Valerie Onsurez Gauna, Director of Outreach and EngagementGuided by its mission, ‘promoting success through learning,’ the college supports learners from early college exposure and higher education through technical training and career advancement. It serves high school and college students, working adults, career changers and community members seeking new skills across different stages.
“NMJC is more than a traditional college. It’s a regional educational and workforce partner that connects students, employers, schools and the broader community,” says Valerie Onsurez Gauna, Director of Outreach and Engagement.
A Head Start on Higher Education
NMJC begins engaging students well before enrolment. Its New Mexico Junior College S.T.E.A.M. Enrichment Program (NSEP) immerses students for a week in STEAM activities, including hands-on exposure to fields like robotics, automotive technology and architecture. NSEP Mini and NSEP Rising Stars extend that exposure to elementary and middle school students.
Participants stay on the campus, work with professionals and interact with faculty and staff, allowing them to experience college before becoming students. NSEP reflects NMJC’s forward-thinking approach, with the program’s success measured by whether participants leave campus seeing themselves as future college students, innovators and STEAM professionals.
Tuition-free dual-credit courses let high school juniors and seniors earn high school and college credit simultaneously while exploring majors and career pathways before graduation.
Courses are offered on campus, online and through distance learning, including Interactive Television for rural Lea County districts. Participants approach the experience with the same responsibility as traditional college work, as dual credit grades become part of their permanent NMJC academic record.
Where Learning Meets Workforce Needs
NMJC offers over 40 programs, including automotive technology, business and cosmetology. Degrees awarded include Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science, along with one- and two-year certificates and skills certificates. It also designs occupational certificates, incorporating input from industry and advisory committees, to support employment and career advancement.
Once enrolled, students work with Academic Advisors to develop individual educational plans and access tutoring, career services, TRiO and other support programs. Together, these resources address academic and personal challenges and help students stay on track toward completion, employment or transfer to a four-year institution.
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NMJC is more than a traditional college. It’s a regional educational and workforce partner that connects students, employers, schools and the broader community.
NMJC’s role extends to the regional economy, where it shapes training around employer needs. Its Workforce Development Division provides an entry point for individuals seeking industry-recognized credentials, career advancement or a transition into a new field without pursuing a traditional college degree. Alongside scheduled courses, NMJC works directly with employers to design customized training for specific workforce requirements.
Offerings span healthcare, automation and industrial systems, transportation, energy, and manufacturing. Current courses include Certified Nursing Assistant, EMT and Pharmacy Technician training. During 2024–25, the division trained nearly 5,000 students and delivered more than 105,000 hours of instruction. It also opened a new 25,000-square-foot Industrial Training Center, expanded automation and industrial systems programming and awarded $473,000 in scholarships.
Together, these entry points create a progression from exploration to education to employment within the same institution.
A College Experience Beyond Coursework
NMJC combines the accessibility and personal attention of a community college with a true residential college environment. Its 243-acre campus serves approximately 2,200 students, while academic, dual-credit, workforce development and community programs extend its reach across the region.
Furnished housing, campus activities and game rooms support that experience, while NJCAA athletics and rodeo through NIRA form an important part of Thunderbird campus life.
Beyond intercollegiate athletics, intramurals, student government and student leadership academy give students pathways to build relationships, develop leadership skills and become engaged members of the college community.
NMJC’s recognition as the Top Public Junior College 2026 highlights its broader role in building educational pathways rather than simply offering courses. The college works to create a continuum that helps individuals discover an interest, develop a skill, earn a credential and move toward a successful career or continued education at a four-year institution.
