Southeast New Mexico College “SENMC” was established in 1950 as the State’s first Community College and was named the Carlsbad Instructional Center.  Ten years later, the Center was renamed as a branch campus of New Mexico State University System. In 1980, the campus was relocated to a new building, which was expanded with an additional wing of classrooms in 1987. In 1996, a computer facility for occupational programs was added to the existing facilities. The newest building, the Allied Health Building, was completed in 2011 to house programs in Nursing and Allied Health.

The College celebrated its 70^th year record of accomplishments on October 2, 2020. Throughout its existence, the College has helped shape lives and in turn, shape the community of Carlsbad. The College appreciate the continued support of Carlsbad and Eddy County community. Effective July 1, 2021, SENMC started another phase of its rich history by transitioning from NMSU-Carlsbad to Southeast New Mexico College as an independent Community College.

Accreditation

SENMC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and in 2018 the college was transitioned from the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) to the Open Pathway model of accreditation. The associate degree program in nursing offered by SENMC is accredited fully by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Both the certificate and associate degree programs in nursing are approved by the State of New Mexico Board of Nursing. All associate degree programs offered by SENMC are reviewed and approved by the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

Professional Associations

The college holds membership in the New Mexico Independent College Association, the American Association of Community Colleges and the American Association of Higher Education. In addition, courses offered by SENMC have been approved for enrollment by those veterans and dependents that qualify for higher education benefits under the various sections of the Veterans’ Education Assistance Act.

SENMC Graduation and Retention Rates

These rates may be found on the SENMC Institutional Research website.

Why Students Choose SENMC

Most students choose to attend SENMC because the campus is close to their homes. In contrast to attendance at larger institutions, students attending SENMC receive more individual attention from faculty and staff to encourage their academic success, and they can earn credit in lower-division courses—equivalent to those offered by other institutions—at an affordable tuition. Students also have the opportunity to complete their high school instruction and their college education at an associate level on the same campus. The college offers classes at times convenient to full-time as well as part-time students. Academic programs and related services are expanding regularly to meet the demands of the changing student body and local community. Students have access to a multitude of valuable services offered on-campus to meet their educational and career goals. Entertainment and cultural events are sponsored regularly. Students are equipped with the knowledge, competencies and skills to enter the work force immediately or to transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions anywhere in the country.

Become a Part of the College

SENMC is the principal public institution for associate-level study in Eddy County. Our foremost purpose is to provide quality academic programs, facilities, and resources to accommodate the needs of our richly diverse student body. Here students have the opportunity to learn from a dedicated and diverse group of faculty and college instructors who regard excellence in teaching as their principal goal. The campus’ low student-to-faculty ratio encourages the individual attention and personalized instruction often unavailable at larger institutions. The low tuition associated with enrollment at SENMC, compared to costs to attend larger campuses, often permits students to economize the cost of higher education.

Students who need to complete their high-school equivalency requirements can attend special courses at SENMC through the Adult Education (A E) and General Educational Development (GED) preparation programs. Students who are still enrolled in high school can take college courses at SENMC through special articulation programs. Students who are working either full-time or part-time can still attend SENMC because classes are offered fourteen hours per day, Monday through Friday, and additional classes are offered on Saturdays as well as online. Students may also pursue their postsecondary education and job training through special courses contracted with industries and businesses in the regions.

A variety of resources and services are made available to students who attend SENMC. These include the assessment of academic preparation for college-level instruction, placement in courses intended to address academic weaknesses, tutorial assistance, financial assistance, career guidance and wellness programs.

Most academic credit courses offered at SENMC duplicate those offered at other institutions and may be used for the total credit requirements for baccalaureate graduation. Academic programs at SENMC are expanding continually in response to the needs of our students and in reflection of the changing world in which our graduates will live, work, and contribute to global welfare. The campus’ excellent certificate and associate programs and faculty are supported by state-of-the-art technology, including computer-assisted instruction in specific liberal arts and vocational-technical courses, as well as access to the Internet. Students benefit by gaining access to these technologies as well as to the campus library, which serves as a hub to connect students to global and local resources in digital and print formats.

SENMC also provides excellent fine arts facilities for instruction and accommodates several entertainment and cultural events annually. Drama students enroll at SENMC participate in Carlsbad’s community theatre. Students who have recently moved to the region will find numerous recreational activities and facilities associated with the Pecos River and park system. In addition, Carlsbad hosts a number of art galleries, the Carlsbad Museum and Art Center and the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park. The city has a regional airport and is located ten miles from the entrance to the world’s eighth wonder, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Residents are also within driving distance of a number of other national parks and sightseeing areas, which are accessible nearly all year due to the region’s mild and pleasant winters and its warm and dry summers.

Placement of our graduates in meaningful careers is important to the economic stability of the region. Southeast New Mexico College offers opportunities for students to engage in cooperative education and internship experiences; it also provides job information and related services to students who seek help defining and choosing their careers.