Both NMSU and the college increased the numbers of new students this fall. The college had 15.2 percent more first-time freshmen and 18.9 percent more transfer students. The college faculty and staff have worked hard to attract both groups, said John Owens, the college's dean and chief administrative officer. I just returned from the state fair to visit potential students, and we have faculty, staff, and friends recruiting at high schools, county fairs, and elsewhere in the communities across New Mexico. To make transfer of credits a sure thing, more than 100 articulation agreements were struck between two-year colleges in New Mexico and surrounding states and the College of Agriculture and Home Economics.
All agreements are available to browsers on the world-wide web.
Owens said the future looks bright for his college's enrollment. If students want to earn degrees in these fields, we're the place to get them. Keeping the students who already are enrolled is the major challenge for both NMSU and the college. This year, students who want some extra attention are being assigned mentors from among NMSU faculty and staff to help guide students through the college experience. That's one reason we're so popular among students from New Mexico's small towns and villages.