State senator urges college partnership

A state senator is urging Eastern New Mexico University and financially troubled Mesalands Community College to consider a partnership or make the Tucumcari school a branch campus of ENMU.

One area lawmaker said he would oppose such a partnership or merger of Mesalands. The presidents of both educational institutions said they are open-minded to Sen. George Munoz’s proposal.

Munoz, D-Gallup, in late July wrote separate letters to the ENMU board of regents and the Mesalands board of trustees. The Quay County Sun obtained the letters and other correspondence through public-records requests.

Munoz also asked Mesalands to consider a partnership with New Mexico State University.

Munoz is chairman of the New Mexico Senate Finance Committee and Legislative Finance Committee. In the letter to Mesalands trustees, Munoz said he wanted “to address the dire fiscal situation” of the college and “to emphasize the importance of exploring collaborative partnerships with four-year institutions.”

“It is evident that Mesalands Community College is facing financial challenges, and I understand the significance of taking proactive steps to mitigate potential adverse scenarios,” the senator wrote. “In light of this, I want to underscore the crucial role that partnering with four-year institutions can play in preserving your critical programs and safeguarding students' educational investments, regardless of the reforms the college may need to undergo in the coming years.

“By establishing collaborative arrangements with institutions such as Eastern New Mexico University or New Mexico State, Mesalands' students can benefit immensely from seamless transfer pathways, expanded academic opportunities, and access to enhanced resources.

“These partnerships also present an opportunity to ensure the continuity and excellence of programs like Wind Energy Technology, Agri-business, Nursing, and others, which contribute significantly to the state's development.”

Munoz said with such partnerships, Mesalands “can alleviate concerns of students potentially being left hung out to dry due to the gross mismanagement of the institution that placed it in its current fiscal situation.”

In his letter to ENMU regents, Munoz said he was writing “to gauge your institution’s willingness to develop a collaborative partnership” with Mesalands.

“As you may be aware, MCC is currently facing financial challenges, and I believe that a collaborative partnership between your institutions could be mutually beneficial.”

“By working together, you can not only preserve critical programs but also ensure that students’ educational investments remain secure, despite any reforms or changes that MCC may need to undertake in the future.”

Munoz suggested a partnership or absorbing MCC as an ENMU branch campus “could offer numerous advantages to both institutions and, most importantly, to the students you serve.”

He stated Mesalands students could access “a wider range of academic opportunities and resources” while retaining the college’s unique programs.

Munoz stated in both letters he wanted to know no later than Aug. 28 whether either institution was willing to consider a partnership or merger.

MCC, ENMU leaders open to discussion

Allen Moss, interim president at Mesalands, stated in an email Friday that the college’s partnerships with other universities “need to be increased and strengthened.”

Moss pointed out that Mesalands on July 27 signed an articulation agreement with Northern New Mexico College to provide a pathway for business and management students.

Several months ago, MCC entered into an agreement with ENMU-Ruidoso regarding cybersecurity and wind energy, and Moss said he wants to explore other agreements with universities with its nursing, education and arts programs.

Moss said he had not discussed Munoz’s proposal with anyone at ENMU, though he did “briefly” discuss those letters with Jay Gogue, New Mexico State’s interim president.

James Johnston, chancellor of ENMU and president of the Portales campus, replied in an email to Munoz and other members of the Senate Finance Committee.

He signaled an open mind to Munoz’s proposal but wanted questions answered from lawmakers and the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

“We are aware of some of MCC’s challenges and know that there would be much more to work through,” Johnston wrote. “However, it is ENMU’s position to always do what is in the best interest of the students and provide higher education access and opportunity to the citizens of New Mexico. With that goal in mind, yes, we are willing to explore possibilities with MCC.

“Moving forward we do have a couple of logistical questions. Will HED be facilitating the discussions between ENMU and MCC? Also, we anticipate this will generate questions and concerns in our respective communities as well as news media interest. We would like to coordinate responses with HED and MCC to address such questions and concerns. Will this also be coordinated through HED?”

Johnston said he would await clarification and next steps from the state.

Johnston stated in an email to the Quay County Sun that “we are willing to meet with Mesalands to explore opportunities.”

State rep wants MCC to remain independent

State Rep. Jack Chatfield, R-Mosquero, whose 67th District includes Quay County, is a member of the Higher Education Committee. He said in a phone interview last week he would oppose Mesalands having a partnership with a four-year school.

“Our first choice is that Mesalands remain an independent college,” he said. “I’m not in support of it coming under another entity. I’ve talked to the Secretary of Higher Ed about that, and we’re in agreement it will be left an independent college. We’ve agreed that if possible, that is what will be done.”

He said the only thing that would change his mind is if Mesalands “can no longer function economically in a manner of what they have in the past.”

Without naming him directly, Chatfield blamed Mesalands’ previous president, Gregory Busch, for its financial struggles. But he expressed confidence in Moss.

“They overspent their budget by 75% with their last president,” he said. “You’ve got to be working at it to do that.

“I was very disappointed in that, but I think we’ve got someone in there now who’s doing a much better job.”

Mesalands executive staff and faculty issued no-confidence votes against Busch early this year.

Busch left town shortly after that and submitted his resignation weeks later. In his resignation letter, he wrote, “(I)t was not until December-January I became more fully aware of the total severity of the fiscal situation” and that the college was in “noncompliance with more than two dozen federal, state, and accreditation laws, rules and regulations and that our employees and students were working and living in unsafe conditions.”

“When I arrived at Mesalands I was led to believe that the College was fiscally sound and fully in legal compliance and with accreditation,” he wrote. “By my third day, I developed concerns this was not true …”

The college, which was in danger of not meeting payroll, imposed pay cuts, eliminated several programs and received emergency funds from the state to keep it afloat financially.

Moss soon was appointed interim president, and the college’s finances improved enough that it returned some state funds. Mesalands, however, remains under state fiscal oversight, and HED will perform three audits and a special audit of the institution.  

Stephanie Montoya, the HED’s public information officer, stated in an email “we do not presently take a position on what the next steps should be for Mesalands Community College” until a fiscal study is finished by the end of this year.

Montoya stated HED will host a request for proposals for a study of Mesalands’ fiscal condition “which will gather community feedback and make recommendations to the Executive and Legislature on any solvency or governance measures to be taken.”

The HED has set aside $250,000 for the RFPs.

Montoya said Mesalands was placed on an Enhanced Fiscal Oversight Program since January and working to ensuring fiscal solvency “in the best interest of students.”

Moss mentioned the RFP in his email and said he had these goals in mind for Mesalands in the meantime:

“Those include: 1. continuing to provide a quality 2-year education and/or work certificates to our students and community and provide pathways for further education careers, 2. Bringing the college’s financials back in order and operating responsibly moving forward, and 3. Increasing the college’s relationship with the communities we serve.”

“I believe everyone involved wants to do what is best for the students, staff, and community,” he added. “I cannot answer what that is at this point. I do believe everyone involved wants to see a college remain here in Tucumcari. From what I have seen in K-12 scenarios, there are benefits and concerns with losing independence. I believe that would be the case in regard to this situation as well. My goal, and that of my current team is to get things corrected and move forward regardless of the path we are directed to take as a college.”