Catalog Effective Period

Each annual catalog edition is effective Fall Semester through Summer Semester for an eight-year period. Curricular requirements (course requirements and number of credits required) for a specific degree or other designation may be met by completing all of the course requirements as set forth by the catalog in effect at first matriculation of a designated program, or any subsequent catalog, provided the selected catalog is considered active when the requirements for graduation are met. For all other matters, the current catalog is controlling. SENMC reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, change fees, rules, calendar, curriculum, degree programs, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Except as otherwise stated here, changes will become effective whenever approval by the proper authorities is enacted and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled. Once approval is received by the proper authorities, students enrolled in a program that is being withdrawn from the catalog will be provided with a provisional plan (teach-out). This will include, the reason the plan is required and their options to continue their studies in a timely fashion so they can plan for the future.

Academic Credit

The unit of credit is the semester hour, equivalent to one hour instruction and two hours practice per week. Semester and cumulative grade point average are based on the total quality points earned divided by the credit value of computable grades. The academic year is composed of three full terms: 16 week Fall and Spring semesters and a 10 week Summer session. 

The Carnegie unit is used to measure traditional instructional contact time in post-secondary education. In this model, one credit hour is equivalent to 750 minutes of instructional time. By this ratio a standard three credit course requires 2250 minutes of instructional time to meet North Central Association (NCA) Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation requirement.

At least an equivalent amount of work, is required for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practicum, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of Credit Hours.

Laboratory work, internships, practicum, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours require at least an equivalent amount of work as in paragraph one of this definition. It is recommended for laboratory courses or courses that contain laboratories, 2P is equal to 100 minutes of laboratory time for a 15 week term (1P is equal to 50 minutes). For example, a course consisting of 3-cr. (2+2P), is recommended to meet at least 100 minutes of lecture and 100 minutes of laboratory per week for 15 weeks.

Numbering of Courses

100– 299 and 1000- 2999 lower division level 
Courses with a suffix of G meet New Mexico General Education requirements. Effective Fall 2020, upon completion of the total credits required by New Mexico Administrative Code, a transcript comment will indicate the student has fulfilled that obligation.  Courses with a suffix of H indicate Honors. Courses with a suffix of N do not count in credits earned toward graduation.