Student Services Information

Accessibility Resource Sercives

If you have any type of disability, you may avail yourself of the educational and personal support provided in this area. If you have questions about the availability of facilities for people with disabilities, or for any type of assistance, contact our Accessibility Resource Services department at 505.747.2152 or email accessiblity@nnmc.edu.

The Advisement Center

Productive advising is built on a true partnership in which the student and the advisor work together. The spirit of an ideal advising partnership is one of mutual engagement, responsiveness, and dedication. Regular advising conversations, the fundamental building blocks of the partnership, enable an advisor to serve as a resource of knowledge and a source of referrals-so that students may plan and prepare, in the broadest sense, over the course of their years at Northern. For assistance, call 505.747.2150.

Veterans Resource Center

This office serves the advisement and certification needs for students and their dependents eligible for veterans educational benefits. For assistance, please contact 505.747.5499.

College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)

The CAMP program is a federally-funded program that provides academic support services, and financial resources for migrant/seasonal farmworkers throughout their first year of college. CAMP provides tuition assistance, book stipends, tutoring services, academic advisement, and monthly stipends to eligible full-time students for their first year of college at Northern. The program serves 30 students annually. For information, contact the CAMP Office at 505.747.5493.

First Year Experience Program

Northern offers a unique array of programs and support services for first-year students. These include a First-Year Experience seminar, New Student Orientation, Comprehensive Academic Advisement and other transitional/preparatory programs. These programs are designed to promote student success at Northern New Mexico College and beyond.

Through the first-year experience students will become engaged with the college and community, develop self-understanding, learn about strategies for studying, notetaking, preparing for exams, skills and resources that will advance their personal and academic success, build their information literacy and research skills, and plan for their future at the college and in their careers.

Math Center of Excellence

Do you need to improve your math skills? The Math Center of Excellence, located in the Ben Lujan Library, offers assistance through individual tutoring, study groups, and math tutorial software. To schedule an appointment or obtain more information please call 505.747.2218.

Couseling & Student Support Center

Mental health and substance abuse counseling services are free and confidential for all NNMC students. Counseling is provided by licensed professionals. No record of counseling is contained in any academic, educational, or job placement file. Referrals can be made by contacting us directly. Contact Counseling and Student Support Center (CASSC) staff at cassc@nnmc.edu.

Writing Center

Do you need to improve your writing skills? If you feel challenged by the writing process, from brainstorming and organization to drafting and revising, the tutors at Northern’s Writing Center are available by appointment for one-on-one sessions throughout the week. Appointments are generally for half-hour working periods, concentrating on a single aspect of your personal writing process.

The Writing Center is located in AD 129. For an appointment, hours of operation, or further information, call the Writing Center at (505)747.2294.

Career Services

We provide students with a variety of resources for career exploration and development, including career planning, internship opportunities, preparing for a job search, and finding employment. We also provide employers the opportunity to connect with our campus community. Please reach out to 505.747.2120 or studentjobs@nnmc.edu.

Student Activities

All students are encouraged to become aware of and involved in co-curricular activities. Because the student population at Northern is so diverse, activities are set up to serve as many students as possible.

Student activities are coordinated by the Student Senate and the Student Life department. Activities range from social to athletic and cultural events. Opportunities exist for becoming a member of the Student Senate, Student Ambassadors or for joining one of the many student clubs and organization, etc., or for joining our honor society, Alpha Lota Sigma (a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges). For information about Phi Theta Kappa, contact Dr. Brenda Linnell at 505.747.2248.

Student Senate

The Student Senate is comprised of the elected officers of the Associated Students of Northern New Mexico College, which is the chartered organization representing students and their interests. You may obtain more detailed information about the Student Senate and college clubs by contacting the Student Life Coordinator at 505.747.2287 or studentlife@nnmc.edu.

Student Photo ID

Students will be issued a photo ID to be eligible for services available at NNMC. Students are required to validate their registration for each academic term of enrollment and receive a current semester sticker.

Students who are officially enrolled in the Adult Education or High School Equivalency Programs will be issued a photo ID, without charge, restricted only in terms of specific beginning and ending dates of their program (as established by the programs, but not to exceed the normal ending date of a term).

Photo IDs will be issued to those enrolled in Continuing Education courses which have a minimum length of seven weeks.

Students may use gymnasium facilities only if their validated photo ID is in their possession at all times while in the gymnasium.

