Plan to siphon NMSU academics dollars to athletics draws ire - Diana M. Alba, Las Cruses Sun-News

A New Mexico State University decision to shift about $4.1 million annually from education to boost a financially troubled athletics program is causing a stir among faculty at the institution. The Athletics Department subsidy amounts to about one-third of a budget gap that existed in the Instruction and Administration portion of the university's main campus budget before July 1. To close the $12.3 million gap, the result of a reduction in state funding, officials increased tuition, trimmed administration by about $5.4 million and announced other cuts. Plus, they've said cuts to instruction - mainly comprised of faculty salaries - may be on the horizon, if the state's budget situation doesn't improve.