Navajo Technical University met with the New Mexico Higher Education Department on Tuesday to review state funded project highlights, new initiatives and current updates.
The NMHED is currently conducting tours with universities and colleges across the state as part of their annual capital outlay process, which allows the department, legislators and other guests to visit campuses and learn more about high priority infrastructure projects that support student success across the state.
These summer hearings offer a vital opportunity for higher education institutions, special schools, and tribal colleges and universities to submit funding requests for capital outlay projects deemed most consequential to the institutions and the state.
NTU leadership present included president, Elmer Guy; vice president, Jason Arviso; and Abe Bitok, director of Support Services. Representatives of the university detailed the day-to-day operations of their capital outlay projects.
Participating New Mexico tribal colleges during the visit were the Institute of American Indian Arts, the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, and Diné College.
As part of its recruitment and retention strategy, NTU aims to expand academic pathways with high schools each semester, ensuring graduating students who transition into the university receive continued support.
Current updates on campus projects:
• A 17,000-square-foot expansion of the Trades Building.
• Renovations to the NTU Science and Trades Building.
• Classroom HVAC improvements.
As part of the tour, New Mexico officials inspected sidewalk infrastructure concerns and reviewed the designated site for the Trades Expansion Project.
“To satisfy these structural needs, NMHED manages grant agreements with its partners, ensures compliance with grant terms, handles financial drawdowns via the State Board of Finance, and coordinates monthly Higher Education Capital Outlay Committee hearings to evaluate and approve projects before construction,” said the university in a news release.