SANTA FE — Starting this fall semester, graduate students at New Mexico's public universities can enroll in specialized courses at another campus without applying, registering or paying tuition at a second school, under a new statewide agreement signed by the universities and the New Mexico Higher Education Department.
The cross-enrollment framework allows fully admitted graduate students to take graduate-level courses at participating universities without completing an additional, formal admissions process at the host institution. This differs from traditional transient enrollment, which typically requires separate admission, registration and tuition payments at the host university.
Under the new agreement, students remain enrolled at their home institution and continue paying tuition and fees there while accessing approved courses at a participating university. By removing these barriers, the agreement creates a seamless pathway for students to take specialized courses that may not be available at their home university, helping them make timely progress toward degree completion.
The initiative is particularly beneficial for students in advanced stages of graduate study who are pursuing highly specialized areas of research or professional interests and need access to faculty expertise and coursework offered at another New Mexico institution. Under the agreement, a student whose home university does not offer a needed graduate course can enroll in that course at another participating institution while remaining enrolled at their home university, eliminating the need for a separate admissions process and subsequent credit transfer.
"This collaboration ensures that every graduate student in New Mexico can access the specialized courses they need to thrive," said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez. "By removing administrative barriers and promoting cooperation across our public universities, we are expanding opportunity, supporting timely degree completion, and advancing the quality of graduate education across the state."
"This initiative demonstrates what we can accomplish when we align our efforts," said Dr. Ian Williamson, Interim Provost at New Mexico Highlands University. "It reflects the dedication of the entire council and the shared goal of improving opportunities for graduate students throughout New Mexico."
Under the agreement, participating institutions share a standard set of eligibility requirements to ensure consistency and academic integrity.
Key guidelines include:
Students must be fully admitted and enrolled full-time in a graduate program at one of New Mexico's six universities.
Approvals are required from the graduate studies divisions at both the home and host universities.
Only graduate-level courses may be taken through cross-enrollment, with a limit of two per term.
Students must hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.
Tuition and fees are paid to the home institution.
Courses must not be offered at the student's home university.
The generic course prefix course will be graded as Credit/No Credit, with a grade of B or better required for credit.
The agreement outlines additional rules related to prerequisites, instructor approval, financial aid, grading, residency requirements and transcript notations. Departments at the home institution retain final authority over whether a cross-enrolled course may count toward a student's degree.
This memorandum of agreement will be reviewed by the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans as needed, or every five years from the date of its final execution. The agreement reflects a shared commitment among New Mexico's public universities to broaden academic opportunities, reduce barriers to course access and enhance the quality of graduate education statewide.
Developed through the collaborative leadership of the Council of Graduate Deans, university presidents and key state partners, the initiative strengthens coordination across institutions and establishes a cooperative model of graduate education that expands access to specialized courses, faculty expertise and academic resources for graduate students throughout New Mexico.
Participating institutions include Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, the University of New Mexico and Western New Mexico University.
By expanding access to academic resources across campuses, the agreement gives graduate students more opportunities to pursue their educational and professional goals without unnecessary administrative barriers. The initiative also strengthens collaboration among New Mexico's public universities, encouraging cooperation across institutions to better serve students statewide.
For more information about state authorization and to view the list of authorized institutions, visit www.hed.nm.gov.
