| New Mexico State University at Las Cruces |
|
|---|---|
| Established | 1888 |
| Type | Land-grant, space-grant, state university |
| Endowment | $139.5 million[1] |
| President | Barbara Couture |
| Academic staff | 1,219[2] |
| Students | 18,497[2] |
| Undergraduates | 14,698[2] |
| Postgraduates | 3,799[2] |
| Location | Las Cruces, New Mexico |
| Campus | Urban, 6000 acres (24 km²) |
| Colors | Crimson White |
| Nickname | Aggies |
| Mascot | Pistol Pete |
| Website | www.nmsu.edu |
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces (officially New Mexico State University, although also commonly referred to as NMSU-Las Cruces, NMSU, or NM State), is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. It is the second largest four year university in the state in terms of total enrollment across all campuses as of 2011, It also has campuses in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Doña Ana County, and Grants, with extension and research centers across New Mexico.[3]
The school was founded in 1888 as the Las Cruces College, an agricultural college, and in 1889 the school became New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. It received its present name in 1960. NMSU has approximately 18,497 students enrolled as of Fall 2009, and has a faculty-to-student ratio of about 1 to 19. NMSU offers a wide range of programs and awards associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through its main campus and four community colleges. NMSU is the only research-extensive, land-grant, USA-Mexico border institution classified as Hispanic serving by the federal government.[4]
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In 1888, an institution of higher learning, based in small adobe buildings, known as Las Cruces College—led by Hiram Hadley, a respected educator from Indiana—had even bigger plans in mind, which was established in the heart of the small village of the same name. One year later, a foundation for much growth was established when the Territorial Assembly of New Mexico provided for the establishment of an Agricultural College and Agricultural Experiment Station with bill No. 28 or the Rodey Act of 1889. The bill stated that, " Said institution is hereby located at or near the town of Las Cruces in the County of Doña Ana,upon a tract of land of not less than one hundred (100) acres, contiguous to the main Las Cruces irrigating ditch, south of said town." The institution, which was designated as the land-grant college for New Mexico under the Morrill Act, was named the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.[5]
Las Cruces College merged with New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, and the new school opened on January 21, 1890. That first semester there were 35 students in the college level and preparatory classes and six faculty members. Classes met in the old two-room building of Las Cruces College until suitable buildings could be put on the 220-acre (0.89 km2) campus three miles (5 km) south of Las Cruces. In February 1891, the university's first building McFie Hall, popularly known as Old Main, opened its doors. Unfortunately, the building burned down in 1910, but its remains can be seen in the center of Pride Field on the University Horseshoe,, or old university center[5]
In a move to better represent its operations, the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts was changed by the state constitutional amendment to New Mexico State University in 1960.[5]
Today New Mexico State University sits on a 900-acre (3.6 km2) campus and enrolls 18,497 students from all 50 states and from 71 nations. Regular faculty members number 694 and staff, 3,113. The university also has an extensive international student population from countries in Central America, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia and Middle East.
New Mexico State University is the land grant university of the state of New Mexico. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the southwestern tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state. New Mexico State University offers a wide variety of programs through the Graduate School and the colleges: Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Extended Learning and Health and Social Services. The 21 doctoral programs are limited primarily to agriculture, education, engineering, and the sciences; the specialist in education degree is offered in 4 study areas; the education doctorate degree is offered in 3 study areas; there are 51 master’s degree programs and 87 baccalaureate degree programs. At its four branch community colleges, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Doña Ana and Grants, New Mexico State University offers academic, vocational/technical, and continuing education programs. In accord with its land-grant mission, New Mexico State University provides informal, off-campus educational programs through the Cooperative Extension Service. Through a statewide network of 9 research facilities, the Agricultural Experiment Station conducts basic and applied research supporting agriculture, natural resources management, environmental quality, and improved quality of life.[6]
NMSU is divided into graduate school and several smaller colleges. These include:
| University rankings (overall) | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Forbes[7] | 148 |
| U.S. News & World Report[8] | 203–268 |
| Washington Monthly[9] | 149 |
NMSU is classified as a Hispanic-serving institution by the U.S. Department of Education and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Our undergraduate population is 24 percent Hispanic; other minorities that make up the student body include American Indians, Asians and African-Americans. Historically, NMSU has supported minorities in their academic goals—in fact, we admitted an African-American woman in 1928, well ahead of most other institutions of higher education. The university offers a multitude of support services to all students; interested minorities may also take advantage of the American Indian Program, Black Programs and Chicano Programs offices.
