Albuquerque Journal North

Does State Need To Fund Another University?

Two state universities are apparently considering acquiring the College of Santa Fe, a private institution that has been in financial trouble for some time and faces closure if it can't find a way to stay solvent.
        The College of Santa Fe had been discussing a merger with a private, for-profit education provider, Laureate Education, which also runs Sylvan Learning Centers. That deal fell through, and now New Mexico Highlands University is expressing interest in taking over the 100-acre campus in Santa Fe and capitalizing on its already established film and fine arts programs. (The University of New Mexico has also been mentioned as a possibility for the takeover.)
        There are several arguments in favor of an arrangement along these lines. But there are also significant reasons why the deal might not a good idea for higher education in New Mexico, at least at this point in time.
        The College of Santa Fe is established in Santa Fe, and it's one of the oldest higher-learning institutions in the state. It's well-known for its film, fine arts and creative writing programs. The school's studio and film programs, for example, turn out graduates who are competitive in film and media markets across the country.
        The college has also received several important bequests that have created the Greer Garson Theater and Studios, the Shellaberger Tennis Center and the Marion Center for Photography. These facilities play a big role in the cultural life of this community and it would be a shame to lose them. The college draws a significant number of students from out of town and out of state. But it also has a loyal base of Santa Fe recruits. Many a state employee, for example, boasts a degree from the college.
        The state's higher education secretary says it's important that the capital city have a four-year institution. The only alternative, if the College of Santa Fe shuts down, would be St. John's College, a pricey and idiosyncratic school that doesn't necessarily suit the needs of a student whose priority is finding a job post-graduation. Moreover, a state takeover also would lower tuition at the College of Santa Fe considerably, making its degree programs more accessible.
        On the other hand, it's far from clear that turning the college into an adjunct of one of the state universities would be beneficial in the long run. Highlands officials say they're interested in capitalizing on the College of Santa Fe's reputation as a fine arts institution and would try to maintain the faculty and staff here. Would that mean that Highlands would run two separate-but-equal campuses, each with complete programs ranging from freshman core courses in the humanities to specialized areas of study?
        We've got branches — at least, branch programs — galore up here in el norte: Highlands offers classes in Santa Fe; UNM offers classes here as well as at outposts in Taos and Los Alamos. Whether the College of Santa Fe could remain a full-fledged four-year institution is a question that should be subjected to serious financial and philosophical analysis.
        There is also some question whether the Santa Fe College campus could generate enough revenue to cover its operating expenses. Highlands President James Fries is no stranger to college financial difficulties — he served as president at the College of Santa Fe and directed Santa Fe Community College's foundation before stepping in at Highlands in the aftermath of the disastrous Manny Aragon presidency. But he says he doesn't yet know whether Santa Fe College could be self-sustaining.
        To complicate the situation, the state this year is facing a huge revenue shortfall that has already occasioned a hiring freeze and may necessitate cuts across the state budget in the next fiscal year. In other words, there is not extra money available for expansion anywhere in state government. As we noted last week, Northern New Mexico College is already facing the possibility that it will not get enough funding to continue its rollout as a four-year university. The other state universities face similar problems. Common sense says this is not the year to add yet another college to the list of higher education institutions that the state must operate.
        Finally, as we noted in connection with Northern's expansion, the Governor's Task Force on Higher Education concluded some years back that New Mexico already has too many such institutions, costing us more, percentagewise, than taxpayers in other states pay. Somebody needs to put sentimentality aside and ask the hard question: Does the state really need to fund another four-year regional university?