Santa Fe Community College Supports State Takeover of College of Santa Fe
(Santa Fe Homes Blog) The following statement was issued by Dr. Sheila Ortego, President, Santa Fe Community College:
“The news coming from The College of Santa Fe this week saddens all of us in higher education. We exist to help students succeed, and advance the cultural, intellectual and economic vitality of our communities. When an institution falters, students and the greater community are put at risk.
As president of Santa Fe Community College, I applaud Governor Richardson and Higher Education Department Secretary Reed Dasenbrock for exploring the possibility of a state takeover of the private college. I have made clear to both New Mexico Highlands University President James Fries and UNM President David Schmidly that SFCC stands ready to partner with either institution. In such a partnership, SFCC would provide the first two years of core coursework at our affordable tuition rates, with minimal state support needed to assist in planning and organizing the arrangement.
Already, the current Santa Fe Community College Master Plan references the need for SFCC to develop a permanent, additional off-campus site in order to offer programs at a location convenient to students. The CSF site could afford that opportunity. SFCC now delivers its new Facilities Technology (plumbing/heating) curriculum at a site off Siler Rd, and is offering its College for Working Adults program at a county building in the Casa Solana area. We know that when classes are available closer to where students live and work, more students can take advantage of the opportunity to learn.
Certainly, a partnership between SFCC and one of the state’s four-year institutions, or even a consortium arrangement in which institutions of higher learning are invited to establish various non-competing programs at the College of Santa Fe site, would be in the best interests of students in the Capital City. And presumably, an agreement reached for state control of the CSF campus would enhance and support current higher education options, not replace them.
It is noteworthy that CSF and Santa Fe Community College have been partners in a unique transfer program since May, 2007. First-time associate’s degree earning students from SFCC have had the opportunity to transfer to CSF under a reduced tuition rate.
Students at SFCC have long expressed a desire for seamless transfer options to universities. In addition to the CSF agreement, A 2+2 program is in place between the community college and UNM, which offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree option on the SFCC campus. A UNM bachelor’s degree in university studies is also available at the SFCC campus. NMHU has operated a satellite campus at the community college for many years, offering bachelor’s degrees in business and in education. In all cases, lower division classes offered by SFCC are not duplicated by the university. This arrangement protects taxpayers from funding two schools delivering the same coursework at the same location.
SFCC has an enrollment in credit-granting classes this fall of approximately 6,000 students. About 10,000 students participate in developmental, continuing education, workforce training and contract training.
Eighty percent of SFCC’s student body comes from inside the Santa Fe School District, and nine percent are from inside the state. Approximately 25 percent of these students transfer to one of the state’s public universities. Others earn an associate degree, a certificate or use their credits to transfer to out of state or private institutions.
We are glad Education Secretary Reed Dasenbrock is committed to problem-solving and an open discussion about possibilities for the CSF campus. We believe students and taxpayers will be well served by a model that emphasizes collaboration, uses taxpayer funding wisely and opens new doors of opportunity for area residents.”
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