Insurance

If you are an international student who will be attending under a student visa, you are required to obtain health and accident insurance. Please contact the Director of Admissions and Recruitment, 505.747.2269.

In addition, students in some specific programs and/or courses must obtain specific types of insurance before enrolling. For further information, check with the Department Chairperson responsible for your particular major, such as Nursing, Cosmetology, etc.

Auxiliary Services

Food Services

Northern provides automated food service at its Española campus.

Bookstore Services

Bookstore @Northern has migrated to BNC Virtual as our online textbook supplier, and will no longer be a physical brick-and-mortar store on campus.

For Returns, Tracking, Digital Support, & Online Order contact BNC Customer Service at 1 (800) 325-3252

For E-books/Digital Support email digitalsupport@bncservices.com

For more information please go to please go to the Bookstore@Northern on our website at www.nnmc.edu.

Library Services

The main library facility is at Northern’s Española campus. A Northern ID card is required to borrow materials but the facilities are open to students, faculty, staff, and the community for quiet study, research, viewing of audiovisual materials, and computer usage. Only five books in one subject area may be checked out at one time.

Electronic books as well as subscription library databases consisting of full text journal articles in various disciplines are made available on campus and remotely twenty-four hours daily, seven days a week; however, Northern ID numbers are required to gain access. All of these options are available through the Northern Library website, including the library book catalog. Those community members who are not enrolled as students can pay an annual borrowing fee to checkout physical materials, but they do not have access to electronic databases or eBooks.

The Library provides orientation sessions for class groups and/or individualized instruction on the use of library database utilization. In addition, the library provides a copy machine, computers for library database access as well as Internet access and Microsoft Office products, group study rooms, WiFi, an audiovisual viewing and listening space, Interlibrary loan and reciprocal borrowing privileges. For more detailed information, go to the Library webpage at https://nnmc.libguides.com/home, call 505.747.2243, or email library@nnmc.edu.

Parking

In general, the only reserved parking is for those who are handicapped and whose automobile shows a valid handicapped placard. Unless you have a physical disability and possess the required placard, do not park in spaces reserved specifically for the physically disabled; your vehicle will be ticketed or towed.

On-Campus Speed Limits

On-campus driving is restricted to a maximum of 10 mph, or less. You are expected to obey all traffic signs and give the right of way to anyone not in an automobile who is traveling between buildings and/or parking lots.

Children on Campus

NNMC values its employees and students and recognizes the importance that families play in our communities. The College desires to be a family friendly place of business for our employees and students; however, the workplace is not the appropriate place for childcare.

Our Children on Campus policy serves to address guidelines and foster respect for all parties impacted by the presence of non-student, minor children on the campus, in the workplace, or in the classroom. The college recognizes that family responsibilities may, in some circumstances, require the presence of a child on campus for a limited amount of time.

Anyone who brings a child to campus should be respectful of the needs of others to have a quiet educational and/or work setting. To protect the safety of young visitors and to avoid disruptive behavior, children accompanying employees, students, or visitors of NNMC must be under the supervision of a responsible adult while on NNMC property.

Employees of the college have assigned duties and cannot take supervisory responsibility for any unattended children of employees, students, or visitors. It is not appropriate for a nonstudent, minor child of any age to be in the workplace on a regular basis, including after school each school day or on regularly scheduled school holidays, or when they are too ill to go to school or childcare.

This policy is not intended to prohibit appropriately supervised children from the campus when their purpose is to attend specific specified cultural events, sporting events, or to accompany students and families seeking advisement or information about the college. Please see our full policy and guidelines on our website at nnmc.edu.

Other Services

In addition to the services already listed, a number of others are provided by varied programs at Northern: Adult Education (AE), High School Equivalency Program (HEP), High School Equivalency Testing (HSE), and Continuing Education.

Adult Education (AE)

This program provides instruction throughout Northern New Mexico in the area of HSE test preparation, pre-HSE, English and math basic skills brush-up, Integrated Life Skills, literacy improvement, English for speakers of other languages (ESL), and Integrated Educational Training (IET). The Adult Education (AE) is a program funded by the state of New Mexico and federal government. We provide free tuition, materials, and access to other college services. For more information, call 505.747.2198.

Change of Name

If you wish to process a change of name for your academic record, you must bring appropriate documentation (at least two types of identification showing the new name) to the Office of Registrar. Examples of such documentation include a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or court order for legal name change. Diplomas will be issued only for the official name under which your admission is granted or as officially amended.

