Category: Federal Grant

Name Change Invites Scrutiny of NNMC Leadership

3/14/2015

The costly and misleading Name Change Bill (SB-603), which would change Northern New Mexico College's name to Northern New Mexico University, has invited much needed scrutiny to the general state of affairs at NNMC. The NNMC Study Group appreciates the dialogue and information-sharing that has been the result of the SB-603. The scrutiny at the Senate Public Affairs Committee explored the precipitous drops in enrollment at the college, fiscal mismanagement at the college, federal grant violations at the college, the possible motives of a name change, and the violations of NM State Statutes and the NM Constitution in declaring a name change (full SPAC session on SB-603 available, parts 1-8). Senator Ivey-Soto's questions below left.

Further, during his confirmation hearing, incoming Regent Damian Martinez received a "do pass" from the NM Senate Rules Committee. He would be later confirmed unanimously by the NM Senate. When asked about SB-603, the NNMC Name Change Bill, Regent Damian Martinez (a practicing attorney) agreed that the proper procedure had not been followed, and he concluded, "Until it's been properly changed, its name is Northern New Mexico COLLEGE." Regent Damian Martinez's comments on SB-603 Name Change Bill below right.

SB-603, the NNMC Name Change Bill, is scheduled to be heard at the full Senate Floor. You may contact Senator Carlos Cisneros and NM Senators to oppose SB-603. Contact information below.

Phone at Senator Cisneros at: (505) 670-5610 or email at: carlos.cisneros@nmlegis.gov

Contact Senators by email (cut and paste) to oppose Name Change Bill SB-603:

SENATE GOP -- sue.beffort@nmlegis.gov, craig.brandt@nmlegis.gov, bill.burt@nmlegis.gov, ron.griggs@nmlegis.gov, stuart.ingle@nmlegis.gov, ggkern@valornet.com, leavell4@leaco.net, mark.moores@nmlegis.gov, steven.neville@nmlegis.gov, william.payne@nmlegis.gov, cliff.pirtle@nmlegis.gov, sander.rue@nmlegis.gov, john.ryan@nmlegis.gov, bill@williamsharer.com, lisa.torraco@nmlegis.gov, pat.woods@nmlegis.gov

SENATE DEMS -- pete.campos@nmlegis.gov, jacob.candelaria@nmlegis.gov, Joseph@cervanteslawnm.com, senatorgriego@yahoo.com, daniel.ivey-soto@nmlegis.gov, linda.lopez@nmlegis.gov, richard.martinez@nmlegis.gov, cisco.mcsorley@nmlegis.gov, HCM260@gmail.com, munozgeo@gmail.com, oneillsd13@billoneillfornm.com, jortizyp@msn.com, michael.padilla@nmlegis.gov, marykay.papen@nmlegis.gov, nancy.rodriguez@nmlegis.gov, clemente.sanchez@nmlegis.gov, john.sapien@nmlegis.gov, benny.shendo@nmlegis.gov, john.smith@nmlegis.gov, bill.soules@nmlegis.gov, mimi.stewart@nmlegis.gov, peter.wirth@nmlegis.gov

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NNMC has NOt Attained University Status

2/20/2015

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At the January NNMC Board of Regents meeting, President Nancy "Rusty" Barcelo yielded her time for her "President’s report” to Regent Michael Branch. Branch’s term on the NNMC Board of Regents expired December 31, 2014. Branch introduced two key measures: 1) the introduction of a new Board of Regents “Academic Affairs Committee,” and 2) the “Academic Affairs Committee’s” recommendation for the name change from Northern New Mexico College to Northern New Mexico University.

Regent Branch and Board President Rosario “Chayo” Garcia violated parliamentary procedure, moving for a vote to approve a name change for the institution. The name change recommendation, states the agenda, is to be made by the “Academic Affairs Committee” (President’s Report, III.2). The declared Chair of the “Academic Affairs Committee” is stated as Regent Michael Branch, whose term expired on December 31, 2014. Regent Branch introduced the motion for the institutional name change. This motion was then voted upon. This motion and vote were both before the approval of the “Academic Affairs Committee.” Indeed, the committee, which was stated to be the recommender of an institutional name change, has yet to be voted into existence.

