News

DACC Receives Journalism Grant

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) has received a two-year grant to support and enhance journalism and journalistic skills in the community.

The grant, Community News Transformation, for $77,000, is a two-year learning cohort designed to improve journalism at community colleges. DACC will use the grant funds to build journalism experience for students and offer free workshops to the public on journalistic skills and knowledge. The grant comes from the Journalism + Design Lab and the New Mexico Local News Fund.

The purpose of the funds is to create media projects to shape the future of local news in New Mexico. DACC is one of four community colleges in the state to receive the grant. The college plans to use funds for news internships for qualified students and build on existing journalism courses. Funds will also be used to create a student-run news show and digital newspaper, both providing news coverage of underrepresented areas in the community. The grant will also support journalism workshops for the community covering the proper use of drones, media law and other topics of interest.

For more information on the grant, go to Community College Grant Program - New Mexico Local News Fund.

For more info: DACC Receives Journalism Grant
DACC Food Pantry Unveiling Event

The public and members of the media are invited to an event to debut the unveiling of a new partnership for Doña Ana Community College (DACC)’s food pantry.

The event will be held on Tuesday, August 26th at 9 a.m. at the DACC Espina campus, 3400 Espina St., inside Alex Sanchez Hall in the commons area. The event is being held in conjunction with FirstLight Federal Credit Union.

The college’s Comfort Casita food pantry provides free supplementary food and other necessities to current students, faculty and staff. The pantry’s main location is at the Espina Campus inside Alex Sanchez Hall in room 109B. There are also five micro-pantries located at the Chaparral, Gadsden and Sunland centers and at the East Mesa Campus.

To get more information on DACC’s in-house food pantry, please visit the AVANZA program webpage at Comfort Casita.

For more info: DACC Food Pantry Unveiling Event
Students To Receive Free Access to Medical Services

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) is now offering free access to medical services for students.

The college is offering free resources for mental and physical health through TimelyCare. With this resource, students are now able to get free mental health counseling, free doctor visits, savings from 65-80% on prescriptions and self-help tools such as resources for stress management, mindfulness, nutrition and more.

“This resource is so important to students. To be able to provide free medical services to students as part of our wraparound services is so impactful and necessary,” says Dr. Jesse Haas, associate vice president of Student Engagement.

TimelyCare services will be available this fall semester. For more information on DACC’s TimelyCare services, go to http://timelycare.com/dacc/. To learn more about TimelyCare itself, visit their website at TimelyCare | Virtual Health & Well-Being for Higher Education.

For more info: Students To Receive Free Access to Medical Services
Diagnostic Medical Sonography ReAccredited

Doña Ana Community College (DACC)’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program has been notified it has received ongoing accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

This prestigious 10-year accreditation is the maximum award CAAHEP offers. It also continues ongoing accreditation for both abdominal-extended and obstetrics and gynecology. The accreditation means that DACC’s program commits to providing high-quality education and training and meets the national quality assurance standards established by CAAHEP.

The college’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program train students to work as sonographers in order to provide patient care. The two-year associate degree program accepts 12 to 14 students and begins every January with applications open from July 1st to September 1st of each year.

Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited programs are highly sought after by employers, opening doors to enhanced job opportunities and career growth, according to CAAHEP. For more information on DACC’s Medical Sonography Program, go to Diagnostic Medical Sonography/.

For more info: Diagnostic Medical Sonography ReAccredited
Welcome Back Bash
Doña Ana Community College (DACC) welcomes back its students and families with a bash.

The college is holding three Welcome Back Bashes to celebrate the upcoming fall semester. Attendees will be given free DACC swag, along with giveaways and free Dion’s food to the first 75 individuals at each location. The bash will give students the opportunity to tour the campus or center, meet with academic departments and staff from Student Resources and sit in on information sessions.

Events will be held the following days and locations:
- Tuesday, August 12th at the Gadsden Center, 1700 E. O’Hara Rd. in Anthony, NM from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Monday, August 18th at the Espina Campus, 3400 S. Espina St. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 19th at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is co-sponsored by the college’s Student Government Association.
For more info: Welcome Back Bash
DACC Students Win at National SkillsUSA

A team of two Doña Ana Community College (DACC) students brought home silver medal awards from the national SkillsUSA championship last month in Atlanta, Georgia.