Continuing Education and Community Services (CE/CS)

This is the non-credit division of the College which provides communities in our service area with special interest courses using conference, workshop, and seminar formats.

Business, professional, or community groups interested in meeting to discuss topics of special interest at either the Española or the El Rito campus may contact the Office of Continuing Education/Community Services at 505.747.5447.

Emphasizing its community service component, the Office of Continuing Education and Community Services actively seeks to identify educational needs of the community and to serve those needs by using existing resources and through cooperative efforts with other educational institutions and service agencies.

High School Equivalency Program

The Northern New Mexico College High School Equivalency Program (HEP) is a Federal Program funded by the Office of Migrant Education, a department of the United Stated Department of Education.

The mission of Northern’s HEP is to provide academic instruction, support services, and financial resources for migrant/seasonal farmworkers pursuing a high school equivalency diploma. Students must be at least 16 years of age. For information, contact the HEP office at the Española campus at 505.747.5031 or 505.747.5441.

Note: Students enrolled in either the AE or HEP programs are not eligible for admission to the college until they have earned their HSE.

NM Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)

The Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a free TRIO program that helps adult learners pursue their college and career goals. EOC provides one-on-one counseling, guidance, and support to our participants in the areas of college admissions, college transfers, student success skills, financial aid, financial planning, career planning, and accessing resources and opportunities.

EOC specializes in working with individuals from backgrounds that are underrepresented in higher education such as first-generation, low income, differently abled, tribal affiliates, recovery and reentry, adults who previously left their last educational program before completion, and many more. Contact EOC at eoc@nnmc.edu, 505.747.2183, or 505.695.4026.

Student Records and FERPA

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the maintenance of your educational records at Northern New Mexico College. Such records include but are not limited to student transcripts, academic folders and faculty grade reports. Annual notice concerning our policy is made available in each semester’s published Schedule of Classes, in the Student Handbook, and in each catalog. The following information provides policies and procedures as they pertain to educational records:

Access to and Confidentiality of Student Records. The confidentiality of educational records is governed by a federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 34 CFR (hereafter referred to as FERPA). Under that law, you have certain rights with regard to the inspection, access, and correction of inaccuracies in your records. Under certain circumstances, parents or guardians of students may also enjoy such privilege. Under the provision of this Act, the following policies apply:

1. If you are currently enrolled or have previously attended Northern, you may inspect your educational records by obtaining an appointment to review your records with the Registrar. At the time of the review you will be asked to produce a photo ID to validate your identity. “Educational records” consist of any record (regardless of the medium in which it exists) which is maintained by the College and which is directly related to you, the student, with the exception of the following types of records:
   1. Personal records kept by a faculty or staff member which have never been revealed or made available to another person unless to the maker’s temporary substitute.
   2. Employment records of an individual whose employment is not contingent on the fact that he is a student, provided that the record is used only in relation to the individual’s employment. Transcripts submitted for the purposes of employment are not part of your educational record.
   3. Records maintained by a college security unit if the record is maintained solely for law enforcement purposes, is revealed only to law enforcement agencies of the same jurisdiction, and the unit does not have access to education records maintained by the college.
   4. Alumni records which contain information about you after you are no longer in attendance at the College and the records do not relate to you as a student.
2. You may challenge (in writing) inaccuracies or misleading items; however, you may not challenge the fairness of a grade nor may you challenge the information in any transcript which did not originate at Northern. In support of a written challenge, you may request and obtain a photocopy (at nominal charge) of any item under dispute. Direct any challenges, in writing, to the attention of the Registrar.
3. Your records will not be released without your written consent, except to college officials with a legitimate educational interest.
   1. A college official is one who is employed by Northern in an administrative, supervisory, or support staff position (academic or research); is a member of the Board of Regents; or is employed by or is under contract to the College to perform a special task, such as, perhaps, an attorney or auditor.
   2. An educational interest is legitimate if the official is performing a task that is specified in his job description or by a contract agreement; performing a task related to a student’s education; performing a task related to the discipline of a student; or providing a service or benefit relating to the college, the student, or the student’s family, such as job placement or financial aid. Included under the area of legitimate interest would be the National Student Clearinghouse.
4. Exceptions to the requirement that you provide written authorization include:
   1. Access, upon request, to officials of another school in which you seek or intend to enroll. In this case, we will make a reasonable attempt to notify you of the transfer of information.
   2. Access to certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Veterans Affairs, the Bureau of Homeland Security, and state and local educational authorities in connection with certain state or federally supported education programs.
   3. Access to law enforcement agents pursuant to Section 507 of the USA Patriot Act. Upon such access you will be notified as required by NM House Memorial 2, Laws of 2003.
   4. Access in connection with your request for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary to determine eligibility, amount, or conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
   5. Access to organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the College.
   6. Access to accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
   7. Access to parents/guardians who show proof that you were claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes in the previous tax year.
   8. Access to comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena, although the college has an obligation to make a reasonable attempt to give you prior notice before complying with the subpoena. An exception to the “reasonable attempt” exists when the subpoena is issued for a federal grand jury or for law enforcement purposes.
   9. Access to appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.

