Statement of Accreditation Status
as of November 29, 2023
New Mexico Highlands University
Box 9000
1005 Diamond Avenue
Las Vegas, NM 87701
(505) 425-7511
http://www.nmhu.edu
*Previous names: Institution name changed from New Mexico Normal University to New Mexico Highlands University. (1941)
The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.
Accreditation Information
Current status: Accredited
• Action Letter - Reaffirmation of Accreditation
| Accreditation granted: |
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Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2022 - 2023
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2027 - 2028
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 2025 - 2026: | Focused Visit | Other |
| 2027 - 2028: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
| Date | Event | Description |
| 06/22/2023: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Reaffirm Accreditation with Monitoring |
| 01/25/2021: | Focused Visit | Accepted |
| 06/28/2018: | Probation | Continue Accreditation |
| 08/31/2016: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Place on Probation |
| 11/10/2015: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | |
| 02/24/2014: | Monitoring, Financial Indicator | Accepted - Specific concerns: Even though the University expects their CFI to remain "Below the Zone" and given the positive outlook for the State of New Mexico in regards to state allocation and the revenue outlook for HIS, the team feels that there is nothing immediately dire that warrants immediate attention from HLC. Most of the decline with the CFI is attributed to the $1,000,000 investment with HSI, the $5,000,000 overage of a capital expenditure, stagnant enrollment and reductions in state allocation. Management expects increased revenues through patent commercialization and improved enrollment management practices. If those additional revenues do not materialize, it may be necessary to examine expenditure reductions to eliminate deficit spending. Remaining unrestricted reserves will not support additional deficits. Revenues from tuition and HSI must improve in the next two years or the College could be vulnerable as reserves are dangerously low. The team expects New Mexico Highlands to submit another financial panel report during the next review cycle as projections are for the University to remain "Below the Zone." If the University is required to submit another report due to financial information provided in a HLC institutional Update, the report must include the following: • The plan for improved enrollment practices including an updated enrollment report and efforts to increase tuition revenue and to improve retention rates. • Progress on performance of the Highlands Stable Isotopes, a component unit of NMHU. • An update on the construction cost overruns with the new student center, or any other construction project, including any potential litigation or financial settlement with outside entities. • An update on financial reserves and the plan to increase cash balances. The update should include how the University examines expenditure reductions in order to eliminate deficit spending. |
General Institutional Information
This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope as self-reported by the institution through its annual Institutional Update to HLC.
The U.S. Department of Education publishes a College Scorecard (available at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/), which allows students to search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more. Additional information can also be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.
Please note: All institutions are required to represent themselves accurately and consistently to multiple agencies. However, some information about institutions may appear differently among agencies depending on the timing of the institution's updates to those agencies or those agencies' definitions or standards. Such agencies should be consulted directly for further information. For example, an institution's "Control" (or "Type") may be categorized differently by the U.S. Department of Education for other purposes under its standards.
Control: Public
Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (6), Bachelors (42), Masters (25)
Certificate programs (number offered): 31
Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 11/29/2022.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at these approved sites. (This includes sites that are active and inactive (meaning approved but currently without students):
| In-State: | Campuses: | None. |
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| Additional Locations: | NMHU @ Rio Rancho - Rio Rancho, New Mexico NMHU Albuquerque - Albuquerque, New Mexico NMHU at the Higher Education Center - Santa Fe, New Mexico NMHU in partnership with San Juan C - Farmington, New Mexico |
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| Out-of-State: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Out-of-U.S.: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Location | Campuses | Additional Locations |
| In-State: | None. | NMHU @ Rio Rancho - Rio Rancho, New Mexico NMHU Albuquerque - Albuquerque, New Mexico NMHU at the Higher Education Center - Santa Fe, New Mexico NMHU in partnership with San Juan C - Farmington, New Mexico |
| Out-of-State: | None. | None. |
| Out-of-U.S.: | None. | None. |
About HLC and Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in the United States.
Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online course delivery. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through specialized or programmatic accreditation agencies, which accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status. HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of Guiding Values.
The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 2,000 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. They make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies, which take final action on institutional evaluations and are made up of both peer reviewers and public members.
Evaluation Process
HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets threshold requirements and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to data annually in the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices, including Assumed Practices and Obligations of Membership.
Decision Making
HLC’s decision-making bodies evaluate and make decisions, called actions, on recommendations from peer review teams that review institutions for their compliance with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and other requirements. The decision-making bodies are comprised of institutional representatives and public members. See Decision-Making Bodies and Processes for more information.
Public Information
HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.
Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. In cases of reaffirming continued accreditation, placing an institution on or reviewing a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing on the institution’s Statement of Accreditation Status, found by searching the institution’s name through HLC’s online directory. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued and posted in the directory in cases of sanction, assigning or removing an institutional designation, resignation of accreditation or candidacy, institutional closing or withdrawal of accreditation by HLC. The PDN provides the public with the most applicable information from the posted Action Letter. HLC decision-making outcomes also are summarized on the HLC Institutional Actions page.
Complaints Against Institutions
HLC has a formal complaint process, consisting of an online complaint form on the HLC website, for faculty, students and other parties to submit information regarding a member institution’s potential non-compliance with HLC requirements. HLC does not accept complaints through mail, email or over the phone. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution’s ability to meet HLC requirements.
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