Samiel Thai and Thomas Tucker both placed second in the nation for Cybersecurity earning a silver medal. DACC had eight students qualify for the national competition with five of them placing in the top ten in the country. Three students also served in the prestigious Courtesy Corps, a volunteer team that helps power the conference. One student, Evelina Juarez, also earned a prestigious Letter of Distinction for her category in Job Demonstration.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that empowers students to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible citizens by providing training, competitions, and leadership opportunities in career and technical education.

For more info: DACC Students Win at National SkillsUSA
Food Pantry Receives Endowment

Doña Ana Community College (DACC)’s food pantry has received an endowment of more than $10,000 to help fight food insecurity on campus.

The $10,500 donation was made by Lynne and Robert Hartsell to support DACC’s Comfort Casita, the college’s food pantry. The pantry, initiated in 2023, provides food items, cleaning supplies, school supplies, baby items and personal hygiene products to students and staff of the college. Since it opened, the pantry has distributed more than 10,000 bags of food to students and staff. It has expanded to four other campuses and centers as micro-casitas.

Lynne Hartsell is a former DACC Development Studies instructor who was impacted by students who didn’t have enough to eat. “I would say probably the last ten years, (it’s a) kind of social awareness of just how many students are going hungry. I mean, so we're seeing surveys, right? We're seeing pantries all over the country,” she says.

Lynne says hunger affected her students’ learning, leading her to contact one of her students’ parents. “I didn't know what kind of mother I would be calling, but she said, `I'm horrified. He hasn't told me this. I thought he was maybe couch surfing or something. You know, he didn't have a place to stay, but I didn't know he was going hungry.’ And she immediately sent him a credit card so he could get a place to live and food.”

Student success is one of the main reasons DACC’s Comfort Casita was created. The intention is to lessen the burden of growing economic challenges our community faces and support student retention, academic success, and overall well-being.

To make a donation to support the Comfort Casita or to learn more, go to Comfort Casita.

For more info: Food Pantry Receives Endowment
DACC Parent Night

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) parents of students are invited to a special event just for them.

The college is hosting Parent Night tonight, July 16th from 5-7 p.m. at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. inside the Student Resources Building. The event offers an evening of valuable information and resources to help students as they head into the fall 2025 semester.

There will be an opportunity to learn the next steps before the semester arrives and meet with academic program instructors and personnel from support services such as: Financial Aid, AVANZA, Team Excelencia, Student Government Association, Accessibility Services, Veterans Resources and more.

There will be free food and prizes. The event is open to all parents, students and family members.

For more info: DACC Parent Night
Register Now for Film Classes

 

Registration is still open for film classes at Doña Ana Community College (DACC)’s new Creative Media Technology building.

Openings are open for the Film Crew I/Introduction to Film and Media class at Cholla Hall, 2400 Film Street on the Arrowhead Campus. This class is an introduction to the film industry. It teaches film production, film crew hierarchy, film production set safety & etiquette and hands-on training.

These classes can lead to the Digital Film degree which prepares students for a career in the professional film industry in the areas of cinematography, production audio, animation, editing and visual effects.

Classes begin August 23rd, for more information on the class, go to Film Crew Training - Certificate of Completion | New Mexico State University Academic Catalog, visit DACC’s website at Creative Media Technology or call (575) 528-7310.

For more info: Register Now for Film Classes
Free Veteran Health Fair

Area veterans are invited to a free health fair at Doña Ana Community College (DACC).

The Veterans Health & Resource Fair is being hosted by the DACC Nursing Student Clubs and the Vet Center of Las Cruces. It will be held on Tuesday, July 22nd from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DACC East Mesa campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. inside the Student Resources building. The event will offer information on veteran services, benefits and programs from the Vet Center of Las Cruces, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services.

The event is open to all veterans, their families and the public. For information on DACC’s Veterans Programs and Nursing Program, go to Veteran's Programs and Nursing.

If you need additional information on the health fair, email Andrea Cathey at acathey@nmsu.edu.

For more info: Free Veteran Health Fair
DACC Professor Receives International Award

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) is proud to announce that one of its professors was recently awarded international distinction.

Assistant Professor of Business, James Cadena, received the 2025 International Teaching Excellence Award from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) during their national conference held last month in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cadena also received the 2025 Teaching Excellence Award for the ACBSP region which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

“Professor James Cadena truly exemplifies the highest ideals of teaching by inspiring curiosity, fostering critical thinking, and empowering students to reach their greatest potential,” said Jeffrey Alderman, ACBSP president & CEO. “Receiving both the Teaching Excellence Award and International Teaching Excellence Award is a well-deserved tribute to the lasting impact he has made in the lives of so many.”

