Dear colleagues,

Last week, during my meeting with the Office of Student Success, I learned about new regulations from the Department of Education (DoE) requiring that financial aid funds can only be distributed for courses directly applicable to a student’s degree program. This includes courses within the student’s major(s), minor(s), and general education requirements. These regulations have significant implications for our students. Our degree audit system must be able to verify that the courses students are enrolled in are required for their degree. Additionally, we need to effectively communicate to students when their coursework is not eligible for financial aid.

The large number of electives offered by some programs presents a challenge for coding these into audit systems, and exceptions made for degree requirements make DoE audits both complex and risky. Our current curricular designs, as well as plans for new programs, must be evaluated in light of these DoE requirements.

Our faculty are actively developing new program proposals to meet the evolving needs of the workforce. These proposals are typically justified by factors such as student/employment demand, regional competition, and degree fit – parameters readily available through Gray’s data. Often, these new programs are designed using existing coursework from multiple disciplines to create more relevant offerings. As we work within the constraints of faculty availability, it is critical that we carefully design required coursework and reassess the degree-level relevance (focusing on either undergraduate or graduate, rather than both). This will require coordinated efforts from the University Program Approval Committee and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis, which provides program-specific data and reviews.

Last week, our department heads took part in an enriching day-long retreat designed to address key aspects of our organizational and academic success. The retreat featured a series of panel forums and interactive discussions focusing on critical areas such as ensuring faculty success, optimizing budgeting practices, navigating the complexities of hiring in today’s evolving landscape, and strategic planning for the future. The retreat was a productive event that not only facilitated the exchange of best practices but also fostered meaningful conversations among attendees. It provided valuable opportunities for networking, sharing experiences, and developing actionable strategies that will benefit our departments and institution as a whole.

As we move forward, it is vital that all departments stay informed about important changes happening in higher education and continue to work together to ensure that our students are supported both academically and financially. We will facilitate the collaboration between faculty, administrative units, and student support services. We are NMSU.

Lakshmi N. Reddi
Interim Provost
New Mexico State University