PORTALES, NM -- A new proposed law in New Mexico is raising a few eyebrows at colleges and universities in Clovis and Portales.
The new policy, proposed by New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez would change the state funding formula for those institutions, rewarding colleges with state money based on the number of students who graduated instead of the number of buildings on campus.
President of Eastern New Mexico University Steven Gamble says many of the concerns with the new law are simply "fear of the unknown", because many details of the proposal have yet to be worked out. However, he still feels the concept of the proposal is one he supports.
"It shouldn't just all be enrollment based, semester credit hours based," said Gamble. "There should be a component in the formula that deals with quality and deals with the success that the university has in term of graduating their students."
Gamble says the budget proposal will be discussed and voted on during New Mexico's upcoming legislative session. They should know by sometime in February whether it passed or not.
