administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.” As more and more students, young and old, began to take advantage of the opportunities at ENMU-R, the campus at the Air Center went through multiple phases of remodeling to support the increasing enrollment, including the additions of an Administration Center, Student Services Center, Physical Education Center and Performing Arts Center. The 1990s saw an even bigger demand for expansion and an opportunity to meet the needs of a growing group of students seeking higher education. As a result, programs such as the Vocational Training Program for Students with Developmental Disabilities (VTPSDD), the Hearing Impaired Program, the Accommodations Program and the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program were added. Kate Andereck studied office skills with VTPSDD. She said that her time in the program at ENMU-R prepared her to enter the workforce in Dallas, where she now works as an office coordinator at a financial services company. When asked what she liked best about the program, she stated, “I felt so independent, and making friends, and being active in groups. I loved all the teachers, especially Patrick Burris and Mary Bell. They did an amazing job of teaching me stuff. All the classes I took helped in life, especially office skills and independent class conflict class (sic). Patrick Burris did an amazing job teaching me about how to be independent. Mary Bell helped me so much [with] office skills [that] now I am doing at my job.” As new programs and courses were added, enrollment increased. In 1996, state and local bond issues enabled the construction and renovation of several new buildings to meet the needs of a growing campus. This expansion included a new Student Services Center, an addition to the Health Science Center. A 52,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Center was also built on the property, making ENMU-R one of the few community colleges in the United States to have a working hospital on campus. With student enrollment for the fall 2016 semester approaching 3,000 students, the community college, which started with only 157 part-time students attending classes at night, continues to grow and bring people to Roswell in the pursuit of higher learning. PHOTOS (TOP TO BOTTOM): Students walk to class across the new campus. Kate Andereck studied office skills at ENMU-Roswell and today is applying what she learned to her job as an office coordinator. photo courtesy of Kate Andereck Roswell Community College students pose inside the elevator in the Downtown Center. Class is in session. In 1963 Roswell Community College moved into the old Post Office and Federal Building on the corner of Fourth and Richardson. It remained at the location until 1967. After moving to what is now the Roswell International Air Center, the college utilized the old Air Force buildings it inherited, adding on and renovating as necessary with the growth of the student body and new programs. Photos courtesy of Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell
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FOCUS ON ROSWELL | SPRING 2017