In addition, the vote count to approve a name change for the educational institution from Northern New Mexico College to Northern New Mexico University included Regents Branch and Herrera, whose terms expired on December 21, 2014. The vote also excluded Regent Martinez who was confronted with a forced resignation before the meeting (Regent Martinez has not resigned). And Regent President Garcia did not cast a vote. Thus, the name change to University violated parliamentary procedure in at least three ways. The vote to approve the misleading name change for the educational institution from Northern New Mexico College to Northern New Mexico University was accomplished with only one vote of a non-expired Board member—that of Regent Kevin Powers.

The responsibility to push through the NNMC Regents’ invalid voting procedures to secure a misleading name change will soon be New Mexico Senator Carlos Cisneros’. Senator Cisneros is sponsoring SB-603 endorsing the name change “for common convenience.” Of course, the name change by Barcelo and Branch is designed for common misunderstanding. See SB-603 at http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/15%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0603.pdf

Comments and/or concerns regarding SB-603 can be communicated to Senator Carlos Cisneros by phone at: (505) 670-5610 or by email at: carlos.cisneros@nmlegis.gov

The NNMC name change is purposefully misleading, an act of false advertising that will jeopardize the college as an institution. Under the present leadership, NNMC has not attained a Status Change to University. While the NNMC President Barcelo and VP Serna have quietly admitted that the name change is not meant to indicate a Status Change to University, it is clear the NNMC Administration’s intention is to mislead students, parents, funders, and the public.

In fact, the press release from the NNMC Administration regarding the name change is titled: “Northern New Mexico College becomes University” (January 27, 2015). [i] We note the deliberately misleading language: “Northern New Mexico College becomes a University,” versus the accurate: One non-expired Regent at Northern New Mexico College voted to rename the institution despite its not attaining or qualifying for University Status by any measure, according to the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED), the North Central Higher Learning Committee, the official accreditation agency, or the NM Legislature.

What is University Status? Several institutions in New Mexico have worked hard to serve students and communities to attain University Status: The NM Higher Education Department has oversight of all public universities and colleges—these include three research universities, four comprehensive universities, ten branch community colleges, seven independent community colleges, and three special schools.[ii]

In order to attain University Status, institutions must offer graduate education (Northern does not), must employ a higher ratio of full-time PhD professors and Administrators (Northern’s faculty is 67-70% adjunct/part-time with a fraction holding PhDs, and several of the Northern “Executive Team” do not have degrees past Bachelor’s level, or commiserate with their responsibilities), and Northern must seek and obtain Status Change to University through the NMHED and the accreditation agency. There are several more criteria for an institutional Status Change and for this reason a proposal for Status Change to become a University is long-planned, long-sought, and long worked toward. Northern has not fulfilled any of the steps that would allow a Status Change to University and Northern does not qualify for a change to University Status by any measure.

What has prompted Barcelo’s push for a name change? After the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate voted “No Confidence” in Barcelo and her “Executive Team” last April, Barcelo went on attack, leading to the loss of over a quarter of the full-time faculty and the Directors of critical programs at both the El Rito campus and the Espanola campus. Some faculty and staffers were released via retaliatory non-renewals, others chose resignation.[iii] Local and national media covered the continued decline of Northern New Mexico College under Barcelo, and the college’s name became synonymous with incompetence, mismanagement, and practices of retaliation and favoritism.[iv]

In addition to running from the reputation that Barcelo’s Administration has earned after four disastrous years, NNMC Administrators and Regents aim to capitalize on false advertising. In an article in The Rio Grande Sun (February 19, 2015), Regent Branch explained that “although the name change does not guarantee an easier accreditation process... it will make it easier ...to obtain ...grants …more legitimacy.” Changing the college’s name, explained regent Branch, “improves the status” and will make for “a more impactful [sic] diploma.”

Thus, changing the name without attaining actual University Status is designed to create the misperception that the college is something it is not—Branch is clear that the effort is designed to deceive for the purpose of financial gain. The college will hike tuition—it’s now a University!—and the college will hope to mislead granting agencies and partners by trading on the “legitimacy” gained by claiming a fait accompli. As the NNMC press release reads, “Northern New Mexico College becomes University” (January 27, 2015). In an article published by The Journal North, Barcelo “added that it would help the institution be regarded with equal status as other state institutions, such as Western New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands.”

