New Mexico Statutes Chapter 21. State and Private Education Institutions § 21-13-11. Standards and accrediting of community colleges

A. The community college board shall prescribe the course of study for the community college and shall define, in conjunction with the higher education department, official standards of excellence in all matters relating to the administration, course of study and quality of instruction, except that the prescribed standards may not be less in quality or quantity than those prescribed for other state institutions of higher learning by the regional accrediting agency that accredits other colleges and universities of the state.

B. The department shall annually inspect, or investigate through the requirement of reports prescribed by the department, each community college. The inspection or investigation by report shall be conducted upon the facilities and program of each community college to determine the extent of compliance with the rules promulgated by the department. A report of each inspection or final investigation by report shall be made to the department.

C. In the event of any serious deviation from established practices and procedures or any deficiencies that impair the quality of the instructional program in any community college, the department shall first call these to the attention of the president of the community college and the community college board.

D. In the case of repeated failure to meet the standards provided for in Subsection A of this section, the department may take action discontinuing the approval of any community college so delinquent. Upon a showing that the unsatisfactory conditions have been remedied, the department may reinstate its approval of a disapproved community college.