Rio Rancho residents are being told about a unique partnership between CNM, UNM and area residents that will provide start-to-finish education right here (without the commute) and lead to thousands of new jobs.

“This is the best investment taxpayers can make,” said UNM president David Schmidly. “Voters will be asked in March to consider a very slight increase in the Gross Receipts Tax.”

Schmidly said 25 cents on a $100 purchase is all it will amount to. If approved, this will generate at least $20 million over the next 20 years to construct state-of-the-art facilities and other land improvements to the new Rio Rancho campus near the City Center.

“Rio Rancho is growing at a rapid pace,” said Schmidly. “To continue this positive momentum, higher education opportunities must be further developed.”

To help meet this need, UNM invests nearly $1 million in Rio Rancho annually for instructional programs and services and has invested in more than 200 acres of land, at a market value of between $10-15 million, near the new Rio Rancho City Center.

In addition, CNM has set aside funds, said Schmidly, for construction of the first academic building on the newly integrated campus.

“These projects mark a new phase in the development of Rio Rancho; an opportunity to receive a four-year college degree, master’s, associate degree, or a technical education right in your own backyard,” said Schmidly.

“About 5,000 students from zip codes in Rio Rancho and surrounding areas, currently attend classes at CNM,” said Schmidly. “If each student spends $300 on gasoline to commute from Rio Rancho to Albuquerque, imagine the savings if these students attended all their classes in Rio Rancho.”

The CNM president said this is a tax that will have a great return on investment. “We are committed to it,” he said. “We want to work in partnership with Rio Rancho public schools.”

Citing the current fears of a recession, Schmidly said: “This vote is going to be close.

“Do you want this sooner, or later?” he asked, stressing that UNM and CNM are certain to go ahead with plans to eventually have a full campus here. “Why delay a good thing? Higher education leads to better job opportunities, which in turn boosts the economy,” he said.

Plans also include partnerships with New Mexico Highlands University and New Mexico State University, so students can enroll in a two-year community college degree program by CNM, with options to continue toward a bachelor’s degree at Highlands, NMSU or UNM, with graduate programs in fields like tourism and hospitality management, allied health, education, aerospace and engineering — without having to drive an hour or more to the UNM main campus.

“This is the best investment taxpayers can make, said Schmidly. “For every $1 taxpayers invest in higher education, there is a $6 economic growth. With these projections, the university project has the potential to return at least $120 million in economic growth to Rio Rancho.”

The new Rio Rancho campus, adjacent to the Rio Rancho City Center, will be will be the hub of community activity for a new and better city, with shops, entertainment, restaurants and offices, said Jeremy LaFaver, projects specialist at UNM.

“The combined Rio Rancho Campus and City Center also will be close to the new V. Sue Cleveland High School,” he said.

Schmidly said UNM and CNM will initially offer basic degree programs in Rio Rancho. “Students and faculty can use both campuses — we have considered linking the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho campuses by shuttle busses.”

The university campus in Rio Rancho hopefully also will offer a wide range of Native American courses, said LaFaver. “Rio Rancho is close to various tribes and pueblos,” he said, “and offering courses in Native American studies at the new campus in Rio Rancho depends on what courses students want the institution to provide.”