Roswell Daily Record in Roswell, New Mexico

Higher Ed Faces Budget Plan as Enrollment Shifts in New Mexico

UNM President William Davis praises the funding formula for stable growth but cautions that declining enrollments hurt state aid. BEF proposes $132.547 million for 1979-80, a 10.4 percent rise, with 7 percent faculty raises and 15 percent other costs. Two-year colleges would gain 20.3 percent, Alamogordo and Clovis branches targeted for large boosts. Davis notes UNM added 90 faculty in three years, improving the student faculty ratio, but enrollment drops trim salary gains. Title IX costs could require 150k to 200k more for women’s athletics across NM, with NMSU supporting similar moves. Regents favor tuition stability, sharing costs with students.