Though New Mexico’s public colleges and universities could not fulfill their mission to New Mexico without these essential public educators, New Mexico’s public colleges and universities systematically disrespect adjunct educators by providing them no pathway to job security and paying them poverty wages. In fact, on average, adjunct faculty at New Mexico’s public 2- and 4-year institutions earn $27,300 and $31,300 respectively.

As a result of these poverty wages, some adjunct faculty experience food and housing insecurity, while others must work second and third jobs just to support their families. Last year, the New Mexico legislature demonstrated its respect for New Mexico’s public educators by establishing statutory minimum salaries for its pre-k through 12 public educators. The establishment of a comparable minimum salary for public educators at New Mexico’s colleges and universities will achieve parity among the state’s public educators and ensure that New Mexico’s public colleges and universities will be able to recruit and retain talented faculty who are committed to mentoring and educating New Mexico’s future scholars and leaders.

We urge New Mexico legislators to support the passage of this critical legislation as an effort to recruit, retain, and respect all educators in our public education system.