PORTALES, NM – Jan. 13, 2022 – Eastern New Mexico University invited New Mexico Sen. Gay Kernan and community college presidents to ENMU-Portales today to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance transfer student success, an initiative defined in Senate Bill 77.

Sen. Kernan was joined by Major General Jerry Grizzle from New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, Dr. Charles Nwankwo from Clovis Community College, Shawn Powell from ENMU-Roswell, Ryan Trosper from ENMU-Ruidoso, Andrew I. Nwanne from New Mexico State University-Carlsbad, and Steve McCleery from New Mexico Junior College at the Regents Room in the Administration Building on campus.

Ultimately, the goal of the Pilot Project is to help students from two-year colleges throughout southeastern New Mexico to efficiently progress toward completing their bachelor’s degree at ENMU-Portales. The bill was signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 5, 2021.

“I am impressed by the collaboration and commitment across our institutions that the Pilot Project has inspired,” said ENMU President and ENMU System Chancellor Dr. Patrice Caldwell. “The faculty, registrars, deans and others at all seven campuses have worked together collaboratively and efficiently with one goal in mind – assisting students to complete their degrees.

“ENMU is deeply grateful to Senate Bill 77 sponsor Sen. Kernan, who has supported and promoted our efforts,” Caldwell concluded.