Yet, NNMC is not equal in Status to these institutions—indeed under Barcelo’s leadership, several programs have been cut, course offerings have fallen drastically, once healthy certificate and A.A. programs have been reduced to “continuing education” non-degree granting courses, and enrollment has fallen precipitously. But Barcelo’s hope is that a change of name/brand will give the false impression that Northern has become a University.[v]

In The Rio Grande Sun article, NNMC President Barcelo admits that “the move only changes the name of Northern and does not provide it university status,” adding “in the far future Northern administrators will strive to achieve university status.” Imagine, giving yourself credentials when you are certain you will not achieve those credentials until later… “in the far future.” Would NNMC students add the B.A. or R.N. to the end of their names if they thought they might strive to achieve those credentials later “in the far future?” Would we seek the expertise of an M.D., using those credentials, though they would not strive to complete education and training until sometime in “the far future?” What would we think of someone calling themselves "Sergeant" if they haven't earned the stripes? Will we allow Barcelo and Branch to disseminate complete falsehood, in the hopes no one is paying close attention? Do we want NNMC to be the only institution of higher education in New Mexico whose institutional name does not match its actual Status?

Such misrepresentation opens NNMC and the State of New Mexico to costly lawsuits that have been filed across the country against colleges who use deceptive marketing schemes. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Education has increased penalties for higher education institutions that draw on federal financial aid while misrepresenting programming, accreditation, graduation rates, and the quality and reputation of academic programs. Further, such misrepresentation damages NNMC's legitimacy, reputation, and its relationships with peer institutions.

With conscientious and careful leadership, perhaps NNMC could attain University Status. Under the Barcelo Administration, no such thing has occurred. NNMC President Barcelo herself predicts that only “in the far future Northern administrators will strive to achieve university status.”

In the meantime, Barcelo and Branch are asking the NM Legislature to pass SB-603, a misleading and costly name change. Every cent of false advertising and meaningless re-branding will be borne by tax payers and students, who are subject to yet another tuition hike after the February NNMC Board of Regents meeting.

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[i] “Northern New Mexico College is now a university,” T.S. Last (January 28, 2015) http://www.abqjournal.com/532997/abqnewsseeker/northern-new-mexico-college-is-now-a-university.html [ii] New Mexico Higher Education Department Report, showing NNMC’s status as a two- and four-year college. http://www.cpec.ca.gov/CompleteReports/ExternalDocuments/New_Mexico_Condition_HE_2005-2006.pdf

[iii] See “Faces of Those We’ve Lost,” http://www.nnmcstudygroup.org/blog/faces-of-those-we-have-lost and “Rash of resignations Plagues Northern New Mexico College,” The Rio Grande Sun, Ralph Chapoco (July 10, 2014) http://thenorthernissue.org/2014/07/09/a-rash-of-resignations-at-northern-new-mexico-college/

[iv] See “The academic equivalent of a corporate campaign,” The AAUP Academe Blog, Jonathan Rees (January 14, 2015) http://academeblog.org/2015/01/14/the-academic-equivalent-of-a-corporate-campaign/
and the link to a sampling of the media coverage in AAUP’s Academe Blog, Inside Higher Ed, The Journal North, New Mexico Watchdog, The Rio Grande Sun, The Santa Fe New Mexican, and the University Herald: http://www.nnmcstudygroup.org/media.html [v] “Northern New Mexico College is now a university,” T.S. Last (January 28, 2015) http://www.abqjournal.com/532997/abqnewsseeker/northern-new-mexico-college-is-now-a-university.html

Below: The beginning of the cost of re-branding

Note that much of the Northern New Mexico College promotional merchandise (that would need to be destroyed and replaced) has been paid for with Federal and State grant dollars. For instance, tens of thousands of dollars of branded Northern New Mexico College jumpdrives, water-bottles, t-shirts, lanyards, literature, stationary, business cards, pamphlets, brochures, notebooks, etc. have been paid for with Federal grants (for instance the Title V-Exito Grant). Such grants are meant to provide direct services to aid in student success. The additional cost of building signage, canvas panels, and remodeling has yet to be calculated. This month, the NM Legislative Finance Committee has requested such calculations from Mr. Domingo Sanchez, NNMC VP of Finance.

