College recruitment campaign launched

With the fall semester near, the New Mexico Higher Education Department has launched a statewide college recruitment campaign that pushes New Mexicans to explore their college and career options.

According to an HED press release, the campaign “Reach Higher New Mexico” is an online forum in which prospective students can explore local colleges and universities, along with state scholarship programs, and begin their college applications with just a click of one button.

Eastern New Mexico University President James Johnston said he appreciates the NMHED assisting in getting students to find a college or university that suits their needs.

Johnston said the enrollment and recruiting process is year-round at ENMU, and that this statewide initiative will make it easier to perform.

“This initiative … helps the students who are deciding now to go to college or have been wanting to go but had trouble navigating the process,” Johnston said. “I think it will help with those (students) and it will certainly help us in our year-round process.”

Johnston said when he was in college as a first-generation student, he found learning the inner networking in applying to colleges and looking for scholarships a bit daunting.

He said he was lucky to eventually find support within his community, but having an online campaign like this would expedite the process for new or returning students.

“For New Mexico students, there are so many opportunities to help pay for college. So many resources to support them and particularly the student population we see getting them to the door, into college. I think this (the initiative) will certainly be a help for us and our efforts,” Johnston said.

HED states that New Mexico’s public and tribal colleges and universities participate in the state’s tuition-free college program. Johnston said ENMU is also one of these universities by providing several scholarships such as the Opportunity Scholarship and Lottery Scholarship.

The Opportunity Scholarship program covers full tuition and fees for eligible part-time and full-time students who are enrolled in bachelor’s or associate degree programs, as well as high-need career training certificate programs at participating public colleges and universities. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must not have completed a bachelor’s degree or taken more than 160 credit hours, according to HED.

Johnston said ENMU leaders make their website easily accessible and help direct prospective students to find their college career goals. He said ENMU’s website is designed to make sure individuals can get all their information within “three clicks.”

“You just have a few seconds if a prospective student is looking to get them their information,” Johnston said.

Another ENMU practice to bolster recruitment, Johnston said, is to take a “hands-on approach” in assisting students. He said the ENMU staff helps coach and guide students throughout the process when they are preparing for their college career through college tours, workshops and academic advising.

Johnston said once students are enrolled, they are encouraged to explore their interests and their degree and career pursuits.

“This is a very family oriented college and university. I think it’s one of things that attracted me to this position when I was looking for that presidency and fit for me … Every interaction on campus and within the community reflects that same supportive family culture that I think draws in our students,” Johnston said.

Johnston said that with recruitment ENMU also strives to increase its on-campus student population and sees that this initiative can help assist in that goal.

“An in-person university experience is one of the richest ways to learn and deliver higher education. It is also one of the most expensive ways to deliver higher education, so with programs like this it creates that balance of affordability.”

HED states residents will have easier access to state scholarship programs and reaching out to their local colleges and universities through the department’s website ReachHigherNM.com .