Colleges in Las Vegas, N.M., receive good news

that included tightening up hiring policies to eradicate nepotism, spending down excessive cash reserves to address capital needs, offering more training programs for staff and faculty, and updating an inventory of equipment.

The school also brought in a mediator to help board members work together more harmoniously.

But a report from the commission shows Luna remains out of compliance with accreditation standards in several areas “related to mission, integrity, teaching and learning, and resources, planning and institutional effectiveness.”

College leaders have until March 2019 to provide evidence that they are addressing these issues. The commission is scheduled to make a determination in November 2019 on whether Luna’s probation will be lifted.

Serna said that is a “very realistic timeline” for the school to fulfill the commission’s requirements.

Meanwhile, he said, his tenure as interim president will come to an end in January or February. About 80 candidates applied for the job, he said, and the field has been narrowed to 24 finalists.

The commission had put New Mexico Highlands on probation in September 2016 over concerns about staffing, student assessments, student retention and graduation rates.

Highlands President Sam Minner said Tuesday that an outside contractor, enrollment management firm Ruffalo-Noel-Levitz, has been helping the school improve in some of those areas.

The university, which serves about 3,500 students at its Las Vegas campus, also has created an enrollment management position and a student retention and completion division.

Additionally, Minner said, he made several personnel changes to address other concerns the commission cited.

News on Highlands’ accreditation status “could not have been better or more positive,” Minner said.

New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron welcomed the commission’s action on Highlands, saying in an email Tuesday it is “a testament to the hard work of the leadership and faculty at NMHU.

“The HLC decision to remove Luna Community College from ‘show cause’ is also a welcome announcement,” she added. “It’s our hope that Luna will be able to continue progressing and get off probationary status.”

Luna was at risk of losing its national accreditation.