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Crunching the Numbers on President Barcelo's Leadership

1/13/2015

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As those in higher education are aware, one critical role for a college President is fundraising for the college. College Presidents have duties of vision and supervision, certainly, but one of their primary responsibilities is to bring additional funding to the institution. When hired in 2010, President Nancy "Rusty" Barcelo promised her fundraising skills, and even outlined a plan for the Northern Foundation to raise $18 million.

What have the years of Barcelo's leadership wrought? Can President Nancy “Rusty” Barcelo meaningfully demonstrate that she has grown the college, its enrollment, its services to students, its endowment, its academic offerings? Has Barcelo, during her presidency, secured funding for the college? As a matter of empirical fact, the answer to each of these questions is a resounding NO.

In 2014, the NNMC Study Group assembled a core group of accountants and a forensic auditor to conduct a financial analysis of NNMC for the years of Barcelo's presidency: 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. This analysis is based on public New Mexico State Audits from 2010 to 2013. The originals are available in full for download at http://www.nnmcstudygroup.org/budget.html and at the NM Office of the State Auditor website: "Audit Search" [top right] at http://www.saonm.org/audit_reports.

Our analysis found that the Audited Financial Statements show very clearly: 1) a decline in total revenue, 2) a decline in operating revenue, and 3) deep reductions in the college's net assets. Further, in four years, President Barcelo has turned previous surpluses into deficit.

NNMC's total revenue has been in decline under President Barcelo (beginning 2010). Declining tuition revenue (in spite of more than doubling tuition in three years) and declining revenue from state, local, and other grants and contracts make up for most of the loss of operating revenue. Non-operating revenue has held mostly due to State appropriations. (Click image for larger file.)

Initial surpluses in 2010, 2011, and 2012 resulted in growing Net Assets at the end of each year. However, this was reversed in 2013 and Net Assets were reduced due to the deficit that occurred in that year. (Click image for larger file)

Due to declining operating revenues NNMC’s operating loss [operating revenue less operating expenditure] has grown markedly since 2010. Indeed, NNMC's operating loss has nearly doubled since Barcelo assumed her presidency. (Click image for larger file.)

DECLINE IN REVENUE: Financial analysis shows that NNMC's total revenue has been in decline under President Barcelo (beginning 2010). Though the College sharply raised tuition in 2011, because of the corresponding decline in enrollment, there was a decline in tuition revenue. NNMC’s new President Nancy “Rusty” Barcelo, who was inaugurated fall of 2010, made more than doubling NNMC’s tuition one of her first major actions in power, and NNMC’s enrollment has not recovered since.

From the NNMC Fact Book (available at http://www.nnmcstudygroup.org/records.html) we note that the massive drop in enrollment (both full-time equivalent and headcount) is directly tied to Barcelo’s 2011 raising of tuition by over 50%—a move that gained the attention of the United States Department of Education. [i] By way of comparison, the year before Barcelo's decision to more than double tuition, NNMC’s enrollment trend was an increase of 18%. [ii] In 2013, NNMC had the lowest headcount of any New Mexico 4-year institution and enrollment continues to drop.[iii]

In addition, most of NNMC’s loss of operating revenue derives from the Administration’s inability to sustain state, local, and other grants and contracts. Sadly, our analysis for 2014 will show even greater grant losses. In 2014, NNMC lost its 40-year old Federal “High School Equivalency Program” (HEP) Grant, the first ever was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education in 1972. This grant was worth approximately $500,000 per year.[iv] Another key grant loss resulted when State Higher Education Department and the U.S. Department of Education Inspector General found that the NNMC Administration had improperly supplanted general operational funds with grant money in 2013. The Federal Department of Education required NNMC to provide reimbursement for unauthorized use of funds.[v] These were not the only losses of grant revenue in 2013 and 2014, but rather, well-documented examples supported by media accounts and direct information from granting agencies.

