New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 12 / June 23, 2026

This is an amendment to 5.5.6 NMAC Sections 7 and 9 effective 6/23/2026.

5.5.6.7 DEFINITIONS:

A. “Certificate” means a program of study that is designed to develop or enhance a focused area of expertise, provide specific skill training and to enhance employability.

B. “Department” means the New Mexico higher education department.

C. “Discontinued undergraduate program” means a program an institution has ceased offering.

[C.] D. “Dormant programs” means programs that have not admitted new students for a period of three consecutive years

[D.] E. “Institution” means a public higher education institution operating within and receiving financial support from the state of New Mexico.

[E.] F. “Institutional review” means the process by which an institution conducts internal evaluation and approval of new courses, programs or any other matter related to curriculum. The required review process may differ between institutions and is set by each individual institution.

[F.] G. “New undergraduate program” means a sequence of courses, activities or experiences which leads to the award of an associate's or bachelor's degree in a new academic discipline or sub-discipline or creates a new level of degree in a previously created academic discipline or sub-discipline that differs from currently approved programs at the proposing institution.

[G.] H. “Undergraduate program” or “program” means any sequence of courses, activities or experiences which leads to the award of an associate's or bachelor's degree.

[5.5.6.7 NMAC - N, 06/12/2018; A, 6/23/2026]

5.5.6.9 SUBJECT TO APPROVAL: The following actions require the approval of the department cabinet secretary.

A. Addition of a new undergraduate program.

B. Addition of a bachelor's degree in an academic discipline or sub-discipline in which an associate's degree is already awarded.

C. Addition of an associate’s degree in an academic discipline or sub-discipline in which a bachelor’s degree is already awarded.

D. Addition or deletion of a program option, concentration or specialization that will result in a new degree level or academic discipline or sub-discipline. For example, the addition of a concentration or specialization in British literature to an existing bachelor of arts in English would not be subject to 5.5.6 NMAC; however, the addition of an option of British literature in an English department that would result in a new bachelor of arts in British literature would be subject to 5.5.6 NMAC.

E. Addition of an undergraduate program acquired from another institution.

F. Addition of a hybrid undergraduate program where two or more previously approved programs are combined to create a new degree level or academic discipline or sub-discipline.

G. An institution shall be required to initiate and complete the full approval process for dormant programs.
H, An institution shall be required to complete the full approval process for discontinued undergraduate programs that it seeks to reinstate.

[5.5.6.9 NMAC - N, 06/12/2018; A, 6/23/2026]