Name of School/Continuing Education Department
New Mexico Junior College
School location, website, contact information
Hobbs, New Mexico 88240
www.nmjc.edu
Contact Dr. Michele Clingman, Dean of Enrollment Management for enrollment information
What kind of financial aid do you offer?
NMJC offers federal, state, and local financial aid to include grants, loans, work-study, veterans benefits, foundation scholarships, and private scholarships. Students may submit an electronic filing of the FAFSA to initiate the financial aid application process.
Tell us about the availability of advisors.
The NMJC Counseling Department oversees the student advising process. Counselors are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Faculty advisers are available during their office hours. Placement testing is available during regular office hours.
What is your school best known for?
New Mexico Junior College opened its doors to students in the fall of 1966 as the first true community college in New Mexico. Since that time, NMJC has developed into a full service community college offering a full array of transferable programs, dual credit high school programs, technical education and training, community outreach programs, athletics, student housing, and the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame located on the campus. Over 3,000 students attend classes during the traditional fall and spring semesters with another 4,000 attending workforce training.
Share an alumni success story.
After several brushes with the law, Eric Garcia realized he was on a dangerous path leading nowhere. Having dropped out of school in the 8th grade, Eric had become a troubled kid whose life was riddled by drugs, gangs and other forms of self-destruction. Looking at the possibility of incarceration, it was time to make some major changes or risk losing his freedom—or even his life.
Hoping to remove himself from a dead end path, Eric realized that he had to take control of his life immediately. Encouraged by friends, Eric turned to New Mexico Junior College. Within a few months, he connected with the people he found at NMJC. Encouraged by supportive staff and faculty who seemed genuinely interested in him and his accomplishments, Eric surprised himself repeatedly by one success after another in the classroom. A growing self-confidence emboldened him enough to apply for—and earn—a position in the Campus Ambassadors program, a prestigious student leadership organization.
In addition to serving as a Campus Ambassador, Eric soon became a leader in the NMJC chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and was named to the Vice President’s and the Deans’ Honor Lists. One of his greatest surprises came a few months before graduation when the entire campus voted him as the NMJC Homecoming King. It was also during Eric’s last semester at NMJC that he became a Residence Hall Supervisor. To this day, a number of students credit Eric for helping them stay the course, thanks to his quiet example and gentle but consistent encouragement.
After graduating from NMJC, Eric transferred to the University of the Southwest, a private, Christian-based college just down the road from NMJC, where he attended on a Presidential Scholarship and became a Campus Ambassador there, as well as a member of the Students in Free Enterprise team. It wasn’t long before he was graduating from USW with his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology.
“I don’t think my story would have had a happy ending,” said Eric, “if I hadn’t gone back to school. I went through some really dark years, and without college, I’d probably be in jail now, or worse. Besides my faith, college has been the single biggest blessing for me personally. I know that education’s provided the way out, and I’ll be devoting my life to helping others find success in their lives through education. It really is that important.”
Advice
- I encourage any person who is interested in furthering their education to contact New Mexico Junior College. We offer educational and training programs geared toward helping you better your work opportunities.
- The average age of our students is 30. We currently have students enrolled from age 14 through 81.
- NMJC has certificate programs which can be completed in 12 months.
- NMJC employs professional counselors to assist with career exploration.
