Alex Sanchez, visionary

New Mexico Business Journal, Sept, 1995

As he begins his second year, T-VI is celebrating its 30th anniversary, a new campus that will open in the South Valley this fall and enrollment of 20,000 students that makes it the second-largest educational institution in the state after the University of New Mexico.

Sanchez, 60, is a native of Tome in Valencia County. He holds a doctorate in education, with concentrations in higher education and administration and student personnel from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he also earned his master's and bachelor's degrees.

Sanchez served as director of the Dona Ana County Occupational Education Branch of NMSU, then moved to New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell where he was academic dean from 1977 to 1979. From 1979 to 1989, Sanchez worked at the University of New Mexico as an associate provost for community education and professor of education. From 1985 to 1989 he served as vice president for community and international programs at UNM, where he managed external educational programs, including the Office of International Technical Cooperation and the Latin America exchange program. His wife, Amy, died on June 10. He has five children, four daughters and a son. Arlene Odenwald spoke with him in his office on the Albuquerque campus.

NMBJ: Now that you've been president of T-VI for a year, what do you see as its strengths? Its weaknesses?

Sanchez: Concerning T-VI's strengths, the one I've noticed is its strong community support. You mention T-VI and people's eyes light up. You don't know how gratifying it is for a college president to encounter that kind of community support. Another of T-VI's strengths is the people that work here. I have been impressed with their willingness to work long hours and to give their creative best. You asked about weakness. Past successes can be weaknesses because it's too easy to rest on your laurels and become too cautious.

NMBJ: You repeatedly emphasize how important it is for T-VI to be in tune with the community. But how do you test whether T-VI is doing that?

Sanchez: T-VI has a system of advisory committees that is a part of its vocational and occupational programs. For example, accounting has an advisory committee composed of area accountants. We are advised on course offerings, the relevance of programs, anything new coming down the pike, such as computers. They mentor students and are a tremendous source of jobs for our students. At times they provide financial assistance when they know we need a piece of equipment.

Then on occasion we do specialized surveys. On one such survey a couple of years ago we found out that not only were employers highly satisfied with T-VI but that T-VI had good name recognition. We are currently working on a survey of the West Side to get a sense of what West Side employers need. I believe it's very important to make decisions based on hard data rather than gut feelings.

NMBJ: What's your future vision of T-VI?

Sanchez: We want to be an innovative institution attuned to what is happening in the world. We know our universe is wider than just Albuquerque. We realize that this institution and the economy of this state do not operate in a vacuum. I'd like to see an institution that is a community of learners not only the students but the rest of us as well.

NMBJ: What special programs have you implemented toward your vision?

Sanchez: In establishing the Office of Planning and Research one of the first things the group did is develop a vision statement for the institution. It Concerning the question on the revenue breakdown: our tuition and fees make up 7.4 percent of our total revenues; state appropriations 41 percent; and the district tax levy 29.6 percent.

NMBJ: Are there plans to increase the district tax levy?

Sanchez: The legislation that authorizes T-VI's levy provides for up to five mills. We are currently taxing at three mills. Before 1989 T-VI had to go out every four years and do a local referendum on continuation of the mill levy. Then the legislature authorized T-VI to go up to three mills without having a recurring election. Today, if T-VI wants to go beyond three mills it has to be approved by district voters.

NMBJ: How many campuses do you see T-VI having in the next 15 years? Where and how do the Pajarito and Intel/Rio Rancho campuses fit in? And how does the vacant building on the West Side fit Into the overall plan?

Sanchez: Before we make any decisions on campuses I think we need a lot more data and a lot more planning, such as the West Side survey I talked about. In the past there has been talk of a Northwest and Southwest campus, but it all depends on what happens with the growth on the West Side.

NMBJ: How does Westland Development Corp. fit in?

Sanchez: It could be part of our Southwest campus. They have given us 50 acres off Gun Club Road and they've also offered alternate sites farther up on the mesa. The reason it cannot be developed immediately is that there is no infrastructure on any of those sites. We would have to spend our money developing the infrastructure rather than the facility or the operation.