Directory Information. Directory information may be released without your written consent unless you have requested in writing that directory information be withheld. You may specify that individual portions of the directory information or the entire listing be restricted without your written consent. A form to implement such a restriction may be obtained on-line or from the Office of Admissions and Records. If no restriction is received by the Registrar, your information will be classified as directory information until such a restriction is placed. Directory information that may be released includes:

• Name
• mailing address
• major field of study
• classification
• enrollment status (full- or part-time) 
• dates of attendance 
• participation in officially recognized activities and sports (including weight, height, or photograph of athletic team members) 
• honors and degrees awarded 
• and the name of the education agency or college attended immediately prior to attending Northern.

In addition to the release of information permitted under FERPA guidelines, the National Defense Authorization Act of 1995, the National Defense Authorization Act for 1996, and the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act for 1997 allow the Department of Defense (under special authority granted under what is called the Solomon Amendment) to request the following information about you under its own special definition of “directory information.”

This exception has been created in order to permit the Secretary of Defense access to the following particular information for recruitment purposes: Your name, address, telephone listing, date of birth, level of education, academic major, degrees received, and the name of the educational institution in which you had been most recently enrolled (prior to enrollment at Northern). The only students excluded under this definition are those who are under the age of seventeen and those seventeen or older who have signed a written request denying access to their records by a third party.

Also excluded are those above the age of forty-two.

When a transcript is released, the recipient is notified by Northern that the record may not be released to any other person.

Details concerning your rights and privileges under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act are available in the Registrar’s Office at the Española Campus.

Complaints about failure of the College to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be made, in writing, to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4604.

Restriction of Access. You may request this restriction only during a term in which you are then enrolled. If you have applied a restriction to your records, it will continue in effect after you graduate and/or otherwise leave the college.

A brief version of FERPA (FERPA for Dummies) may be found on the Office of the Registrar’s webpage located in the Students menu at www.nnmc.edu.

Student Right to Know and Campus Security Policies

In compliance with the provisions of Public Laws 101-542 and 102-26, Northern has established policies governing the availability of information concerning graduation rates and campus security.

Graduation Rates

Northern will produce and make readily available, upon request, to current students and to each prospective student enrolling or entering into any financial obligation with Northern, the completion/graduation rate and transfer rate of certificate or degree-seeking, full-time undergraduate students. Specific questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Director of Institutional Research at 505.747.2118.

Campus Security

All students, faculty, and staff are to report to the Director of Campus Security any criminal activity occurring within the campus facilities or during any collegesponsored activity. No type of criminal activity within the campus or during college activities will be tolerated.

Under the terms of the law, in September of each year the College prepares, publishes, and distributes an annual Campus Safety and Security Report, which is available upon request to current students and employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment.

In addition, Section 485(f )(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1092(f ) (1) requires that the College notify the campus community how to obtain information provided by the state under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 USC 14071( j))* concerning registered sex offenders. For our area, this information can be obtained from the New Mexico Department of Public Safety website (www.nmsexoffender.com).

Specific questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Dean of Student Services.

* Commonly referred to as the Megan Act.

Transcripts

Obtaining a Northern transcript or having a transcript sent on your behalf:

In order to obtain an official transcript for yourself or to have one sent to a person, agency, or school, you must submit a Transcript Request Form via Parchment Exchange—Leader in eTranscript Exchange to the Office of the Registrar. You may pick up unofficial transcript request form at the Registrar’s office or download one from Northern’s website under Office of the Registrar. Office of the Registrar located in the Current Students menu. You can email the form to registrar@nnmc.edu. Please allow five working days for processing. After the end of the semester or during registration periods, there will be a delay in processing. If you have questions, please call 505.747.2110. 

