New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) is a public university in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Motto | Artes, Scientiae, Humanitates |
---|---|
Type | Public university |
Established | 1893 |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
President | Sam Minner |
Students | 3,765[1] |
Location | , , United States |
Campus | Suburban |
Colors | Purple and White[2] |
Nickname | Cowboys and Cowgirls |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II – Rocky Mountain |
Website | www |
History
The university was first established as New Mexico Normal School in 1893, with the prominent archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett serving as its first president. The institution became New Mexico Normal University in 1902, and then New Mexico Highlands University in 1941, as it expanded its role beyond teacher education. Today, NMHU offers graduate and undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, education, and social work.
Located in Las Vegas, a city with a population of over 13,000, Highlands' main campus is close to recreational and wilderness areas and is within an hour's drive of Santa Fe and two hours from Albuquerque.
The majority of the school's approximately 3,765 students are from New Mexico and are Latino. Highlands' programs focus on its multiethnic student body, especially the Latino and American Indian cultures distinctive of New Mexico.
Accreditation
NMHU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and also has specialty accreditations for many programs. The School of Education received full accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in 2012. The School of Business is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences is accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).[3]
Academics
Student life
There are over 50 student organizations at NMHU.
Athletics
NMHU's athletic teams are nicknamed the Cowboys / Cowgirls, and compete in the NCAA's Division II's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Ten varsity athletics programs are offered, including women's soccer, cross-country, track, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, baseball, Softball and college football.
Statewide centers
In the 1997–98 academic year, New Mexico Highlands University established an extended learning center in Rio Rancho and began offering upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses in business, accounting, education, and social work. The center has continued with classes in those areas and has added studies in criminal justice, public affairs administration, computer science and general and school counseling.
There are also many other centers, including in Santa Fe, Farmington, and, Rio Rancho.
Notable alumni
- David James Baker, filmmaker and media producer
- Mark Cotney, NFL player[8]
- Charlie Cowan, NFL All Pro tackle
- Bill Dinwiddie, Basketball player
- Carl Garrett, AFL/NFL player; 1969 AFL Rookie of the Year
- Len Garrett, NFL player
- Reggie Garrett, NFL player[9]
- Eddie Guerrero (1967–2005), WWE wrestler
- Keith Jardine, football player; retired mixed martial artist, formerly for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, and King of the Cage[10][11]
- Leroy Lamis, sculptor
- Ben Ray Lujan, U.S. Senator from New Mexico (2021-present), former U.S. Representative from New Mexico (2009-2021)
- Ray Leger, educator and member of the New Mexico Senate
- Nathan Macias, Texas politician and retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force
- Chris Newsome, basketball player, Meralco Bolts
- Frank Olmstead, mayor of Las Vegas, New Mexico and 18th Auditor of New Mexico
- Lionel Taylor, NFL, leading pass receiver
- Patsy Trujillo, member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
- Sam Williams, NFL player
- Don Woods, NFL player, 1974 NFL Rookie of the Year
References
- "Enrollment" (PDF).
- New Mexico Highlands University Graphic, Style & Web Guide (PDF). Retrieved 2017-05-21.
- http://www.mpcacsite.org/mpac/annual-report/
- "College of Arts and Sciences".
- "School of Business".
- "School of Education".
- "School of Social Work".
- "Mark Cotney". Databasefootball.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- "Reggie Garrett". Databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- "Keith Jardine MMA Bio". Sherdog. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- "Keith Jardine UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.