Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University, New Mexico Junior College Announce New Academic Partnership

Amanda Bowman

November 19, 2018

Presidents shaking hands

New Mexico Junior College students will be able to transfer more easily to Texas Tech.

Texas Tech University and New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today (Nov. 19) to help students transfer more easily to Texas Tech. The institutions also signed an animal sciences agreement that will allow students at NMJC to feed into the animal science program at Texas Tech and, eventually, in to the new School of Veterinary Medicine.

Signing papers

“Partnerships like the one with New Mexico Junior College are important to Texas Tech because they benefit the students,” said Melanie Hart, vice provost of eLearning & Academic Partnerships, a division of the Office of the Provost. “We want to provide opportunities for the students to transfer to Texas Tech with a minimum loss of hours. With agreements like the one being signed today, students can be advised at NMJC on courses they should take so the transition to Texas Tech is seamless.”

Students from NMJC also are eligible for in-state tuition since NMJC resides in a border county.

Texas Tech President Schovanec and NMJC President Kelvin Sharp
Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec with
New Mexico Junior College President Kelvin Sharp

“With this MOU, we can raise awareness of the affordability of an NMJC pathway,” said Kelvin Sharp, NMJC president. “The least expensive approach to a Texas Tech degree for students in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas is through this partnership. I am so proud to offer this opportunity to our students and their families.”

Through its Destination Raiderland program, Texas Tech now has academic agreements with more than three dozen partner institutions.

"It's important that we take advantage of those cooperations and arrangements that are truly meaningful, and this is one of those," said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec. "As it relates to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences and the potential to feed into the School of Veterinary Medicine, it speaks to the message we've been trying to convey throughout this discussion: that this is about serving the needs of this part of the country. This helps advance that need."

Baseball caps

Ethan Logan, associate vice president for enrollment management, a division of the Office of the President at Texas Tech, is looking forward to working with Sharp and NMJC to provide access to students in New Mexico.

"New Mexico Junior College is a wonderful partner in education with Texas Tech University," Logan said. "Kelvin Sharp has long been an advocate for our institution and the potential transfer destination that Texas Tech offers to NMJC's students. With Hobbs just down the road from Lubbock, our institutions are serving our region through comprehensive educational offerings for students seeking educational opportunity in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.

“NMJC welcomes our admissions and advising staff members onto campus and promotes student engagement for those students who are interested in transferring to a four-year institution to complete their baccalaureate education. This academic partnership will enrich our relationship and cultivate more clearly developed articulations towards degrees between both of our institutions.”