GENERAL INFORMATION
STUDENT SERVICES
Campus Activities
The Department of Campus Activities offers outside the classroom involvement, an essential complement to the student academics. Leadership and personal growth opportunities are offered through student organizations, Greek Life, National Student Exchange and the Union Program Council. Students are expected to take advantage of the Student Involvement Log (co-curricular transcript) and/or the Leader Certificate Program to optimize their undergraduate experience.
This office also coordinates activities and events through the Activity Request process, administers the University Sales and Solicitation Policy, serves as liaison to the InterFaith Council, and is responsible for the Student Handbook.
Counseling Center
The Counseling Center provides students and the campus with a variety of services including individual and group counseling, career exploration, outreach programs, and consultation. We assist students with issues such as relationship conflicts, depression, anxiety, stress management, and self-esteem concerns. All services are strictly confidential and are free. The Counseling Center is located in Garcia Annex Room 100, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and other times as needed. The Counseling Center is staffed by professional counselors and psychologists and is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc.
The Career Exploration Center, located on the northeast corner of Garcia Annex adjacent to the Counseling Center, provides students with assistance in career choice and selecting an appropriate area of study. An excellent library is available for reference use and check out. For more information check our web site at www.nmsu.edu/~counsel/.
WAVE: Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education is comprised of the Choices program that provides campus organizations, classes and other groups with information concerning the decisions that surround drinking alcohol and the VIP (Violence Intervention Program) that delivers presentations on sexual assault and violence prevention.
New Student Programs
New Student Registration programs are offered throughout the year. During NSR events, students will attend information sessions, meet with an academic advisor and register for classes. Students will also learn more about college life and campus resources. For information, please contact the Office of Enrollment Management at (575) 646-1055 or nsoinfo@nmsu.edu.
DISTANCE EDUCATION
Distance Education (DE) at NMSU is defined as the formal education process of delivering instruction so that students physically remote from the campus of program origin and/or instructor may participate. Students who live a significant distance away from the main campus or have scheduling conflicts due to family or work obligations often find distance education as the best solution to educational advancement. The NMSU Office of Distance Education is here to serve these students.
Distance Education Delivery
Distance education undergraduate degree programs at NMSU are delivered using both technology and face-to-face instruction at off-site locations such as NMSU branch campuses. Degrees are listed below according to their primary delivery method. For complete information, please visit the Office of Distance Education web site at http://distance.nmsu.edu/.
Bachelor Degree Completion Programs
All undergraduate degree programs offered through NMSU Distance Education are Bachelor degree completion programs. These programs require that students have all lower-division (100 and 200 level) credits completed before admittance into the program. DE Bachelor degree completion programs normally require two years of 300 and 400 level upper-division coursework to finish.
Technology-Based Programs
Distance education programs listed under this category are delivered primarily using distance learning technologies. In some cases, programs may require brief residencies on the main campus for orientations, assessment, etc. Technologies used to deliver distance education at NMSU include:
- WebCT (Web Course Tools): Enables an instructor to integrate the Internet into delivery of a course.
- Centra: A synchronous web delivery solution for conducting virtual or "live" classroom events through the Web.
- NMSU Media Services: Provides course delivery through cable television, satellite, teleconferencing, and more.
Courses may use a "blended approach" to instruction integrating two or more types of technologies above to promote engaging and effective learning.
Bachelor Degree Completion Programs
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor of Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Human and Community Services (BHCS)
- Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management
Off-Site/Extension Programs
Distance education programs listed under this category are delivered primarily face-to-face at off-site/extension locations. Often, these courses will enhance instruction and learning with technology. Programs are located at NMSU two-year and Albuquerque Center campuses, as well as other locations throughout the state. The degree completion programs below are available at one or more off-site/extension locations.
Bachelor Degree Completion Programs
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Outcomes Assessment
As part of its continuing effort to maintain quality academic programs and to provide strong support services, NMSU routinely conducts outcomes assessment activities. Students may be required to participate in one or more of these activities (for example: capstone courses or exams, exit interviews, and standardized tests). The data resulting from these assessments will be published only in aggregate form.
Career Services
The mission of Career Services is to offer programs, services, and resources that will contribute to students' life-long career-planning efforts. Staff members work closely with deans, department heads, faculty, and employers to assist students and alumni in developing suitable career opportunities based on their education, experiences, and interests. Additionally, Career Services arranges interviews between prospective employers and graduating students and alumni. The staff advises students on the career-planning process and successful job-search strategies. Current information on employment trends and a comprehensive library of career literature help students make informed decisions. Also, informative career fairs are held throughout the academic year.