These awards are given once a year to one recipient from an associate degree institution. These prestigious accolades are bestowed upon educators who demonstrate outstanding teaching prowess within the academic realm. Cadena received this based on his teaching & learning, professional development, and institutional and community commitment.

“It is also a wonderful testament to Doña Ana Community College as this is the third consecutive year in which a DACC faculty member has been bestowed an ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award,” says Alderman.

The ACBSP is a global business education accrediting body. Its mission is to pursue a better tomorrow by advancing and recognizing excellence in business education through continuous improvement.

For more info: DACC Professor Receives International Award
Nearly 100 Graduate from GED Program

Nearly 100 Doña Ana County residents graduated from Doña Ana Community College (DACC)’s recent GED ceremony.

The college celebrated 88 graduates who received their high school equivalency diplomas from the Adult Education program. A ceremony, held on June 5th, recognized the recent graduates who received their GEDs (General Educational Development) or HiSET diploma (High School Equivalency Test) in both English and Spanish.

The GED test covers four subjects in math, science, social studies and reasoning through language arts. The HiSET covers five subjects from language arts (writing), mathematics, science, social studies and language arts (reading). DACC is an official testing center and offers classes to prepare students for these exams.

“(These tests) are not a shortcut,” says Tricia Brainard, director of DACC Adult Education. “It’s a second chance, and second chances take double the strength. Many students had to stop school to work, raise children, or care for family members to complete the work to pass the tests.”

There is no cost to complete a high school equivalency exam. You must be 16 years or older to attend classes. Registration for the fall term begins on Thursday, July 10th.

For more information on the program, go to https://dacc.nmsu.edu/academics/departments/adult-education/index.html or call 575-527-7540.

For more info: Nearly 100 Graduate from GED Program
DACC Collecting Donations for School Supplies

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) is doing its part to help school-age students this upcoming school year. The college is accepting donations of school supplies.

DACC, in collaboration with Bravo Mic Communications, is participating in the Stuff the Bus drive on Friday, July 12th. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DACC East Mesa campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., inside the Student Resources Building.

The list of suggested items includes: deodorant, toothbrushes/toothpaste, feminine products, travel-size laundry detergent, #2 pencils & sharpeners, mechanical pencils, pens (blue, black, and red), pink erasers, crayons, glue, folders, spiral notebooks, backpacks, paper, scissors, tissues, rulers, protractors, markers, colored pencils, flash drives, rulers, pencil bags, binders, dividers and combination locks.

There will also be food, games, activities and haircuts available at the event. For those who cannot attend the event, donations can be dropped off at the DACC Admissions Offices: Room 107, in the Student Resources building at the East Mesa campus or at the DACC Workforce Center, 2345 Nevada Ave.

This event is designed to enhance support for both students and teachers within the Las Cruces Public Schools District.

For more info: DACC Collecting Donations for School Supplies
Wraparound Services Continue to Grow
Wraparound services continue to grow and are a priority at Doña Ana Community College (DACC).

The college’s AVANZA program provides support and resources to students and their families. The goal is to empower and advocate for students as they navigate their college journey. The AVANZA program has now grown to serve students at five of DACC’s campuses and centers, including the opening of food pantries.

According to the Spark Collaborative, 28% of community and technical college students are food insecure, 30% participate in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and 7% are homeless.

To help combat this and other issues facing students, AVANZA assists with:
- Food resources: DACC’s in-house food pantry, Comfort Casita, at the Espina campus, and its micro-casitas located in Chaparral, Gadsden, East Mesa and Sunland Park
- Resources for housing including DACC’s Emergency Aid program
- Children and family resources: directing students to the childcare assistance program and other childhood services
- Inclusion and mental health resources such as DACC’s equity space, student accessibility services, the college’s counseling services and social worker
- Information on accessing immigration and legal services, as well as medical and dental services, including DACC’s dental program
- Access to transportation services and technology assistance, including a laptop & wifi assistance for qualifying students, DACC’s virtual learning, computer labs, and basic needs grant
- Career resources: career exploration, planning, job seeking, career training and access to the Career Closet which provides free professional attire to students
AVANZA routinely holds events to assist students who could benefit from these resources. Events include mobile food pantries, financial wellness fairs, community fairs and fundraising activities to support the program.

For more information on DACC’s AVANZA services, please visit their webpage at https://dacc.nmsu.edu/student-services/avanza/.
For more info: Wraparound Services Continue to Grow
Download DACC's Mobile App

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) has a mobile app for students, faculty, staff, and the public.

