New Mexico State University’s president makes big promises in ‘State of the University’ address

New Mexico State University unveiled its strategic plan Monday as leaders delivered the annual State of the University address.

“It’s a plan,” said John Floros, president of the university. “It’s not just a promise. It’s a plan.”

By 2025, New Mexico State University plans to increase student headcount by 15 percent, increase research funding by 30 percent and increase staff compensation by 20 percent.

“We have all the fundamentals in place to really make this work,” Floros said. “I think during the time that everybody else is really going down in terms of enrollment, we have the fundamentals in place to start growing.”

Floros said that by expanding the university’s investment in research and increasing enrollment, NMSU will have the money it needs to pay its staff more.

“Not only are we going to grow in terms of how many people we can employ, because increased research expenditures mean more people will work in that research enterprise,” Floros said. “But we will also have enough resources, enough income to grow the ability to pay more to our ability.”

Floros said NMSU is about $4 million in debt, but he hopes the university is out of debt by 2025.

KVIA 2019