THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

A number of academic departments of the university have a long history of providing formal graduate study. The first master's degree was awarded in 1896. In 1921, an organization was established to supervise graduate study when the president appointed a committee to supervise the work. The Graduate School, formally established in 1956 with a full-time dean, is one of the fastest-growing divisions of the university. In 1956, 57 master's degrees were awarded. In 2005-2006, the following were awarded: 6 specialist in education degrees, 835 master's degrees; and 79 doctoral degrees. The Graduate School currently enrolls 3,205 students pursuing advanced degrees with about 626 pursuing the doctorate.

Fellowships, assistantships, and special loan programs are available in growing numbers and value for students who have achieved good academic records in their undergraduate and/or graduate programs. With the rapidly expanding facilities, laboratories, and library holdings, the Graduate School of New Mexico State University offers unique programs of high quality graduate study. The graduate faculty consists of 592 professors and adjunct professors.

The Graduate School mission is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and the creation of knowledge, while fostering academic excellence. The Graduate School promotes a high quality-learning environment that embraces diversity. New Mexico State University is one of the few research extensive universities that reflect Hispanic, Native American, other American cultures and the world. Our international students from Latin American, Asian, African, and European countries add to the richness of our diversity. The quality of life for our students is of critical importance to the Graduate School and NMSU. We cultivate the marriage of academic, professional, and personal skills while helping students graduate in a timely manner.

The Graduate School strives to provide quality services to students, faculty and staff. We process applications and oversee the admissions process among departments; process transfer of credit requests; maintain the schedule of oral examinations; provide editorial assistance for candidates preparing theses and dissertations; manage graduate assistant employment; certify degree completion and provide scholarships and grants. We offer professional development workshops for students on a range of topics. To ensure that students receive the best advice from faculty, we offer academic advising workshops for faculty and staff.

We ensure the quality of graduate programs by carefully reviewing and approving new graduate programs and by periodic review of existing programs. We ensure the quality of faculty by overseeing their appointment to and reappointment as members of the graduate faculty.