Indeed, under the leadership of Barcelo, NNMC Administrators have initiated a practice of “borrowing” hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Northern Foundation to cover basic operating expenses.[vi] Although the Northern Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, whose mission is to raise funds to support student scholarships, NNMC has dipped into the Northern Foundation to cover its institutional expenses.[vii] In July 2014, NNMC even “forgot” to repay the Northern Foundation $125,000 until the issue was under investigation by reporter Ralph Chapoco of The Rio Grande Sun. The relatively lenient terms of the loan—no interest charged on the principal, no collateral assigned to the loan to ensure repayment, and no late fees for failure to repay on time—may have been gained through VP of Advancement Ricky Serna’s relationship to the Northern Foundation’s Treasurer, Liddie Martinez. She is Serna’s aunt. In addition, NNMC President Barcelo is a voting member of the Northern Foundation. The issue of loans from the Foundation to the college was further compounded by the sudden and unexplained resignation of Gabrielle Amster, the Director of the Northern Foundation, in July 2014.[viii]

Fiscal analysis of Barcelo’s tenure clearly shows the downward spiral of NNMC’s total revenue, operating revenue, and net assets. In a paid advertisement in May 2014, President Barcelo wrote: “I understand that some are questioning the stability of the institution. Given recent publicity, I can understand how one might raise such questions, but I also recognize that much of the concern has been based on inaccurate information and misunderstanding … Sadly, misinformation and attacks obstruct opportunities to have civil conversations to address these important issues. This ultimately harms our community relationships and our ability to serve students.”[ix]

In that paid advertisement, President Barcelo avoided any discussion of real numbers, including the NM State Audit Reports from 2010 to 2013. President Nancy "Rusty" Barcelo instead attacked community leaders, concerned students, and committed members of NNMC’s faculty and staff as launching unfounded "attacks" and spreading “misinformation” and “inaccurate information.” We have therefore provided accurate fiscal information on President Barcelo’s tenure that supports the concerns that the community has been raising since Barcelo’s arrival.

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[i] “Ed Dept calls out colleges that hiked tuition by 50 percent,” 30 June, 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/ed-dept-calls-colleges-hiked-tuition-50-percent-183248263.html For more media coverage of the tuition hike, see: http://nnmcstudygroup.weebly.com/news.html —scroll to bottom

[ii] NNMC 2010 Fact Book, p. 7 http://205.166.231.30/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/NNMC-Fact-Book-2010.pdf Also full text of NNMC 2010 Fact Book below.

[iii] See New Mexico Higher Education Department’s “enrollment data for 2013: http://www.hed.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Data%20Research/Enrollment/Fall%20Enrollment%202013%20updated.pdf

[iv] See full story on NNMC’s loss of the federal HEP Grant in 2014 at: http://www.nnmcstudygroup.org/blog/nnmc-to-lose-million-dollar-federal-grant-after-40-continuous-years

[v] See “NNMC Regents Deny Retaliation,” Albuquerque Journal 4 May, 2014. http://www.abqjournal.com/393168/news/nnmc-regents-deny-retaliation.html [vi] See “Northern New Mexico College ‘Forgot’ to Pay Loan to Foundation,” originally published by The Rio Grande Sun, 28 August, 2014, reprinted by The Northern Issue at: http://thenorthernissue.org/2014/09/06/northern-new-mexico-college-forgot-to-pay-loan-to-foundation/

[vii] For more on the Northern Foundation, 501c3, see: http://nnmc.edu/wordpress/?page_id=4479

[viii] See “The Faces of Those We Have Lost” at http://www.nnmcstudygroup.org/blog/faces-of-those-we-have-lost

[ix] See “A Look at NNMC Changes” by Nancy “Rusty” Barcelo 9 May 2014, Journal North http://www.abqjournal.com/396897/north/a-look-at-nnmc-changes.html

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Secret meeting Blames students and governor

8/18/2014

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On April 26, 0214, the NNMC Board of Regents voted to uphold the recommendations of NNMC President Nancy “Rusty” Barceló and her Executive Team, cutting the college’s Career Tech programs that included Automotive, Construction Trades and Radiologic Technology programs. These cuts also meant removing several tenured and tenure-track professors, instruction and program staff. Hundreds of members of NNMC and the larger public called, wrote, emailed and attended NNMC Board meetings in an effort to convince the Board that the budget that increased Administrative spending and salaries while cutting student services and instruction would have a lasting negative impact.

