A. "Two plus two" is created as a six-year pilot project in which public post-secondary educational institutions in the southeastern region of the state join to establish a seamless transition from community college to university to:
(1) improve graduation rates at both educational systems;
(2) reduce student credit hour accumulation;
(3) reduce student debt;
(4) reduce student remediation; and
(5) increase collaboration and efficiency by and among the southeastern region's post-secondary educational institutions.
B. The purpose of two plus two is to show that the alignment of curricula, course numbering and course credits between community colleges and state universities:
(1) improves student success and outcomes;
(2) improves the performance, efficiency and effectiveness of both community colleges and state universities; and
(3) lowers cost and provides greater benefits to students, institutions and taxpayers.
C. The following public post-secondary educational institutions may participate in two plus two:
(1) eastern New Mexico university;
(2) the Roswell branch of eastern New Mexico university and eastern New Mexico university Ruidoso branch community college;
(3) New Mexico junior college;
(4) New Mexico military institute;
(5) Clovis community college;
(6) the Carlsbad branch of New Mexico state university or the branch's successor institution; and
(7) any other public post-secondary educational institution that requests to join the pilot project.
D. Three four-year cohorts of students shall be tracked in the pilot project, beginning with those academic students in the freshman class of 2022 at the participating community colleges who declare their intention and receive a bachelor's degree at eastern New Mexico university and ending with those academic students in the freshman class of 2024.
E. The participants in two plus two shall:
(1) designate an institution to serve as lead administrator, if needed;
(2) designate a person at each institution to serve as that institution's lead administrator;
(3) determine what and how data will be collected, analyzed and evaluated to determine whether the purpose of two plus two was borne out and whether articulation changes lead to better outcomes for students and institutions; and
(4) any other matters necessary for the conduct and evaluation of two plus two.
F. The participants shall submit interim and final reports annually to the secretary of higher education and the legislature on the efficacy of two plus two. Reports shall also be filed with the legislative library at the legislative council service.
History: Laws 2021, ch. 33, § 1.
Effective dates. — Laws 2021, ch. 33 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 18, 2021, 90 days after adjournment of the legislature.
Structure 2021 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 21 - State and Private Education Institutions
Article 1 - General Provisions Relating to State Educational Institutions
Section 21-1-1 - State institutions; admission requirements to be established by boards of regents.
Section 21-1-1.2 - Dual credit for high school and post-secondary classes.
Section 21-1-2 - Matriculation and tuition fees.
Section 21-1-2.1 - Scholarship program established.
Section 21-1-3 - State educational institutions; resident students.
Section 21-1-4 - Tuition and general fee charges; definitions.
Section 21-1-4.1 - Tuition payments; residents conscripted into military service.
Section 21-1-4.7 - Foster child tuition and fee waiver eligibility; notification.
Section 21-1-7 - Removal of faculty members; compensation of secretary and treasurer restricted.
Section 21-1-7.1 - Post-tenure review process required.
Section 21-1-7.2 - Reporting; commission on higher education [higher education department].
Section 21-1-7.3 - Temporary provisions; tenure study.
Section 21-1-8 - [Eligibility for retirement pension.]
Section 21-1-9 - [Expenses of members of boards of regents.]
Section 21-1-10 - Delegation of authority.
Section 21-1-11 - [Allocation of funds.]
Section 21-1-12 - [Annual reports; contents.]
Section 21-1-14 - [Quarterly and special meetings of boards.]
Section 21-1-15 - [One member of board to reside in adjacent municipality.]
Section 21-1-16 - [Public inspection of board records.]
Section 21-1-16.1 - State institutions of higher education; presidential searches.
Section 21-1-17 - Interest in contracts by board members or employees prohibited.
Section 21-1-18 - [No personal liability for official actions.]
Section 21-1-19 - [Oaths of board members; filing.]
Section 21-1-20 - Power to hold property.
Section 21-1-21 - Capital expenditures.
Section 21-1-21.1 - State educational institutions; adequate parking.
Section 21-1-22 - [Nonsectarian operation required.]
Section 21-1-24 - Graduate programs.
Section 21-1-26 - Higher education department; general powers.
Section 21-1-26.1 - Additional duties.
Section 21-1-26.2 - Post-secondary education; adult correctional facilities.
Section 21-1-26.3 - Verification function.
Section 21-1-26.7 - Annual accountability report.
Section 21-1-26.9 - Limitation; higher education department; review of proposed campuses.
Section 21-1-26.11 - Higher education department; additional duties.
Section 21-1-26.12 - Educational needs and guidelines; accountability reports.
Section 21-1-27 - Higher education department; distribution of available funds.
Section 21-1-27.1 - Higher education endowment fund created.
Section 21-1-27.2 - Technology enhancement fund created; allocations; application review panels.
Section 21-1-27.3 - Higher education performance fund; created; administration; distributions.
Section 21-1-27.4 - Higher education program development enhancement fund; purpose.
Section 21-1-27.5 - Adult basic education fund created.
Section 21-1-27.7 - Fund created.
Section 21-1-27.8 - Adult basic education; instructional materials.
Section 21-1-27.10 - Fund created; tribal college dual credit program fund; administration.
Section 21-1-27.11 - Centers of excellence.
Section 21-1-32 - Purpose of act.
Section 21-1-33 - System of accounting and reporting; manual.
Section 21-1-34 - Educational television equipment replacement fund; disbursement.
Section 21-1-36 - New Mexico cooperative education program; purpose.
Section 21-1-37 - New Mexico cooperative education program created; administration; duties.
Section 21-1-39 - Legislative findings.
Section 21-1-40 - Prepaid higher education tuition program; feasibility study; guidelines.
Section 21-1-41 - Military access to a post-secondary educational institution.
Section 21-1-42 - Public post-secondary educational institutions; student identification number.
Section 21-1-44 - School leadership institute; created; purpose.
Section 21-1-46 - Request for access to social networking account prohibited.
Section 21-1-47 - Statewide advanced placement policy.
Section 21-1-48 - Regional two plus two pilot project; eligibility; evaluation and reporting.