N.M. Stat. § 21-2-5

The state commission shall carry out a continuing program of statewide planning for post-secondary education. Planning activities shall include:

A. assessment of present and projected needs for the various types of post-secondary education in all parts of the state;

B. assessment of existing capabilities and facilities for the provision of the various types of post-secondary education and the utilization of these capabilities and facilities;

C. analysis of the effectiveness and productivity of post-secondary educational programs and an identification of marginal programs and of unnecessary or excessive duplication of programs;

D. analysis of the most effective means of utilizing all existing institutions and programs to meet the present and projected needs for the various types of post-secondary education;

E. identification of cases where expansion or improvement of existing institutions and programs, contraction or elimination of existing institutions and programs, and establishment of new institutions and programs are needed in order to meet the present and projected needs for post-secondary education on a statewide basis in an effective and efficient manner;

F. identification of steps required to coordinate the activities of the various institutions and programs of post-secondary education in order that they will be most effective and efficient in meeting the statewide needs;

G. development of strategies for infusing occupational education and career education into the educational system at all levels on an equal basis with traditional academic education;

H. development of logical, consistent and equitable organizational and fiscal provisions for the operation of post-secondary education and for the effective utilization of federal, state and local funding available for such education;

I. the making of specific recommendations to the cognizant governing authorities of post-secondary educational institutions and programs, as to the steps necessary to adjust the operations of the particular institution or program in order that they will best serve a coordinated statewide system of post-secondary education meeting the statewide needs for post-secondary education;

J. the making of recommendations to appropriate state executive agencies and to the legislature regarding the legislation and the administrative actions necessary to implement a coordinated statewide system of post-secondary education;

K. the making of recommendations to the executive and to the legislature which provide consistent standards for determining the necessary appropriation from the state general fund to implement the planned system of post-secondary education. Such standards shall pertain to, but not necessarily be limited to:

(1) all income to the institution or to any connected corporation to the institution from any source whatsoever, except that gifts, donations, private endowments or other gratuities received by an institution shall not be used in any manner as a substitute for public funds;

(2) all balances whether fund balances or cash balances and the operational need for such balances;

(3) the consistent application of overhead income among institutions;

(4) full-time equivalent (FTE) student costs by level of instruction and subject area;

(5) an equitable distribution of funds to support research;

(6) expenditures and revenues necessary for operation of each auxiliary enterprise;

(7) the translation of institutional internal accounts to the board of educational finance budget forms;

(8) funding of intercollegiate athletics; and

(9) funding of institutional branches and other state vocational facilities; and

L. tuition equalization grants to students.