After the Board voted for all cuts recommended by Barceló and her Executive Team, Chair of the NNMC Board of Regents Rosario “Chayo” Garcia ended the April 26th meeting in tears, voice wavering. After collecting herself Garcia concluded, “I love this college; I love this community. And I’m afraid what’s happened the last few days will start an avalanche we’re not going to be able to control.”[i]

Chair Garcia was prescient—since the vote, Northern has seen several lawsuits filed by former employees, has lost a multimillion dollar federal grant, has been found in violation of a separate federal grant, has been investigated by the American Association of University Professors, has seen a rash of faculty resignations, has aggregated over 750 signatures in a petition against its 2014-2015 proposed budget, has short-paid its adjunct faculty after being unable to meet its basic operating expenses at the end of the fiscal year, and has lost attempts at a bond measure to build a no-bid $13-16 million dorm.

The out of control avalanche predicted by Chair Garcia is also seen in Northern’s fall enrollment, which shows an unprecedented and massive decline. NNMC’s Registrar Kathleen Sena reports fall enrollment as low as 400 full-time equivalent (FTE) students. This is over a two-thirds loss in FTE students since 2011 when FTE enrollment was at 1,254.[ii]

This month, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Ricky Serna took the extraordinary measure of over-riding the College’s financial disenrollment deadline (the date by which students are dropped for non-payment). Serna directed financial aid and admissions officers to ignore the disenrollment deadline for hundreds of students though they had not paid tuition and/or fees or otherwise made payment arrangements. Serna’s attempt to keep enrollment numbers up is telling of the desperation NNMC Administrators are feeling. Indeed, at the August 14th “Board Retreat,” Provost Pedro Martinez plainly stated, “We have to increase enrollment. No matter what.” VP of Advancement Serna echoed those remarks explaining, “We need more students to enroll period. We need to double the size of the institution.”[iii] Regent Powers disagreed with President Barceló, who was determined to argue that the enrollment decline was simply part of a statewide trend. “We stand out in the crowd,” corrected Regent Powers, “Our enrollment declines are very dramatic.”

President Barceló and the Board met for over three hours discussing the increasingly empty campus. Although Chair Garcia and Board Member Herrera made the case for the very Career Tech programs they cut just months ago, Board Member Branch reaffirmed his belief that the program and faculty cuts were wise. He explained that after asking for (and getting) hundreds of millions of dollars from the New Mexico Legislature to build state-of-the-art Automotive facilities, the efforts and money were ultimately worthless, “Do you need an AA to work at Jiffy Lube?” asked Branch.

Regarding low registration numbers, Regent Powers (whose son is enrolled at NMSU) and Provost Martinez (whose son is enrolled at Santa Fe Community College) both complained about the lack of sophistication of NNMC students. Pointing to late enrollment, Martinez complained, “Procrastination is part of the culture itself.” He also explained that retention rates were low because, “We get students who can’t do fractions. We have a large population of students… with certain deficits.” Chair Garcia agreed with Martinez adding, “They’re not mature enough.”

As watchers of Northern expect, in the meeting as with most, all roads lead to the issue of dorms. Regent Powers made a connection between declining enrollment and the lack of dorms at the Española campus. (The college has dorm facilities at the El Rito Campus, which have been more than adequate for for-profit summer conferences and the like). President Barceló’s Administration and the NNMC Board have tried for several years to push through a plan for a no-bid dorm project, which was most recently ignored by the New Mexico Board of Finance. (The Board of Finance found NNMC's proposal so lacking it did not bring funding NNMC’s dorm proposal up for vote).[iv]

Powers asked of the lack of Española campus dorms, “How much is it impacting enrollment?” The answers by NNMC Administrators were shockingly disparaging of both the Española Valley and NNMC students—perhaps because members of the public were not present. The assembled leaders of the college argued that for NNMC to survive it needed to move beyond the local community, recruiting from outside the Valley and out of state. They argued that outside-influence was critical to the success of local students.

“We have students who are sheltered by the valley. We’re not diverse... we’re homogenous,” noted VP of Advancement Serna. Board member Branch added that without dorms filled with out-of staters, there is no student life, just locals who "Go from class to car... Who do I meet? We know each other anyway.” Branch, a resident of Santa Fe, added it is unwise to recruit students into Española without dorms to separate them from the local community because of “certain social problems.” Provost Martinez further explained NNMC needs out-of staters to edify local students, “Our students are very provincial. Some of our students have never been out of the county.”

