Regents approved the fiscal 2028 request, which also seeks funding for artificial intelligence, water research, mental health, agriculture and other university programs

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State University is asking the state for nearly $98 million in fiscal 2028 funding, including a $45 million one-time appropriation to build a new student-athlete wellness and performance center.

The NMSU Board of Regents approved the $97.7 million package as part of its Aug. 18 consent agenda, authorizing the university to submit the requests to the New Mexico Higher Education Department for consideration during development of the state’s fiscal 2028 budget.

The request includes continued support for major university and agricultural programs, two new technology initiatives and special appropriations for projects including the proposed athletics center.

None of the money has been awarded. Regents’ approval allows NMSU to ask the state for the funding.

The largest new one-time request is the $45 million Student-Athlete Wellness and Performance Center, which NMSU says would address “major deficiencies” within the Athletics Department.

The proposed center would consolidate several services now spread across athletics facilities, creating what the university describes as a one-stop facility for student-athletes.

Plans outlined to the Regents call for a fueling station, academic center, athletic training room, weight room and expanded locker-room facilities.

The center would also include indoor training space intended to give Aggie teams additional practice and conditioning options during extreme heat, inclement weather and dust storms.

NMSU says the space could also accommodate marching and pep bands, recreational leagues, student organizations and other university programs and events.

The university argues the project would improve student-athlete health and safety while strengthening recruitment, retention and athletic development.

The Regents materials do not identify a proposed location for the center, its anticipated square footage or a construction schedule. They also do not specify whether the $45 million state request represents the entire expected project cost or whether NMSU intends to seek additional university, donor or other funding.

The $45 million request is separate from $8.1 million NMSU is seeking in recurring fiscal 2028 support for Athletics.

Nearly $98 million across university programs

The total $97.7 million request reaches well beyond athletics.

The largest recurring requests are tied to NMSU’s agricultural entities, including $29.3 million for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, $23.8 million for the Agricultural Experiment Station and $19.9 million for Cooperative Extension Service.

Other requests include:

• $2.27 million for the New Mexico Produced Water Consortium
• $2.17 million for the Anna Age Eight Institute
• $1.32 million for the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program
• $1.31 million for the Water Resources Research Institute
• $1.19 million for the Autism Program
• $713,300 for the Manufacturing Sector Development Program
• $557,500 for the Doña Ana Community College Dental Hygiene Program
• $500,000 for Nurse Anesthesiology
• $425,100 for the Arrowhead Center for Business Development
• $400,800 for the STEM Alliance for Minority Participation
• $312,600 for the College Assistance Migrant Program

The package also seeks $1.53 million for educational television, $300,000 for Tribal Education Initiatives on the Las Cruces campus and $250,000 for teacher pipeline initiatives.

New AI, advanced computing programs

NMSU is also asking the state to support two new technology programs.

The university is seeking $906,150 in recurring funding for a new Institute for Applied Practice in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, along with a separate $300,000 one-time appropriation.

NMSU is also requesting $550,000 annually for a new Advanced Computing and EDGE Innovation Lab.

The proposed computing lab is intended to expand access to high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and machine-learning training, data management, cybersecurity and other advanced research tools.

University documents say the lab would support research in areas including agriculture, water, energy, aerospace, health and data science while preparing students for jobs with national laboratories, technology companies, startups and public agencies.

The university’s fiscal 2028 request must still move through the Higher Education Department and the state budget process before any funding can be appropriated.

NMSU is expected to submit its requests to the Higher Education Department by Sept. 15.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.