NMSU enrollment numbers down

The I-team obtained a letter to faculty and staff stating the university will need to make budget cuts in order to make up for lost tuition revenue.

NMSU President, Garrey Carruthers confirms the university is experiencing a $4.8 million dollar tuition revenue shortfall. Carruthers says there’s no need to panic, this is simply a time to adjust the university’s budget.

“If you look at the demographics in nm, you’ll see the graduation rates in our high schools are flat or in some cases declining,” Carruthers said.

That’s resulted in a 4.7% reduction in student credit hours, which translates to a $4.85 million dollar revenue loss for NMSU.

“Right now the immediate issue is we’re not receiving that tuition because of that reduction in student credit hours,” Carruthers said.

President Garrey Carruthers says that calls for budget changes.
He says the university will look at 1, 3 and 5% cut scenarios for each unit.

“The easy way is do a calculation and say everybody owes us this much money. If you do that you can cripple some programs and find some other programs that have some slush and can give it up temporarily until enrollment numbers are up,” Carruthers said.

Carruthers also plans to increase revenue by focusing on the school’s graduate programs.

“We’re at about 15,000 undergraduate students and about 1,500 2,000 graduate students. I want 20% of our students to be graduate students,” Carruthers said.

While Carruthers does admit it’s a loss that must be fixed immediately,
he does not plan to cut any jobs, or hinder any student programs.

“Not a time to panic, but a time to become more efficient. It’s an adjustment,” Carruthers said.

Carruthers also added the cuts will be temporary until enrollment numbers improve and will avoid across-the-board budget cuts.