Garcia: College branches unsustainable

From KRQE-TV.com - the state's colleges and universities have opened lots of satellite campuses in recent years. New Mexico State maintains 13 separate learning centers throughout the state, while the University of New Mexico has eight and CNM has five campuses. Including four branch campuses for New Mexico Highlands University, two for Eastern New Mexico University and four for Western New Mexico University and it adds to a serious amount of higher education square footage. "So that's the good side," said Dr. Jose Garcia, secretary of the Higher Education Department. "That in the last few years, this proliferation has resulted in a huge increase in geographic access." Turns out the state's funding formula rewards expansion and provides more money based on the amount of square footage educational facilities control. "And so some colleges have deliberatedly engaged in leasing and increasing their square feet," Garcia said. "Because it's productive on the formula, they get a bigger amount of money coming in." The state spends $52,000 for every college graduate it produces, ranking New Mexico 17th in the country. In all, higher education soaks up more than 15 percent of the entire state budget. State Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, co-chairs the Legislative Finance Committee and has been fighting the higher ed expansion for years. "There are three UNM campuses in Taos, New Mexico, and it's out of hand," he said. "The bottom line is you've had university presidents believe that they have total autonomy on that one and then turn around and send the Legislature the bill." Read more

Garcia: College branches unsustainable