The app is available for free on both Google and Apple app stores. The app offers important and helpful information such as the college directory, campus locations, Crimson Connection, academic programs, deadlines, course catalog and social media.

“This app is also incredibly useful in helping students and the community stay current with a calendar of important dates and college events,” says Ike Ledesma, vice president for Student Services. “The app is a one-stop shop that contains everything you need when navigating through important information the college has to offer.”

The app can be downloaded to your mobile device through these Apple and Google stores.

For more info: Download DACC's Mobile App
DACC/EPE Celebrate Lineworker Anniversary

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) and El Paso Electric Company (EPE) are celebrating a big milestone, 10 years of their electrical lineworker program partnership.

A decade ago, DACC and EPE kicked off a unique partnership to offer students an opportunity to attend school, while gaining employment with the electric company. The partnership allows students to earn a paid internship as they attend courses to obtain their electrical lineworker certificate. The program also includes a scholarship for students who participate.

The year-long pre-apprenticeship prepares students with safe, hands-on experience taught by experts in the field. The opportunity allows students to work in a variety of weather conditions, climb poles more than 100 feet tall, operate bucket trucks, lifting heavy objects and trenching.

Since the initiation of the program, EPE has hired 50 graduates from the program. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for electrical lineworkers is more than $92,000 a year. To apply, students must be admitted to DACC, pass a background check and drug screening.

For more information on the program, go to DACC’s website at Electrical Lineworker Program.

For more info: DACC/EPE Celebrate Lineworker Anniversary
DACC Announces Food Pantry Summer Hours
Hours for Doña Ana Community College (DACC)’s food pantry, Comfort Casita, have changed for the summer.

The pantry’s main location is at DACC’s Espina campus, 3400 S. Espina St., inside Alex Sanchez Hall in room 109B. Summer hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until August 6th. DACC’s food pantry provides free supplementary food assistance to DACC students, staff and faculty.

There are certain eligibility requirements for individuals to use the pantry:
- Students must actively be enrolled in at least one DACC course during the summer. They can only receive items once per week, must have an Aggie ID, be present to receive items and bring a reusable bag.
- Faculty and staff may receive items once per month, must provide an Aggie ID and bring a reusable bag.
Those who are not eligible for DACC’s food panty can visit DACC’s THRIVE Resources. For more information on DACC’s food pantry and mobile food pantries, which are open to the public, please visit the Comfort Casita website.
For more info: DACC Announces Food Pantry Summer Hours
Thanksgiving & Food Resource Expo

Area residents are invited to a free Thanksgiving & Food Resource Expo at Doña Ana Community College (DACC).

The expo, Nourish & Flourish, will be held on Wednesday, November 20th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Espina campus, 3400 S. Espina in the commons area inside Alex Sanchez Hall. The purpose of the event is to offer information on local non-profits and government assistance programs designed to assist families. There will also be a free Thanksgiving food box for the first 100 DACC students who sign up in advance through DACC. The box is provided by Casa de Peregrinos.

According to the New Mexico Indicator Based Information System (IBIS), nearly 16% of people or 34,000 people in Doña Ana County suffer from food insecurity. This percentage is higher than the national average which is 11.5%.

For more info: Thanksgiving & Food Resource Expo
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Doña Ana Community College (DACC) is collecting items for families in need this Thanksgiving holiday.

The college is partnering with Casa de Peregrinos to collect items as part of the Hope for the Holidays drive. The college is asking for donations of stuffing and dressing to compliment Thanksgiving meals. Donations may be dropped off at any donation bin at the information or front desks at the following locations:
- East Mesa campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch
- Espina campus, 3400 S. Espina
- Gadsden center, 1700 E. O’Hara Rd. in Anthony, NM
- Sunland Park center, 3365 McNutt Rd. in Sunland Park, NM
All donations are due by Friday, November 8th. Casa de Peregrinos is southern New Mexico’s largest food bank serving thousands of families each year. To make a donation to the Hope for the Holidays food drive, go to https://casadeperegrinos.org/
For more info: Thanksgiving Food Drive
Veterans Resource Fair

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) will hold a free resource fair for veterans as part of the Veterans Day holiday.

The fair is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. inside the student resources building. The event will include a variety of vendors relating to veterans to include; Veterans Affairs (VA) resources, the vet truck from the Las Cruces Vet Center, decompression stations, music and games.

Veterans Day is a federal holiday that is celebrated in the U.S. every November 11th. The day honors all military veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

For more info: Veterans Resource Fair