By KRWG News
Las Cruces – Prudent financial planning is allowing New Mexico State University to fund a number of campus improvements with one-time funds, including student scholarships, classroom improvements and research support for the Las Cruces campus. In addition, NMSU will give each regular employee a one-time payment of $950 on Dec. 15.
"As we approach the holiday season, I want to express my appreciation to the employees for their efforts on behalf of NMSU," Couture said. "Graduation is Goal #1 for everyone at this university, and it was an honor to recognize our graduates on the Las Cruces campus this past Saturday at commencement. We can all be very proud of our accomplishments this past year on all NMSU campuses. I thank the employees for their continued good work in support of our mission of teaching, research, extension education and public service."
The payment will be made to all regular employees who have been employed continuously from Jan. 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2011. The amount will be prorated for part-time regular employees and will be distributed in the Dec. 15 payroll. Taxes will be withheld from this amount.
"These one-time dollars are available because we cut more than we needed last year in anticipation of a reduction in state appropriations for fiscal year 2012," Couture said. "These funds held over from fiscal year 2011 can now be spent to support needs central to the success of our university."
Altogether, about $4 million is available for these needs, with about half going to scholarships, classroom renovations and research support, and the other half going to the one-time payments. NMSU has not been able to give employees an annual raise in three years. This money is not related to tuition funds.
The announcement comes about two months after Couture's State of the University address, in which she announced the possibility of a one-time salary payment to recognize employee service, as well as increased research support and funding for classroom renovations and student scholarships.