Excellent experiential opportunities, through the following programs, contribute to forming students' career goals, to developing a positive work ethic, and to providing financial support:
On-Campus Employment-Regardless of financial need, any currently enrolled student may apply for a part-time job with an employer in the academic community. Many jobs are preprofessional in nature and offer academically related experience.
Off-Campus Employment-Part - and full-time jobs in Las Cruces, as well as White Sands Missile Range, and the NASA Johnson Space Center, requiring general or very specific qualifications, are listed and referrals are made for students and their spouses.
Internships-Information is available on internship opportunities offered by government, nonprofit organizations, and business/industry. During the summer months and throughout the academic year, interns may arrange for academic credit for internships.
For comprehensive information on all programs and services offered by Career Services, please visit careerservices.nmsu.edu, send email to hirenmsu@nmsu.edu or call (575) 646-1631.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) assists individuals with documented disabilities to obtain appropriate academic accommodations. Students with sensory, mobility, learning, or other recognized impairments are encouraged to apply for services through this office. Among services available are note taking, test accommodations, interpreters, and others. Students are encouraged to provide documentation and request services well in advance of the start of school to allow adequate time to make the needed arrangements. The university is committed to ensuring that the campus is accessible to all individuals. For more information, please come by our offices in Corbett Center 244 or call (575) 646-6840 (voice), (575) 646-1918 (TDD/text telephone).
Speech and Hearing Center
Combining instruction, practical experience, and service, the center provides training for students in communication disorders and provides service to the community. Students have opportunities to participate in diagnostic evaluations and to provide therapy in the areas of speech, language, and hearing for clients across the lifespan.
Referrals are accepted from all sources (self, medical, school, nonprofessionals). The Speech and Hearing Center is a fee-for-service clinic where university students and their immediate family receive a reduced rate. All services are supervised by professional personnel licensed in New Mexico and holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Services are provided in English and/or Spanish. For further information, contact Speech and Hearing Center, MSC 3SPE, New Mexico State University, P. O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8001, (575) 646-3906; (TTY - (575) 646-6191).
Student Health Center
The university maintains a well-equipped health clinic on campus, including laboratory, pharmacy and x-ray services. Hospitalization and emergency care is available in the community.
The health fee is included in tuition for all full-time students. Part-time undergraduate students taking 6 credits or more per semester may pay the health fee during registration periods only. Graduate students should refer to the Graduate Catalog.
Part-time foreign students must pay the health fee for Student Health Center services.
Tuberculosis (TB) skin testing is required for all international students from high incidence areas admitted to NMSU. Payment of any costs related to compliance with this requirement remains the obligation of the student. Any newly admitted international student, whose country of origin is identified as a high incidence of tuberculosis, and who has not received a TB skin test, including the interpretation, will have his or her registration blocked for any subsequent enrollment period(s) until this requirement is completed. Additional information on policies surrounding the tuberculosis skin testing is available from the Student Health Center.
For more information on supplemental health insurance contact the SHC Insurance office at (575) 646-5706.
Testing Services
Testing Services (575) 646-1921 provides test information and registration materials for the following tests: American College Testing Assessment (ACT); College Level Examination Program (CLEP); General Education Development (GED); Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT); Graduate Record Exam (GRE); Miller Analogies Test (MAT); PRAXIS Series; Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST); and New Mexico Teacher Assessments, and others.
VETERANS' PROGRAMS
NMSU degree programs are approved by the Director of Veteran's Education and Training for enrollment of persons eligible to receive education benefits from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA).
For further information concerning approved programs and application process, eligible persons should contact the Veterans' Programs Office at Jacobs Hall, Room 214 or at (575) 646-4524 or through email at va@nmsu.edu.
Responsibility of Veteran Students
Students must be pursuing a degree in a specific program to be eligible to receive benefits. Admission procedures for veterans and other eligible persons are the same as those for other students. Degree plans from advisors must be submitted prior to any verification. For continued certification students must submit the Verification of Enrollment Form and Detailed Class Schedule to the NMSU Veterans' Programs Office.
Veterans must notify the Veteran's Programs Office when any one of the following occurs:
- Dropping or adding course(s)
- Withdrawing from course(s)
- Discontinuing regular class attendance
- Change in Programs (academic majors)
VA educational benefits are payable for regular attendance in courses that are part of the veterans's program (major) curriculum. VA educational benefits are not payable for:
- Classes not attended regularly
- Repeat of a course for which a passing grade was received
- Classes for which credit is received through successful completion of a proficiency test or grade by examination
- Classes taken on an audit basis
- Classes that are dropped
- Classes taken that are not part of the veteran's program (major) curriculum
WAVE: Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education
See information under Counseling Center.