Three new associate degree programs from New Mexico State University-Carlsbad will make pursuing higher education in science, technology, engineering and math much easier and the public is invited to see how. NMSU-C will host a community launch to announce three two-year programs in pre-engineering, engineering techonology, and information communication technology on Thursday at the Pecos River Village Conference Center Carousel House, 711 Muscatel Drive.
The degrees are designed for an easier transition into New Mexico four-year universities and into local employment, said Rhonda Austin, director of the Title V program at NMSU-C. 'With these degrees, people will be able to seamlessly move to a four year degree school so they can finish their bachelors,' Austin said. The launch will allow local employers and community partners the opportunity to discuss the degrees and how they will impact area education and job growth as well as educational progress for area students, Austin said. Parents and students will be able to ask questions about the degrees and what benefits they see. The new degree programs are made available by a two-year US$1.6 million grant awarded in October 2008 to help develop STEM programs. The community will also have the opportunity to preview Project Lead the Way, a program designed to allow high school students to dual-enroll in college pre-engineering courses.
