In a strategic move that could help New Mexico State University increase graduate enrollment and retention and increase research proposal competitiveness, NMSU announced full-time tuition coverage for its graduate assistant workforce beginning with the fall 2026 semester, following ratification by the Board of Regents of a memorandum of agreement between the university and the union representing graduate assistants.
The board’s decision on Wednesday ratifies an MOA modifying the existing collective bargaining agreement between the university and NMSU’s Graduate Workers United (United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America local 1498) that increases tuition scholarships available for qualified graduate workers from 6 credit hours per fall and spring semester to 9 credit hours – considered a full-time class load for graduate students at NMSU.
During discussion of the proposed increase, Regents Chair Ammu Devasthali noted that members of the board have long been in favor of full-time tuition remission for graduate assistants, but the university was previously unable to fund the additional cost.
The university estimates that the increase from 6 to 9 credit hours will cost around $735,000 more per academic year, which will come from budget adjustments identified through the university Budget Office. University General Counsel Lisa Henderson, who presented the MOA for ratification, joked that NMSU President Valerio Ferme had “looked under all the cushions of the couch” to find the funding for the increase, even though the union had previously agreed to the 6 credit hour tuition remission in its existing collective bargaining agreement, originally signed in December 2024.
“We just closed a bargaining session with them last year, and we didn’t think that we could promise any more than the 6 hours,” Henderson said. “We also knew that we needed to be more competitive … in order to attract more (graduate students) and to do better research and more research – so it’s always on our minds, and I think there was some real initiative by the president to make this happen.”
ASNMSU President Wyatt Ziehe, who serves as an ex-officio member of the board, said both the undergraduate student government organization and the Graduate Student Council support the change. Ziehe noted that increasing graduate enrollment at NMSU will be an important factor in mitigating a projected drop in enrollment nationwide commonly referred to as the “demographic cliff.”
Ferme said increased tuition support for graduate assistants will help make the university more competitive when appealing to potential graduate students considering working in research and teaching roles while they are earning their advanced degrees.
“During the summer, I made a promise to NM Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Bernalillo) to increase our support for graduate student workers to cover 9 credits per semester,” Ferme said. "Though we had just completed and closed the collective bargaining agreement, my leadership team felt there was room to improve our support of graduate students, both as a way to attract more talent and as a way to give students the opportunity to stay on track with their graduation requirements.
“This change is significant because it parallels our newly achieved status as a Research 1 university in moving us forward to fulfill our mission as a land-grant institution devoted to student success, research and innovation,” Ferme continued. “I want to thank everyone who helped make this possible, from the Regents to our finance and legal teams to different units in academic affairs, faculty and obviously, students."
Caroline Klocksiem, communications chair for Graduate Workers United, said the agreement to provide full tuition coverage for graduate workers means NMSU is on par with other R1 institutions and better poised to retain and recruit graduate student workers.
“The research, teaching, and scholarship that graduate workers do is a major component of the university's ability to achieve R1 status, and we want to see that status maintained,” Klocksiem said. “By bringing our effective pay more in line with our contributions to the university, graduate student workers are better able to produce high quality work that enhances NMSU's reputation for innovation.”
Graduate School Dean Ranjit Koodali expressed gratitude to Ferme and the Budget Office for finding financial resources to support graduate student workers.
“Such efforts will help attract high quality students and help make NMSU the preferred choice for graduate education, regionally and nationally,” Koodali said.
Regent Rico Gonzales highlighted the increase in tuition coverage for graduate workers as an important part of the university’s long-term strategic vision for supporting and enhancing student success outcomes.
“To me, this seems really in line with the strategy of how we are focused on student success,” Gonzales said, “and I hope that … it helps us to continue our R1 rise as an institution. This seems like a real win today for NMSU and for the students of NMSU.”
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PHOTO CUTLINE: Students walk to class on the first day of the fall 2025 semester at New Mexico State University. The university has announced that it has increased support for graduate student workers' tuition to cover a full 9 credits. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)