New Mexico State University (NMSU) announced full-time tuition coverage for its graduate assistant workforce, effective the fall 2026 semester. The Board of Regents recently ratified a memorandum of agreement between the university and the union representing graduate assistants.
NMSU says this strategic move could help boost graduate enrollment and retention and increase the competitiveness of research proposals.
On Wednesday, the Board approved an MOA modifying the existing collective bargaining agreement between NMSU and its Graduate Workers United. The agreement increases the number of tuition scholarships for qualified graduate workers from six credit hours per fall and spring semester to nine. NMSU considers this a full-time course load for graduate students.
While discussing the proposal, Regents Chair Ammu Devasthali said board members have long supported full-time tuition remission for graduate assistants. However, she explained that the university was previously unable to fund the additional cost.
The university estimates that the increase from six to nine credit hours will cost around $735,000 more per academic year. University officials say the additional costs will be covered through budget adjustments identified by 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. She noted that the union had previously agreed to the six-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 six 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.”
NMSU Community Members Back Tuition Remission Increase for Graduate Workers
Associated Students of NMSU President Wyatt Ziehe said the undergraduate student government organization supports the change. He added that the Graduate Student Council also backs the increase. Ziehe said increasing graduate enrollment at NMSU will help offset the projected nationwide drop in enrollment, or the “demographic cliff.”
Ferme said increased tuition support for graduate assistants will help make the university more competitive when attracting potential graduate students. He said that this support appeals especially to students considering research and teaching roles while 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 nine credits per semester,” Ferme said.
Ferme said that even though the collective bargaining agreement had just been completed and closed, his leadership team saw room to improve support for graduate students. He said the improvements aim both to attract more talent and to help students 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 puts NMSU on par with other R1 institutions. She said that the agreement also positions the university to better 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 thanked 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 said increasing the tuition coverage for graduate workers is an important part of the university’s long-term student success strategy.
“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.”