In his first State of the College address, the new president of Northern New Mexico College called for a change in the mindset among those in the Valley who feel “they don’t deserve to go to college.”
“We have to start a revolution here in letting the community know that there is a home here for them and that college can change their lives,” President Richard Bailey said.
About 70 people gathered in the auditorium at the Nick L. Salazar Center for the Arts for Bailey’s hour-long address, which he said is the first in a series of speeches, which will happen every three months. The former Air Force colonel spoke without notes and fielded questions from the audience for most of the presentation.
One of the College’s biggest challenges is declining revenue, Bailey said. The state used to send $11 million in aid each year, and now sends less than $10 million.
“I will fight for the College at the state legislature,” he said. As part of a five-year strategic plan, he pledged to find sources of money other than the state, and to update everyone on the College’s finances during every State of the College address. Later, when an audience member brought up the possibility of finding sponsorships to get the money necessary to launch specific programs, Bailey said, “We will be aggressive in going after big donors.”
On the other hand, he said, the community should be optimistic because the College’s tuition of about $4,425 per year, is the most affordable in the Southwest, according to a report by the College Board released this year.
A student said the film program only offers an associates degree, and once he attains that, he may have to go to another school to get a bachelors degree.
Bailey, who used to be dean of students at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., said he thinks the film industry is growing and the College should not be afraid to expand or start programs just because they might not have very many students in them.
“I am not a businessman and the College is not a business, it is an educational institution,” he said, to applause from the audience. “We should not just promote programs that make money.”
Bailey said staff and faculty want more students, and 3,000 students should be a goal for the College. College officials should see how many students are interested in bringing back vocational programs, he said.
Someone in the audience asked about ideas for recruiting and retaining faculty. Bailey said the College could create a fund for professional development, research, vacations and bonuses. He said bringing in more students will give Northern “more flexibility to reward our employees.”
El Rito campus
Carol Owen, an Española resident who works in shipping and receiving at the College, said after the address, that she hopes better funding will allow the El Rito campus to reopen.
“I love President Bailey,” Owen said. “He’s going to do wonderful things for this school. He sees where this campus and the El Rito campus can be.”
Most of the programs on the El Rito campus were ended in late 2015 and the last one was moved to the Española campus this past spring, though the College stopped offering credits for certain courses before that.
“It’s not a coincidence that my wife and I moved into the house at El Rito,” Bailey said.
He said the College could reopen the observatory on the campus, but there are no concrete plans. Whatever happens with the El Rito campus, it must have an educational benefit to students, serve a public need and promote economic development.
President commits to openness
Former president Sigfredo Maestas said Bailey’s personal qualities of honesty and youth are exactly what the College needs now.
“He brings this very refreshing honesty,” Maestas said. “Whether he agrees with you or not, he will say what’s on his mind, and I think most of time he has been right. Tonight, I think he was talking about the state of the College, but also trying to enlist our support, and he’s got it as far as I’m concerned.”
Bailey said being open about everything happening at the College is the only way to move forward.
“Let’s talk about the good things and let’s talk about the bad things,” he said. “Let’s talk about the things that we’re doing great and let’s talk about our greatest challenges. I can’t solve them without you.”
The next State of the College address will be at 4 p.m., March 30, in the Nick L. Salazar Center for the Arts.