As Rio Rancho grows, so do its educational needs. A partnership between UNM, CNM and the Rio Rancho community, looks to provide a commute-free start-to-finish education in Rio Rancho. Making this vision a reality is in the hands of Rio Rancho voters when they go to the polls on March 4.
The Higher Education Initiative calls for a ¼ of 1 percent gross receipts tax increase, which would bring the gross receipts tax from 6.6875 percent to 6.9375 percent. The increase is the equivalent of just 25 cents of every $100.
“If approved, the Higher Education Initiative will generate at least $20 million over the next 20 years to construct state-of-the-art facilities and other land improvements to make the new campus a reality,” UNM President David J. Schmidly, said.
With 5,000 students currently commuting from Rio Rancho to UNM, the new campus can provide a comprehensive local education. And, UNM invests nearly $1 million in Rio Rancho annually for instructional programs and services. The state’s largest university has also invested in more than 200 acres of land, with a market value between $10 and $15 million, in the new Rio Rancho City Center.
“We also initiated a campus master plan and recently named Marc Nigliazzo vice president UNM West and branch campus academic affairs,” Schmidly said.
CNM set aside funds to construct the first academic building on the campus.
“These exciting new projects mark a new phase in the development of Rio Rancho – an opportunity to receive an associate’s degree, a technical education or a four-year college degree in your own backyard,” Schmidly said.
The partnership plans to expand to New Mexico Highlands University and New Mexico State University so that students can enroll in a two-year community college degree program from CNM with the option to continue toward a bachelor’s degree at Highlands, NMSU or UNM, with graduate programs in tourism and hospitality management, allied health related fields, education, aerospace and engineering.
Not only are the educational opportunities a boon to Rio Rancho, so are the economic opportunities. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, $20 million in construction funding will generate 1,870 new jobs in Rio Rancho.
“For every dollar that taxpayers invest in higher education at UNM, they see $6 in economic growth. With these projections, UNM has the potential to return at least $120 million in economic growth for Rio Rancho,” Schmidly said.
The new campus, adjacent to the planned Rio Rancho City Center, will be the hub of community activity with shops, entertainment, restaurants and offices.
“The Higher Education Initiative supports the community’s motto as a ‘City of Vision’ and will be instrumental in the ongoing transformation of Rio Rancho,” Schmidly said.