Each transcript will be issued at $12.00 per official copy and unofficial copy. However, no transcripts will be issued unless all institutional obligations are paid (including loans issued through the instrumentality of Northern).

You may also request that your transcript be sent via a secure email system (Parchment) directly to whomever you provide an email address for. Be sure to verify that the receiving party is willing to accept an electronic transcript before deciding to have us send one by that method.

Transcripts can be delivered to academic institutions, prospective employers, and other recipients through this integrated Parchment electronic transcript delivery network.

Testing Services

Northern New Mexico College is the designated testing center for Rio Arriba County. For further information, contact Testing at the Española campus at 505.747.2164.

Transcripts from Other Institutions

Transcripts from other institutions which you have had sent to Northern for purposes of establishing admission eligibility for regular status do not belong to you and will not be returned to you. Do not expect that these transcripts will forever remain a physical part of your official educational record. Once their purpose has been served, they may legally be destroyed in accordance with state policies dealing with records retention. In unusual circumstances, we may make a photocopy of another institution’s transcript, but it will be reduced in size, so it cannot be modified.

Upward Bound

TRiO Upward Bound is an intensive academic preparation program for collegebound low-income and first-generation students at Española Valley High School. Participants in this program receive a number of services including: afterschool tutoring, Saturday Academy workshops at NNMC, a six-week Summer Academy, field trips and college visits, leadership development and family engagement, and academic counseling. This program is sponsored by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Standards of Conduct

Students at Northern are expected to act in a responsible manner and to abide by all College policies while they are matriculating students at Northern.

An individual who enrolls at Northern can rightfully expect an environment conducive to teaching and learning. This assures each student that a safe and healthy environment exists at Northern. To ensure the attainment of this goal, Northern has developed Standards of Conduct for all students. These standards identify behavior that is incongruent with the teaching and learning process. We ask that each of you assist in assuring that Northern is a place where quality teaching and learning will occur in a friendly setting.

Northern New Mexico College Student Handbook contains detailed information concerning specific standards each students required to uphold, information about disciplinary sanctions which could be invoked for violations of the standards of conduct, and the appellate process applicable to appeals of disciplinary action imposed under the code.

The Student Handbook is considered an official part of this catalog even though it is maintained as a separate document. There are additional separate policies which are part of the Student Handbook and will be noted below.

Plagiarism

Dishonesty in connection with tests, quizzes, or coursework assignments may be cause for dismissal from the College.

Plagiarism is the most common type of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism consists of any representation of another person’s work as one’s own without proper acknowledgment. Examples include, but are not limited to, 1) submitting as one’s work a paper which includes a part copied from a book or article without identifying the quoted selection and/or sources, 2) presenting an author’s ideas as though they were your own original ideas, or 3) using work by another student with your name as the author.

When an instructor suspects a student of academic dishonesty, the instructor will bring it to the student’s attention. If the problem is not resolved to the instructor’s satisfaction, the incident will be reported to the department or program chairperson for follow-up action.

Title IX / Sexual Harassment & Gender Discrimination Policy

www.nnmc.edu/titleix

Northern New Mexico College is committed to providing a learning and working environment free of all forms of harassment and discrimination for everyone in the College community.

Northern New Mexico College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, spousal affiliation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status genetic information, citizenship or any other basis protected by law, in employment, admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities.

Sexual harassment is a violation of both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and will not be tolerated at Northern.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972

Title IX is a federal law that protects people from:

• _n Discrimination based on sex, regardless of gender, identity, or orientation in educational programs or activities receiving federal funding, and;
• _n Sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, stalking, and intimate partner violence, and cyberbullying to note a few examples.

If you believe that you or someone else has been harassed or discriminated against on the basis of sex, you should report the alleged incident to the Title IX Coordinator, who will initiate and oversee a thorough investigation.

NORTHERN’S TITLE IX COORDINATOR:

Khiana Seaboy, BAIS 
Call 505.747.2147 or email titleix@nnmc.edu 
Teaching Education Center, upstairs (TEC 211) 
Monday to Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

In addition, all Northern staff and faculty members are mandatory reporters, and are required to share information related to incidents of sexual misconduct with the Title IX Coordinator.

Both Federal and State law prohibits retaliation against anyone who has opposed an unlawful discriminatory practice or has filed a complaint, testified or participated in any proceedings under Federal or State law. Retaliation against an employee or student for filing a sexual harassment or gender discrimination complaint is strictly prohibited and grounds for a subsequent harassment complaint and possible disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion.

