by Xochitl Campos
Daily Lobo
In the next few years, students can begin a bachelor's degree at CNM and finish at UNM at a campus in Rio Rancho.
"For the first time in Rio Rancho's history, you'll be able to receive a four-year degree in Rio Rancho," CNM spokeswoman Samantha Bousliman said.
Voters approved a measure Thursday to expand CNM's taxing district in Rio Rancho, allowing the community college to build a $20 million facility near the city's downtown.
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"We'll start immediately, but those kinds of projects are big projects," CNM President Kathy Winograd said. "We've got infrastructure that we have to develop and arrangements with the University about classes we want to offer."
The measure had to be approved by Albuquerque and Rio Rancho residents who already pay the CNM tax and Rio Rancho residents who are not in the taxing district.
About 85 percent of voters who live in CNM's district approved the expansion. It was also approved by about 65 percent of Rio Rancho voters who live north of Northern Boulevard.
The schools' board of regents approved an agreement Aug. 20 that will allow UNM to use CNM's new building, which will be near Paseo del Volcan and Unser Boulevard.
This is the first phase of UNM's plans to build a campus in Rio Rancho similar in size to Main Campus. The University owns about 300 acres near the city's downtown.
UNM President David Schmidly said there may be about 10,000 students at the UNM campus in Rio Rancho by 2020.
Schimdly said the collaboration between UNM and CNM, a two-plus-two partnership, will allow students to get four-year degrees by combining the resources of the two institutions.
"They are very common around the country and very successful," he said.
Winograd said the collaboration will make higher education more accessible.
"It means that CNM and UNM can expand into Rio Rancho and create a better educational access to people who live in that area of New Mexico," she said.
Winograd said CNM will develop a course catalog over the next two years for its Rio Rancho campus.
The expansion will result in a tax increase for Rio Rancho residents outside of CNM's taxing district. Residents who live north of Northern Boulevard will pay about $120 more a year for every $100,000 their home is worth.
Albuquerque residents and Rio Rancho residents who live south of Northern Boulevard already pay the tax.
Winograd said the increase won't go into effect for two years.
"By the time it goes in, we'll have the building already built," she said. "(The tax) will go to fund faculty and staff."
CNM student Josh Roney lives in Rio Rancho and drives to school in Albuquerque.
Roney said he will graduate before the Rio Rancho campus is built, but it would be nice to see a campus there.
"It's kind of an inconvenience even going over to the campus in the Heights," he said. "Dealing with the morning commute and trying to fight the traffic is a pain, but I've got to do what I've got to do."
