Let’s resolve higher education funding

Uncertainty having a big impact on schools’, students’ planning

The New Mexico Higher Education Regents’ Coalition (HERC) is an organization composed of regents from the state’s seven four-year colleges and universities. We are extremely concerned about the funding stalemate for higher education institutions in the state.

The political “battle” currently going on is posing a number of problems for our institutions. While each institution is affected differently, we all are experiencing similar issues: students are leaving for out-ofstate institutions, student applications are down, faculty members are leaving at a greater rate than ever before and applications for vacant teaching positions are down. In addition, other staff and students are suffering severe anxiety and morale is at an extreme low because of the uncertainty regarding higher education funding.

While we understand the complexities of the many issues (the executive and legislative) branches face, we want (them) to recognize the impact this is having on our institutions. The governor has said higher ed. will be funded, and we believe this to be true, but others affected by this issue are uncertain and see this as a message as to the lack of importance regarding higher education in this state.

We recognize that this has become a political issue between the executive and legislative branches but believe it is time for all our elected leaders to get together for a common purpose and make the hard decisions to get our educational institutions back on track. It is time to overcome differences, lawsuits and partisan politics and think about the impact this is having on our taxpayers, students and our institutions of higher education.

How this is resolved is certainly up to (the governor and lawmakers), but we respectfully request that (they) get together quickly and reach an agreement to get our educational institutions back on track again. In the meantime, the damage being done by inaction is more severe than (they) probably believe. It gets worse every day, and any further delay will not be in the best interest of higher education in the state of New Mexico.