Agreeing with these assessments, Regent Powers declared, “We have to be sure this student housing thing gets placed high up in the priority list.” Regent Powers, appointed by Republican Governor Susana Martinez, attacked the New Mexico Board of Finance for not allowing NNMC a bond to fund the dorm project. Governor Martinez sits on the Board of Finance and was critical of the NNMC dorm plan at the July Board of Finance meeting.[v] Regent Branch asserted of Legislators who have refused to approve the no-bid dorm project, “We haven’t been treated properly on this.” Amplifying Branch’s comment, Powers stated, “There’s injustice here. We need to try to expose it.” The NNMC Study Group wonders how Governor Martinez might respond to charges of injustice by her Republican appointee, Mr. Powers, not to mention the absolute silence of Republican Chair Chayo Garcia when these charges were made by Regent Powers.

President Barceló and the members of the NNMC Board (with the exception of Board member Donald Martinez, who did not attend the “Board Retreat”) have exhibited continued intransigence even with unprecedented low enrollment numbers that threaten the survival of the college. The “Board Retreat” neglected to acknowledge the assembled leaders’ role in the college’s decline and instead blamed and insulted the students of the Valley, Legislators, the New Mexico Board of Finance, and Governor Martinez. President Nancy "Rusty" Barceló and the members of the NNMC Board are running out of students to insult and critics to blame. As Chair Garcia predicted, Northern is now being crushed by the avalanche Barceló and the Board initiated.

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[i] “NNMC Regents Approve Budget,” T.S. Last, Albuquerque Journal (27 April 2014). Available http://www.abqjournal.com/390393/news/nnmc-regents-approve-budget.html

[ii] “Northern Struggles with Retention, Enrollment Numbers,” Ralph Chapoco, The Rio Grande Sun (14 August 2014). Available http://www.riograndesun.com/articles/2014/08/14/news/education/doc53ebbb9fe442e550185678.txt

[iii] Audio of full “Board Retreat” available from below. The Board met as a quorum but did not give notice of their 4:00 to 7:45pm meeting as a public meeting, nor did they post the agenda of the meeting as required by the Open Meetings Act. The Board has not released the draft minutes of this meeting within 10 days as required by the Open Meetings Act.

[iv] See more at “NNMC Dorms: Indefinite Hold.” Available http://www.nnmcstudygroup.org/blog/nnmc-dorms-indefinite-hold

[v] The full New Mexico Board of Finance Meeting can be accessed http://governor-nm.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1557 (Northern New Mexico College’s presentation is the last of the day and begins at 5:37 and continues until the meeting adjourns at 6:21.)

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nnmc to lose million dollar federal grant after forty continuous years of grant renewals

6/17/2014

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The year was 1972, Don McLean’s “American Pie” was hot on the charts along with Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” and The Godfather was on its way to becoming the year’s highest grossing film. El Grito del Norte, co-founded by activist Elizabeth “Betita” Martinez and attorney Beverly Axelrod was still in production in Española, New Mexico, and El Parasol was a new kid on the restaurant block. 1972 was also the year that Northern New Mexico Community College was awarded the first “High School Equivalency Program” (HEP) Grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. NNMCC’s High School Equivalency Program—the first funded in the state of New Mexico and the oldest in the nation—is now confirmed as non-renewed after being renewed every five years since 1972.

The Northern New Mexico College Study Group has been informed that NNMC lost its HEP Grant after two disastrous years under the leadership of Vice President of Advancement Ricky Serna. This grant, worth approximately $500,000 per year was taken over by Serna in 2011 after he removed HEP Director Donald Martinez.

Serna disturbed the grant in two critical ways that led to its non-renewal after 40 years of serving students in our community: 1) Serna moved the HEP programs and instruction from the El Rito campus to Española without authorization; 2) Serna then combined the High School Equivalency Program with another at the Española campus—Adult Basic Education (ABE). The ABE program, funded by the state of New Mexico and federal government under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, has significantly different measures and expected outcomes. It is a wholly separate program from HEP, which is specifically for seasonal and migrant farm workers and awards stipends to students to move them toward a GED in a finite amount of time.[i] Serna combined the programs’ instruction and instructors, and allegedly “double-dipped” by reporting the total number of students served by the combined HEP and ABE classrooms to each program separately. In 2013, Serna was reprimanded for this move and was told he was required to separate the programs. But alas, the damage had been done.

