A graduate education external review final report concluded that New Mexico State University has several areas in need of improvement in its graduate program, including financial options, strategic plans and leadership clarification.

The report was put together by the dean of the graduate school and associate provost for graduate education of Michigan State University, Karen Klomparens, and the vice provost for advanced studies and dean of the graduate school for University of Missouri, George Justice.

"NMSU's current strategic plan includes very little on graduate education and research," the report writes. "This 'very little' says a lot to us, and one major recommendation is for the entire campus to engage in a discussion of these very broad institutional goals.

The report also finds there is confusion among students and faculty members about whom to turn to for guidance on issues like degree verification and graduate admissions.

"Websites can be updated quickly and are easily accessible when students or others need to understand aspects of graduate programs," the report said. "Further, we recommend that the Graduate School needs to have access to a staff member in Institutional Research in order to bring together the data needs of the campus on an annual basis."

The report also mentions that NMSU doesn't offer a tuition waiver for in-state tuition, making it harder for the school to competitively recruit new students.

Freddie Sabaquie is working on getting his master's in sociology at NMSU and told KFOX14 more flexibility in payment options would go a long way for struggling students.

"When you're a college student, graduate or undergrad, everything helps," Sabaquie said. "Even if it was a partial wavier, it would definitely help because, you know, it is expensive. The economy is not like, you know, where it is."

"It'd be nice if we had more of a stipend or tuition waivers," another graduate student, who did not want to be identified, said.

"As part of the task force on GAs, (graduate assistantships), the group should also take up the issue of a 'real' tuition waiver that goes along with each GA," the report writes.

NMSU sent KFOX14 the following statement in response to the report:

"The purpose of the graduate review was to examine the present policies, systems, and practices in place related to graduate education. The review and its conclusions were supported by the input, ideas, and experience of NMSU's faculty and students, and will be the basis for improvements necessary to advance NMSU's graduate programs and support services.

"Now that the final report has been received, it is available online for review by the entire campus community and we expect to be discussing the recommendations further in the spring to determine what actions are needed."