Statement of Purpose
As a public teaching institution—funded by federal, state and local taxpayers’ dollars as well as the tuition and fees paid by our students—Northern New Mexico College’s duty is to serve students and community. The most recent cuts by the NNMC Board, President Barceló, and her Executive Team in April 2014 constructed a false choice. Balancing our budget must not be the sole burden of students, faculty and Career Tech Programs. Indeed, massive increases in Administrative expenditures coupled with questionable spending practices have removed instructional resources and services to students.
Former President Barceló and her Executive Team, entrusted with providing a public service and paid with taxpayers’ dollars, funneled public funds upwards to growing Executive salaries and away from the educational goals of our institution of higher education. The increase in Administrative expenditures—including raises for Administrative salaries and the addition of several new and unnecessary Administrative employees—resulted directly in cuts to courses for students, cuts to instructors, cuts to student services, and cuts to critical Career Tech programs and the end of the NNMC Child Development Center. When approving recent cuts, the Board of Regents was well aware that Northern’s Administration had overspent its budget for five consecutive years.
Since its founding, the NNMC Study Group has been instrumental in calling for investigations into mismanagment and misappropriation of funds. The NNMC Study Group as instrumental in the early departure of former President Nancy "Rusty" Barcelo, Vice President for Instituional Advancement Ricky Serna, and HR Director Bernie Padilla. In addition, several Whistleblower lawsuits have been successfully settled by the courageous faculty and administrators who worked to reveal the damage done by the Barceló Administration.
The NNMC Study Group has worked to provide a clearinghouse for information regarding the practices and policies of Northern's Administration and Board. We act as a liaison between public officials, students, faculty, staff, and community members. Our efforts include independent reporting, the dispersal of public records, a calendar of critical events, documentation of open meetings, and media clips.
We firmly believe our classrooms are places of possibility where students dream and work for a better future. In its cuts to instruction and services to students, the Board of NNMC and the Barceló Administration turned their backs on our students and our community. We will continue to nurture the possibilities so inexplicably cut short by the policies of our current Board and he Barceló Administration. The Northern New Mexico College Study Group and its allies will continue to work fulfilling our callings, and providing the public services for which our community has paid. We thank you for your efforts in shepherding Northern New Mexico College toward greater service to community.
Former President Barceló and her Executive Team, entrusted with providing a public service and paid with taxpayers’ dollars, funneled public funds upwards to growing Executive salaries and away from the educational goals of our institution of higher education. The increase in Administrative expenditures—including raises for Administrative salaries and the addition of several new and unnecessary Administrative employees—resulted directly in cuts to courses for students, cuts to instructors, cuts to student services, and cuts to critical Career Tech programs and the end of the NNMC Child Development Center. When approving recent cuts, the Board of Regents was well aware that Northern’s Administration had overspent its budget for five consecutive years.
Since its founding, the NNMC Study Group has been instrumental in calling for investigations into mismanagment and misappropriation of funds. The NNMC Study Group as instrumental in the early departure of former President Nancy "Rusty" Barcelo, Vice President for Instituional Advancement Ricky Serna, and HR Director Bernie Padilla. In addition, several Whistleblower lawsuits have been successfully settled by the courageous faculty and administrators who worked to reveal the damage done by the Barceló Administration.
The NNMC Study Group has worked to provide a clearinghouse for information regarding the practices and policies of Northern's Administration and Board. We act as a liaison between public officials, students, faculty, staff, and community members. Our efforts include independent reporting, the dispersal of public records, a calendar of critical events, documentation of open meetings, and media clips.
We firmly believe our classrooms are places of possibility where students dream and work for a better future. In its cuts to instruction and services to students, the Board of NNMC and the Barceló Administration turned their backs on our students and our community. We will continue to nurture the possibilities so inexplicably cut short by the policies of our current Board and he Barceló Administration. The Northern New Mexico College Study Group and its allies will continue to work fulfilling our callings, and providing the public services for which our community has paid. We thank you for your efforts in shepherding Northern New Mexico College toward greater service to community.
