Sherri Bays, Western New Mexico University vice president of business affairs, presented the WNMU report to legislators, Rep. Rodolpho "Rudy" Martinez, Rep. Dianne Hamilton and Sen. Howie Morales.

Bays said she believes it is valuable to the legislators to hear the needs of the region.

"Western's No. 1 goal is to provide the highest possible quality education at the lowest cost," Bays said. "We are requesting $1 million for redoing the pool and gymnasium complex. The general obligation bonds cannot be used for this purpose, only for academics."

The university is spending $100,000 to upgrade information technology throughout the campus.

"Dr. (Joseph) Shepard is on an aggressive track to increase IT on the campus," Bays said. "We are replacing antiquated equipment, especially the telephone system, which was old when we bought it from Tech 20 years ago."

She said the WNMU Museum received one of the largest privately held Mimbres collections. "We want to preserve it in a climate-controlled space and enhance security."

The university had previously requested $26 million for infrastructure needs and received $7 million. "We ask that the request remain, and we be allowed to borrow for upgrading and expanding, as Western was rated first in the four-year category as having facilities in the worst condition."

She also presented an equipment request for athletics, especially to replace buses.

"We also ask that funding remain constant and that the formula be followed," Bays said.

"Not only critical to Western, but also to the other higher education facilities in the state, we ask for the tuition credit to be returned to the universities," she said. "The state taking the additional tuition is a barrier to our serving additional students."

She also pointed out that Western's employees have gone a long time without a compensation increase.

"We also ask you for continuing support for research and development, and nurses education," Bays added.

Hamilton concurred that it was most important to increase technology, as there are buildings on the campus where students cannot use their computers. That should be followed by increases in compensation for faculty members.

"I know the pool is important to the campus and the community," she said. "Western is the only university to allow community members to use the pool."

Bays said upgrading the technology would allow the Voice Over Internet Protocol. "We will also do additional fiber optics. We have the funding committed, but are way behind."

Hamilton pointed out that higher education in a community is one quality-of-life issue that brings in new residents, as does a good hospital.

"We will try to help you accomplish your goals," she said.

Morales said he wanted to "touch base on the funding formula. As far as I know, Secretary José Z. Garcia want to take as much as 5 percent."

Bays said the secretary wants to pull out the money for measurements. "If the funding remains constant, we would go up $350,000. People coming back to Western for information technology and work force training helped us."

Morales asked that the legislators be informed as things change.

"I think there has been institutional push back on the secretary's request, which I consider a positive change," Bays said. "My concern is the integrity of the formula. It's not great, but it's the best we could do. We'll keep you aware of changes."

"I know representatives will work for their own institution, but we need to look at the big picture," Morales said. "Going from 2,500 to 5,000 is a good goal. I have a question about dual enrollment."

Bays said the policy would change from allowing high school freshmen to do dual enrollment to only juniors and seniors. She said Western wants to make sure the students get an education that will lead them into other areas and make sure they are successful in the work force.

Morales said he was happy to see the change, because he saw abuse with double paying the high schools and the universities for the same students.

"They should take classes at the high school level if they can, and focus mostly on juniors and seniors for dual enrollment," Morales said. "A very high percentage here are doing dual enrollment. "

He said with pension swaps and cuts, "we can start plugging in what was taken away to eliminate the 1.5 percent taken from employees. At Tech, they are losing tenured positions, because they can make more in other states. The state is rebounding, and we need to keep people from leaving."

Martinez asked if the enrollment increase to 5,000 was on the local campus or throughout.

Bays said it would be overall and would include online courses. "We want to increase at all levels, with a focus on the academic structure and on-campus traditional-aged students," Bays said. "A lot ties back to technology, and we want to improve on-campus housing."

Martinez asked if there were adequate resources to expand the Gallup and T or C campuses.

Bays said Western is trying to meet needs. At Gallup, the university is expanding criminal justice and social work. "We assess the return on investment."

Martinez warned that in expanding programs, Western needs to make sure it has sufficient classrooms.

Bays said the tuition credit return would help.

Next, Terry Anderson, retiring director of the Early Childhood Education Program at Western, said the program is stable if it receives no cuts.

"We serve five programs family counseling, child development, the Growing Tree for infants, training and technical assistance for providers and La Familia, and we are the lab site for the early childhood education curriculum," Anderson said.

The program has maintained accreditation and is 5-star rated.

"We were told ‘This is what high-quality children's services should look like,'" Anderson said. "We will go through accreditation again next year."

The program serves 120 children. "Early childhood quality programs remain critical," she said. "Our revenues have fallen. We have lost more than $400,000. And the special appropriation of 25 percent? We've lost 64 percent of that. We have also lost 13 positions and two management positions. We are very pleased student government supports us with $22 of every student's fees going into our program."

Anderson said the program has sought private funding, but that, too, has tightened.

"At risk is the Growing Tree infant program," Anderson said.

She introduced Melissa Busby as "my right hand, who has served as assistant director.

Martinez asked about the numbers on the waiting list.

"About 200," Anderson answered. "Most are infants through 3-years of age. Mostly it is students who are not being served, although 70 percent of our children have a student as a parent. This need is in small communities throughout the state."

"The saddest part is that you are retiring," Hamilton said. "You have made sure every pot of money has been squeezed. What percentage of the waiting list are children of students?"

Anderson said 80 percent are students' children. The programs for infant slots are only for students, while the 3-, 4-, and 5-year old slots are available for community members.

"We wish you the best, and I think your program is important to help mothers not feel that wrench at leaving their children," Hamilton said.

Morales congratulated Anderson for what she has accomplished with the program.

"I didn't realize the need until I became a parent," Morales said. "We will be discussing a resolution to tap into the Permanent Fund for early childhood education. My concern is there is no plan in place if we take from the Permanent Fund. I hope legislators will be open on education curriculum."

Anderson said she has been in discussion on the Race to the Top grant. If $50 million were to be awarded to New Mexico, it would set the stage for a plan.

"There would be billions for child care," Morales said. "But we need the educational component."

"I think New Mexico is trying to combine the early intervention components," Anderson said.

Morales made the comment that he did not think it was a good rollout for the third-grade retention of students who cannot read.

Anderson indicated that she would continue to consult on early-childhood education issues.

The next article will address health-care issues.