Go to nnmc.edu/titleix to read Northern’s full Title IX policy, and to learn more about the procedures for filing a sexual harassment or gender discrimination complaint, and the resources available to students at Northern and in the community.

Substance Abuse Policy

Our Philosophy

Northern is committed to a safe working and learning environment for its faculty, staff, students, and the general public. Because substance abuse affects people’s performance, conduct, reliability, and general ability to learn and complete assigned tasks, Northern has adopted the following policy on substance abuse:

Our Policy

While you are on College property, you are denied the use, manufacture, distribution, dispensation, sale, possession, or transfer of controlled substances, or being under the influence of, alcohol or alcoholic beverages.

Drug Testing

Routine drug testing is not permitted; however, if there is reasonable suspicion that a specific individual is in violation of this policy, that person may be required to undergo testing as a condition of continued enrollment as a student. This does not preclude the College, at its discretion, from conducting random drug testing programs for students who might be participating in athletic activities conducted or sponsored by the College.

Penalty for Violation

Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action as dismissal and referral for investigation and/or prosecution by appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Student Complaint Process

Occasionally, a student will encounter a problem on campus that he or she does not know how to resolve. When this happens, students should always try to resolve the problem by first discussing it with those most involved with the issue. Dealing with conflict in the most direct and straightforward manner should always be the first step toward resolution. It is possible that concerns that may be addressed when a student makes an appointment with a faculty or staff member and calmly and honestly communicates their frustrations or concerns.

If however, an issue or problem still exists, there is a formal complaint process at NNMC that a student may initiate. All formal complaints must be put in writing using the official NNMC Student Complaint Form. These forms are available in hard copy from the Assistant Provost, or online at nnmc.edu (Students › Student Gateway › Student Complaint Process).

When Initiating a Formal Complaint:

• Be sure you have first attempted to resolve the issue by speaking directly with the individual(s) or office(s) involved.
• Complete a NNMC Student Complaint Form
• Submit the form to Dr. Larry Guerrero, Dean of Students at larry.guerrero@nnmc.edu or call 505.747.2225. 
• When the complaint is received it will be forwarded to the appropriate individual to review and address the issue.
• After your concern has been addressed, you will receive a letter documenting the receipt and review of your complaint.

For information regarding issues or concerns that are not covered by this process (such as issues of sexual harassment and grade appeals) please refer to the NNMC Catalog or Student Handbook, or contact the Assistant Provost at 505.747.2255.

Special Note: 

Sometimes NNMC students find they are particularly pleased with how something has been handled for them, how they were assisted by a particular staff member, the positive experience they had in a specific class, or some other outstanding thing that happened to them at NNMC. As a student you should know that the same “Student Complaint Form” that is used to lodge a concern, can also be used to provide a written compliment or note of appreciation. In this case, the process for submitting the form is the same as for filing a formal complaint.

The complaint process is based upon the following definitions:

Complaint: A written concern or formal charge of dissatisfaction with a person, service, or process that requires clarification, investigation, and resolution.

Level I Complaint: A verbal complaint that is resolved. Will not be tracked.

Level II Complaint: A written complaint, based upon the complaint definition that requires a student’s signature. If a form is submitted without a student’s name, the complaint will not be considered. Level II complaints will be tracked to ensure an action has been taken.

Exclusions: The Student Complaint Process does not apply to grade appeals, complaints of sexual harassment, or any student-to-student complaints. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for procedures regarding these types of complaints. In addition, outcomes of appeal processes are not subject to further consideration through this process.

What Can I Do If I Am Still Not Satisfied?

Student complaint process for non-distance education students:

The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) has authority to help facilitate resolution to student complaints, only after the student has utilized all internal complaint procedures at the educational institution. Please visit http://www.hed.state.nm.us/students/ hed-student-complaint-form.aspx for more information about NMHED’s Student Complaint Process for non-distance education students. Complaints regarding grades and student conduct violations shall not be reviewed by NMHED.

Student complaint process for distance education students:

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that sets national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) is a NC-SARA approved institution and the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) is the NC-SARA Portal Entity for New Mexico. Distance Education students attending NNMC who would like to resolve a grievance should follow NNMC’s established Student Complaint Process.

However, if an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may file a NC-SARA complaint with the New Mexico Higher Education Department. Complaints regarding grades and student conduct violations shall not be reviewed by NMHED. Please visit https://hed.state.nm.us/students-parents/nc-sara for more information.