About NMSU Carlsbad

NMSU Carlsbad is a two-year branch community college of New Mexico State University and is independently accredited by the North Central Association. For 1998, 1999, and 2000, NMSU Carlsbad was the only two-year college in the state to be recognized consecutively by Quality New Mexico. NMSU Carlsbad has a student population of approximately 2,000 students, approximately 41 full-time faculty members, 63 part-time faculty members and 72 full-time staff members.

NMSU Carlsbad offers a variety of quality educational opportunities. The college is the Eddy County provider of Adult Basic Education services (ABE). The college offers developmental studies designed to provide students with basic skills needed to achieve academic success. Certificate programs of 30 to 36 credit hours are designed to provide the students with marketable and employable skills upon completion. Associate of Arts degrees are designed for individuals who plan to complete their educational goals with a baccalaureate degree. Associate of Applied Science degrees are designed for those who enter the work force upon graduation. Transfer programs are designed to provide freshman- and sophomore-level course work for students planning to transfer to institutions offering baccalaureate degrees. Non-credit programs offered through Community Services and Continuing Education programs provide a variety of educational, personal interest, and enrichment programs for all ages. NMSU Carlsbad hosts the regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Manufacturing Sector Development Program (MSDP) that serves business and industry training needs through customized programs.

The college has a facility of 142,000 square feet at its primary Carlsbad campus with more the 500 personal computers for faculty, staff, and student use. More than 400 are networked and have Internet access. The remaining computers are used for testing and teaching beginning computer skills in the ABE Program. The MSDP, a state-of-the-art training program located on campus, is equipped with computer-integrated manufacturing systems and equipment, such as computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, and computer numerically controlled systems (CAD/CAM/CNC).

The Board of Regents of New Mexico State University is the governing board of NMSU Carlsbad. Through an agreement between the Carlsbad Municipal School District and NMSU Carlsbad, the local elected Board of Education for the Carlsbad Municipal Schools serves as an advisory board for NMSU Carlsbad. The campus is a leader in the new NCA Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP). Specialized accreditation or certification is ongoing for the National League for Nursing, the New Mexico Board of Nursing, and the New Mexico State Department of Education.

NMSU Carlsbad is a dynamic, quality-driven institution serving the rapidly changing community needs and has positioned itself to lead the community in the 21st century. The college provides a leadership role in fashioning the future, anticipating changes in our community, and provides access to post-secondary education and vocational skills to address these challenges.

History of NMSU Carlsbad

New Mexico State University Carlsbad was established in 1950 as the state’s first community college and was named the Carlsbad Instructional Center. Ten years later, the center was renamed as a branch campus of New Mexico State University. In 1980 the campus was relocated to a new building, which was expanded with an additional wing of classrooms in 1987 and again in 1996 by the addition of a computer facilities wing. Throughout its history, the campus has been responsive to the changing academic needs of the region and the immediate Carlsbad community. It has offered courses which apply directly to the university’s Las Cruces campus for graduation at the baccalaureate level. Some upper-division and graduate courses are delivered by the university’s Las Cruces faculty on-site at the Carlsbad campus.

Mission of the College

To provide access to quality education and to support the economic and cultural life of the people of southeastern New Mexico.

Vision Statement

New Mexico State University Carlsbad will be the foremost institution of higher learning in southeastern New Mexico.

Core Values

Continuous Improvement & Organizational Learning: NMSU Carlsbad continually engages in planning, partnering, goal development, execution, assessment and evaluation of processes and systems, leading to continuous improvement.

Design Quality and Prevention: NMSU Carlsbad emphasizes responsiveness and quality in all programs, curriculum and services to ensure success in meeting stakeholder needs and expectations and to minimize learning barriers.

Fast Response: NMSU Carlsbad is highly responsive to dynamic student and stakeholder needs.

Leadership: NMSU Carlsbad senior leaders establish and communicate mission, vision, goals and core values, which ensure campus resources are directed toward Learning Centered Education.

Learning Centered Education: NMSU Carlsbad leadership directs resources to provide education, promote learning and respond to the needs of students and other stakeholders.

Long-range Outlook: NMSU Carlsbad uses facts, performance results and partnership feedback to build and implement long-term plans and make commitments to meet the future needs of students and other stakeholders.

Management by Facts: NMSU Carlsbad collects and accurately analyzes data to enhance student and organizational performance.

Partnership Development: NMSU Carlsbad fosters internal and external partnership development to contribute to Continuous Improvement and Organizational Learning that enhances the overall performance of the college.

Public Responsibility & Citizenship: NMSU Carlsbad serves as a community leader by promoting responsibility, citizenship and diversity.

Results Orientation: NMSU Carlsbad monitors actual performance to provide a structure for improving results of student and organizational learning.

Valuing Employees: NMSU Carlsbad fosters excellence by empowering employees to act independently in an environment of cooperation, trust and innovation.
Accreditation

NMSU Carlsbad has been accredited fully by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools as a degree-granting institution. The associate degree program in nursing offered by NMSU Carlsbad is accredited fully by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Both the certificate and associate degree programs in nursing are approved by the State of New Mexico Board of Nursing. All vocational programs offered by NMSU Carlsbad are reviewed and approved by the New Mexico State Department of Education’s Division of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education.