Serna was well-aware of his misrepresentation to the granting agencies and this would most certainly not have been done under the leadership of HEP Director Donald Martinez. Director Martinez upheld the long history of HEP’s success and responsibility and in doing so committed the program to continuing to serve those in our community who sought to achieve their goal of attaining a GED. Many of our HEP students continued into NNMC's College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and achieved Certificate, Associate’s and Bachelor’s at NNMC. HEP and CAMP not only benefited students, it was a clear component of NNMC's recruitment and retention, both of which should be critical concern to our Administration as we have reported lost between 45 and 57% of our student population since 2011. The newsletters from our then robust HEP program under Director Martinez attest to the program's successes and continued potential: http://ged.nnmc.edu/sites/default/files/u236/HEPNEWSLETTER.pdf and http://ged.nnmc.edu/sites/default/files/u3/HEP%20summer%20newsletter.pdf

Because of Serna and the Administration’s willful mismanagement, for the first time in 40 years, NNMC will not be re-awarded its High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Grant.

How many in our north-central New Mexico community will lose the opportunity to earn a GED because of NNMC’s Administration? NNMC’s reports show that the HEP Program serves at least 100 students per year, with a goal of an 80% success rate.[ii] These working-class, largely Chicana/o and Native students, receive tuition, books, counseling, a weekly meal and travel stipend, and the cost of GED testing--all to reward and encourage their efforts at gaining a GED. NNMC’s HEP was once a shining beacon in the Española School District, where the most recent graduation rate was a discouraging and dismal 45%.[iii] Our district, which trails far behind our state’s already low average graduation rate of 72%, has long been served by NNMC's HEP. In fact, Northern New Mexico College had only one of two HEP programs in the state (along with UNM’s Main campus in Albuquerque).

After forty years of successful program renewals, under this Administration, our community has lost the HEP Grant. And in doing so, it has extinguished another avenue of hope and promise in our community. In 2011, President Nancy "Rusty" Barceló delivered a lofty “Executive Proclamation” to celebrate HEP’s 40th Anniversary (pictured above).[iv] Then Barceló and her Administration stripped the program of its Director Donald Martinez, who was gracious in his goodbye though it was clear he had no desire to leave the program he had carefully nurtured.[v]

Once NNMC proudly proclaimed, “As part of a region steeped in a tradition of agriculture, Northern New Mexico College is proud to offer migrant and seasonal farm workers support and resources to earn their General Education Diplomas.”[vi] But again NNMC’s Administration has turned its back on our community and gutted a critical resource. The hubris of Serna, Barceló and company again results in a loss of instruction, services, and Federal grant money that this Valley and north-central New Mexico so desperately need.

The non-renewal of NNMC’s HEP Grant leaves the closest High School Equivalency Program approximately 90 miles away, or an hour and a half drive—if, as a GED hopeful you happen to have the daily gas money.[vii] Again the malpractice of a handful of NNMC Administrators has crushing consequences for our community. In addition, the loss of the HEP Grant will mean that four committed, full-time instructors will lose their jobs as will a critical part-time instructor who has taught computer literacy at NNMC for almost 15 years.

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[i] See HEP federal guidelines: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/hep/index.html

[ii] See the report to the NNMC Board of Regents for 2012, p. 5-6: http://site.nnmc.edu/sites/default/files/u3/BORDec072012.pdf and the HEP Annual Profile: http://results.ed.gov/sites/results.ed.gov/files/Northern_New_Mexico_College.pdf

[iii] http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/53857

[iv] See the HEP Newsletter: http://ged.nnmc.edu/sites/default/files/u3/SpandSumHEPNEWSLETTER.pdf

[v] See HEP Newsletter, “Farewell Hasta Luego,” p. 5 http://ged.nnmc.edu/sites/default/files/u3/SpandSumHEPNEWSLETTER.pdf

[vi] NNMC HEP webpage: http://ged.nnmc.edu/page/high-school-equivalency-program

[vii] For national locations of the HEP Grant Programs see: http://www.hepcamp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=37#NM

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Name Change Invites Scrutiny of NNMC Leadership

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Crunching the Numbers on President Barcelo's Leadership

Secret meeting Blames students and governor

nnmc to lose million dollar federal grant after forty continuous years of grant renewals

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Below: The beginning of the cost of re-branding