletics

Main article: New Mexico Highlands Cowboys and Cowgirls

NMHU's athletic teams are nicknamed the Cowboys / Cowgirls and compete in the NCAA's Division II's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.^[11] Ten varsity athletics programs are offered, including women's soccer, cross-country, track, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, baseball, Softball and college football.

Statewide centers

 

Donnelly Library

In the 1997–98 academic year, New Mexico Highlands University established an extended learning center in Rio Rancho and began offering upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses in business, accounting, education, and social work. The center has since added studies in criminal justice, public affairs administration, computer science and general and school counseling. NMHU also has centers in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Farmington.^[12]

Notable alumni

• David James Baker, filmmaker and media producer
• Mary Camille Skora Bohannon, radio news anchor/reporter
• Mark Cotney, professional football player^[13]
• Charlie Cowan, professional football player
• Bill Dinwiddie, professional basketball player
• Carl Garrett, professional football player
• Len Garrett, professional football player
• Reggie Garrett, professional football player^[14]
• María Dolores Gonzáles, leader of bilingual education in New Mexico
• Anthony Edwards, professional football player
• Eddie Guerrero (1967–2005), professional wrestler
• Keith Jardine, football player; retired mixed martial artist, formerly for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, and King of the Cage^[15][16]
• Leroy Lamis, sculptor
• Ben Ray Lujan, U.S. Senator from New Mexico (2021–present), former U.S. Representative from New Mexico (2009-2021)
• Ray Leger, educator and member of the New Mexico Senate
• Laura Montoya, New Mexico State Treasurer^[17]
• Chris Newsome, professional basketball player
• Frank Olmstead, mayor of Las Vegas, New Mexico and 18th Auditor of New Mexico
• Lionel Taylor, professional football player
• Patsy Trujillo, member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
• Sam Williams, professional football player
• Don Woods, professional football player

References

1. "Enrollment" (PDF).
2. New Mexico Highlands University Graphic, Style & Web Guide (PDF). Retrieved 2017-05-21.
3. "Academics". New Mexico Highlands University. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
4. "Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023". New Mexico Highlands University. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
5. "Digest of Education Statistics, 2021". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
6. . www.mpcacsite.org. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07.
7. "Nursing: RN-BSN". New Mexico Highlands University. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
8. "School of Education". New Mexico Highlands University. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
9. "New Mexico Highlands University's 2022-2023 Rankings".
10. CollegeNET; CollegeNET. "Social Mobility Index College Rankings by CollegeNET". www.socialmobilityindex.org. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
11. "New Mexico Highlands University Athletics - Official Athletics Website". New Mexico Highlands University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
12. "Visit New Mexico Highlands University". New Mexico Highlands University. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
13. "Mark Cotney Stats, Position, College, Transactions". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
14. . Databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
15. "Keith Jardine MMA Bio". Sherdog. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
16. "Keith Jardine UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
17. "Sandoval County treasurer running for top treasurer seat".

External links

• Official website  
• New Mexico Highlands Athletics website

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