By: Kevin Beardmore

In late October Southeast New Mexico College asked community members for their input on its future. The time frame was specifically from 2025 through 2030, which is the span of the college’s forthcoming strategic plan. Multiple meetings were held on campus on November 7, with participation from faculty, staff, students, and community members. In addition, an invitation to complete a five-question survey was shared publicly. Thirty-six informed and invested individuals responded. You can review the entirety of the results at https://www.senmc.edu/news/2024/12/strategic-planning-community-survey-results.html

What may be of greatest interest to you is the ranking of fifteen projects and initiatives that I shared in last month’s article. Now it is no longer just a list. It is a prioritized one. The first item below received the most support and the last the least.

1. Childcare on campus

2. Dining Hall

3. New Career-focused Degree Programs

4. Additional Workforce Development/Industry Training

5. Preschool on campus

6. Early College Building

7. Residence Hall

8. ESL (English as a Second Language) for children and adults

9. New Transfer Partnerships with Universities

10. New Transfer Pathways with Universities

11. Additional Community Education

12. Family Programming

13. Stoplight at University Drive and Pierce

14. Paved Campus Exercise Trail

15. Other suggestions

Not only will this list help us decide what capital projects come next, it will be essential as we finish work on our new Campus Master Plan, which is under development simultaneously with our strategic plan. All of these will be considered for approval by the Board of Trustees in the spring of 2025. The emphasis on adding new supports and services for our students, whether it be childcare, preschool, dining, or a residence hall, provides a clear direction for the college. The responses validate our new direction in adding career-focused programming, both for academic credit and for individuals needing targeted training for in-demand positions in Eddy County.

It is notable that the list does not include the Trades x Technologies Building or renovations to the Main Building. These two projects are already through the planning phase and the design phase will close soon. This means construction will, barring any unforeseen events, begin on those projects in 2025 before the new strategic plan is underway.

Kevin Beardmore, Ed.D., is President of Southeast New Mexico College. He may be reached at kbeardmore@senmc.edu or 575.234.9211.