SW New Mexico News

The New Mexico State University (NMSU) College of Engineering and San Juan College (SJC) in Farmington, New Mexico, have launched a partnership to offer an Associate of Science degree in chemical engineering that can lead to a bachelor’s degree.

“The program was approved by HED in June 2019 and launched in fall 2019,” said Michael Ottinger, San Juan College Vice President of Learning who at the time was dean of the Science Math and Engineering School. “The program was developed through a collaboration with David Rockstraw, then department head of Chemical and Materials Engineering at NMSU, as a way to help our students prepare to transfer into the NMSU CHME program as juniors. The program has students take courses offered at SJC to fill most of their requirements, and then take the remaining chemical engineering courses remotely through NMSU. The program was designed to mirror the same sequence of courses as they are offered at NMSU.”

Upon completion of an associate degree, SJC students can transfer to NMSU to earn a bachelor’s degree.

This partnership provides students an opportunity to study close to home with more affordable tuition rates and smaller classes in preparation for advanced classes at NMSU in Las Cruces.

“My hopes are that it provides a pathway for students to start working on the chemical engineering degree at a local college. Not all students are ready to move to Las Cruces and start at a university right out of high school. Some students need the comfort of their local or home community to help with the transition,” current NMSU Chemical and Materials Engineering Department Head Joseph Holles said.

One such student is Chelsea Largo, now a senior at NMSU who plans to graduate in spring 2025. She aims to be a process engineer developing new methods or modifying designs efficiently to reduce emission of carbon footprint.

“The program helps the student transition to the university from the community college without feeling overwhelmed. I was worried that taking online live courses with NMSU professors was going to be a challenge, but I was wrong,” Largo said. “The professors at NMSU were helpful and always made sure I was understanding the course work. They constantly communicated with me and made me feel like I was there in person. It is a challenging major like any other engineering major but it’s also very rewarding. Pursuing this program made me think it was possible that I could one day be a chemical engineer.”

“Chelsea Largo meets the above descriptions of typical students very well,” Holles said. “She is a great example of students starting at SJC and seamlessly transitioning to NMSU. The combined program allows SJC students not only build relationships with CHME instructors here on campus at NMSU but also with their classmates since they are taking courses directly with their peers.”

Eric Miller, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering department chair at SJC, urged Largo to pursue the transfer program. Miller teaches general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and has led undergraduate research for years.

“I work extensively with New Mexico INBRE which is headquartered at NMSU. My research focuses on materials, analytical and electrochemistry,” Miller said. “We have a well-equipped laboratory for a two-year school including a clean room, electron microscopy, chromatography and various spectroscopies. Students get use this equipment for instruction and research.”

New Mexico IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) champions biomedical and community-based research through innovative supportive environments while building networks among scientists and educators.

“Chemical engineering is an excellent career path," Holles stated."They work in diverse fields impacting everyday life such as medicine computer chips energy water purification Additionally chemical engineering is high-demand high-paying career And there number employers chemical engineers right here New Mexico”

“The program is great opportunity for students who want start out community college then transition university The transfer process from SJC-NMUS convenient many aspects didn’t worry about credits transferring soon got accepted into NMUS halfway done bachelor’s” Largo said environment from CHME department welcoming from students-professors Once able transfer felt confident-ready move next big step my life because this prepared At NMUS knew some teachers-students live online classes previously took comforting knowing knew faculty-students like given infinite opportunities grow person future career

Learn more about this program San Juan College-NMUS Chemical-Materials Engineering

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CUTLINE: A new partnership helps students earn associate degrees chemical engineering San Juan College Farmington-New Mexico complete bachelor’s degrees New Mexico State University(NMUS photo Vladimir Avina)