Since its founding as New Mexico’s land-grant college in 1888, New Mexico State University has encouraged and supported creative scholarly activity of its faculty and students. New Mexico State University is ranked 105th among colleges and universities in research and development in the nation, and is ranked 29th among institutions nationally without medical school in terms of R&D expenditures by National Science Foundation. Most early research followed mandates of the founding legislation of land-grant colleges by generating knowledge useful in agriculture and engineering. Over time, however, research has expanded from this focus on applied natural sciences to include all disciplines of the university. Today, creative scholarly activity leads to basic scientific discoveries as well as practical applications emanating from the natural and social sciences, arts, humanities, business, education and health sciences in addition to engineering and agriculture. This creative activity enriches academic program for students, provides training and employment opportunities, and attracts externally funded support to enhance university research, academic programs and facilities.[6]
The university is home to New Mexico's NASA Space Grant Program.[11]
In 2010, the NMSU Physical Sciences Laboratory has secured a study contract with Reaction Engines Limited, a British aerospace company that is developing technology for an airbreathing single-stage to orbit, precooled air turboramjet based spaceplane.[12]
NMSU is a very active research university, with $150 million per year in externally funded research programs. Our estimated annual economic impact in New Mexico is $1 billion. Anchoring the southern end of New Mexico’s Rio Grande Research Corridor, NMSU is the only university to reach the platinum, or highest, level of service to NASA’s Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program. SATOP makes the expertise of corporate and university researchers available to small businesses.[13]
NMSU's teams are called the Aggies, a nickname derived from the university's agricultural beginnings. New Mexico State is in its sixth season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Western Athletic Conference is the fifth conference NMSU has been affiliated with in its football history. New Mexico State spent the past six seasons as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Prior to that, NMSU was a member of the Big West Conference (called the Pacific Coast Athletic Assocation until 1988), Missouri Valley Conference and the Border Conference.[15]
Our Alma Mater, now to thee,
We lift our voice of praise,
We love thy walls, we love thy halls,
And all thy pleasant ways.
We love thy wisdom and thy strength,
Thy truth which makes men free.
Thine, Thine we are in peace or war,
Our own N.M.A.C.
Led by the banner’s crimson folds,
We’ll march the upward way.
As heroes of the common life
Thy sons would serve their day.
Through toil and triumph, peace and pain
With patience taught by thee,
We’ll fight our fight beneath thy flag,
Our own N.M.A.C.
With hope and courage, faith and joy,
we face the future bright;
Thy ringing call is in our ears,
they strong hand gives us might.
As thy brave sons have ever done,
So in the years to be,
We’ll guard they honor with our lives,
Our own N.M.A.C
Aggies, Oh Aggies!
The hills send back the cry,
We’re here to do or die!
Aggies, Oh Aggies!
We’ll win this game or know the reason why!
And when we win this game,
We’ll buy a keg of booze,
And we’ll drink it to the Aggies
‘till we wobble in our shoes!
A-G-G-I-E-S!
AGGIES! AGGIES!
GO AGGIES!
NMSU maintains strong athletic rivalries with the University of New Mexico. The UNM-NMSU rivalry is represented by the Rio Grande Rivalry, a series based on points awarded to the winners of head to head competitions between the two universities in every sport. A rotating trophy is granting to the winning university for a period of one year, until the award presentation the following year. Different traditions take place at each schools the night before game day. NMSU also has had a strong rivalry with the University of Texas, El Paso.
In the 1940s, the Victory Bell, a gift of the Class of 1939, was housed in an open-sided structure on the Horseshoe and rung to announce Aggie victories. In 1972, the bell was rededicated as the NMSU Engineer's Bell and mounted on a platform near Goddard Hall. On game days, various school organizations took turns in toting the ringing bell around Las Cruces prior to kick-off. The Bell was then taken to Aggie Memorial Stadium where it salutes Aggie touchdowns with its distinctive – and loud – chimes. More recently, the bell has been permanently mounted at field level just behind the south goal post of the stadium.[15]
"A" Tradition In 1920, students of then New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts scouted for an appropriate place to display their school letter. Tortugas Mountain, located three miles (5 km) east of campus, seemed a natural spot. Brave males gathered enough stones to form a big "A" easily visible from campus and the surrounding area. On the following day, April 1, students trudged up the mountain side with their five-gallon cans of whitewash and splashed it on the stones, turning them into a gleaming white "A". For many years, giving the "A" its annual fresh coat of whitewash was an all school effort. The seniors mixed lime and water at the foot of the mountain and the freshmen and sophomores toted the mixture up to the juniors who splashed it on the "A." With the growth of the university through the years, the tradition was taken over by the Greek Council.[15]
NMSU has multiple student organizations, as well as a Greek system. There are several religious organizations, including The Christian Challenge-BSU. The Associated Students of New Mexico State University[16] is the student government, it has a departmental organization.[17]
The Greek System at New Mexico State University includes:[18]
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| Las Cruces, New Mexico | |
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| Suburbs | |
| Doña Ana | Mesilla | University Park | |
| Doña Ana County | |
| New Mexico State University |
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