Author Archives: Mario Sanchez

Western New Mexico University is experiencing steady growth, with a 5% increase in first-year student enrollment for fall 2024 compared to the previous year. This growth reflects the university's sustained enrollment overall for the 2024-2025 academic year. In the lead-up to the fall semester, WNMU received a record number of first-year applications, highlighting the rising interest in WNMU among high school graduates. This surge continues the trend of renewed interest in higher education and workforce training programs, made possible through the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship that provides qualifying New Mexicans tuition-free access to education and training. As one of the nation’s original Hispanic Serving Institutions, WNMU serves a large Hispanic population, with fall ’24 enrollment reflecting a nearly 2% increase in the population, underscoring the university’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities The number of international students attending WNMU has also...

Members the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents presented their evaluation of university president Dr. Joseph Shepard for the ’23 fiscal year and rated his performance as excellent, meeting the conditions of a retention bonus stipulated in President Shepard’s contract, Friday. “We as a board recognized outstanding performances in all areas,” said Regent Dal Moellenberg with Regent Vice President Lyndon Haviland adding, “We have concluded that President Shepard has had an excellent year.” Noting the evaluation of the university’s president each year is tied to the strategic plan, the board also passed a new set of goals and objectives tied to the university’s new strategic plan, created through a process that included university-wide collaboration and input from the public. In his report, President Shepard provided fall enrollment projections remarking the university’s 4K Initiative continues to move forward. “The university continues to...