New Mexico Highlands University

What is the history of New Mexico Highlands University?

New Mexico Highlands University is a public university founded in 1893 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, as the New Mexico Normal School. Its original purpose was to prepare teachers, a role that remains visible in its education programs.

The institution later became New Mexico Normal University and adopted the New Mexico Highlands University name in 1941. It has since expanded beyond teacher preparation into fields including business, social work, the sciences, nursing, and the arts. That history helps explain why Highlands offers both traditional undergraduate study and graduate programs serving working professionals.

What are the faculties and departments at New Mexico Highlands University?

New Mexico Highlands University organizes its academic programs chiefly through the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business, Education, and Social Work. Students can pursue bachelor's and graduate degrees; the appropriate program catalog is the best place to check a particular credential and its campus or online availability.

Arts and Sciences covers subjects such as biology, chemistry, psychology, criminal justice, computer science, fine arts, and the humanities. The professional schools offer routes into fields including business administration, teaching, and social work. Nursing is another program area. Applicants considering teaching, nursing, counseling, or social work should check that their specific degree pathway meets the requirements of the state where they intend to seek licensure; admission to the university and admission to a professional program may involve different steps.

What is the location of New Mexico Highlands University?

New Mexico Highlands University's main campus is in Las Vegas, New Mexico, a small city northeast of Santa Fe. This is Las Vegas, New Mexico - not Las Vegas, Nevada. Highlands also serves students through locations beyond its main campus and through distance education, so the location of classes depends on the program.

The main campus places students near local businesses and community services, but it does not offer the transportation options of a large metropolitan campus. Commuters and students traveling for placements or internships should account for driving time and weather. Las Vegas Municipal Airport is nearby, though students planning commercial flights will generally need to consider airports farther away and the ground transportation required to reach them.

What is the mission and vision of New Mexico Highlands University?

New Mexico Highlands University describes its mission in terms of accessible education, student learning, and service to New Mexico's communities. Its stated priorities include teaching, scholarship, and public service across undergraduate and graduate education.

That purpose is consistent with its roots as a teacher-training institution and its present mix of liberal arts and professional programs. Prospective students should treat a mission or vision statement as an expression of institutional goals, not as evidence that every student will have the same academic experience or outcome. Highlands is a public university, not a religiously affiliated institution.