DACC News

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Doña Ana Community College (DACC) remains committed to providing mental health support for students and staff.

National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized by agencies and organizations across the United States to promote suicide prevention awareness and to look out for each other. DACC offers several services to students to support their mental health. The college provides free counseling services through its social worker and mental health counselor. Students and staff can set up counseling services by calling 575-527-7574 or clicking here: DACC Counseling Services.

Students and staff also have access to free mental health services through TimelyCare. Timelycare provides wellness support such as counseling, health coaching, and self-care resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week via this website, https://timelycare.com/dacc.

The public has access to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. This line is for support to help those dealing with stress, grief or just needing someone to talk to. It is free, available 24/7, and completely confidential.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide and Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In New Mexico, adults ages 25 to 34 have the highest suicide rate.

For more information on resources and services available in the Las Cruces community, please visit our website at Mental Health.

There will be free biometric screenings available at a Doña Ana Community College (DACC) campus this week. 

Presbyterian's Mobile Health Unit will be offering the screenings for the public, DACC students, faculty, and staff tomorrow, September 16th at the Espina Campus, 3400 Espina Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. These screenings include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, height, weight, BMI, and more.  

Attendees are asked to fast for at least 12 hours prior to blood sugar and cholesterol testing. The purpose is to help individuals understand their health and identify potential risk factors only.  

Doña Ana Community College (DACC)'s Library is hosting an event in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month.  

Festivities will be held on Wednesday, September 16^th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DACC Sunland Park Center, 3365 McNutt Road in Sunland Park, NM. There will be fresh fruit and paletas, Lotería, and an opportunity to create a Repujado Affirmation box, which is a decorative container that has metal embossing.  

Attendees can register for the event at Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration - LibCal - Doña Ana Community College. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15^th to October 15^th every year. It pays homage to the history of Hispanic Americans, especially those who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society, according to hispanicheritagemonth.gov.  

Hispanic Heritage Month observation began in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. It celebrates the history and culture of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central & South America.  

The Nursing Program at Doña Ana Community College (DACC) was recently endorsed and accepted into an international association for its use of simulation in its curriculum.

The program received the Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement award from the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) association. The award recognizes healthcare and educational institutions that demonstrate excellence in applying four simulation standards in its programs. The standards include: prebriefing (preparation and briefing), facilitation, professional integrity, and debriefing.  

DACC is the first college in New Mexico to be endorsed by INACSL and joins one of 15 new colleges that were recently endorsed this year. The college underwent an application process before being accepted. INACSL has more than 3,000 members worldwide with a goal of being global leaders in healthcare simulation through excellence in nursing education, practice, and research.  

For more information on the INACSL, visit Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™. 

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) will open its doors to the community during several upcoming events.  

DACC welcomes the public to attend one of several open houses to learn about the free services provided by the AVANZA Program. Dates and locations will be:   

• Thursday, September 3^rd, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gadsden Center, 1400 E. O’Hara Road in Anthony, NM. There will be free cupcakes and swag.  

• Monday, September 21^st, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sunland Park Center, 3365 McNutt Road in Sunland Park, NM. There will also be free swag and cupcakes to attendees. 
• Thursday, October 15^th, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., inside the Student Resources Building. There will be free root beer floats.  
• Wednesday, October 21^st from 2 to 4 p.m. inside the Espina Campus, 3400 S. Espina, Commons area. Attendees will receive free cupcakes and swag. 

The college is also holding two community resource fairs to showcase its campuses and provide helpful information to students and the public. There will be free food, swag, activities, music, and community partners. The two fairs will be held: 

• Thursday, September 17^th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. in the Student Resources Building. 
• Wednesday, September 30^th from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. inside the Sunland Park Center commons area, 3365 McNutt Rd., in Sunland Park, NM.  

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) announces that all campuses and centers will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of the Labor Day holiday. No classes will be held. Campuses and centers will re-open for regular hours on Tuesday, September 8th.  

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) and New Mexico State University (NMSU) employees can take advantage of a special and exclusive offer for mammograms this October.  

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Memorial Medical Center is offering university/college employees a special mammogram day with free gifts to encourage screenings. Appointments are available on Saturday, October 3^rd from 8 a.m. to noon at the Women's Imaging Center, 2735 Northrise Drive. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (575) 521-5270. 

Employees will receive a special gift with their screenings. According to Memorial Medical Center, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Regular screenings are essential for early detection. The National Breast Cancer Foundation states that breast cancer death rates have dropped by 44% since 1989 due to early detection and advancements in treatment.  

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) is doing its part to help with the need for blood in the region.  

The college, in partnership with Vitalant, will host a blood drive on Wednesday, September 2^nd from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Espina Campus, 3400 S. Espina. A second drive will be held on Thursday, September 3^rd at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  

Those who schedule a donation will receive a $20 Rewards gift card and Halloween t-shirt. Appointments can be made at the Vitalant scheduling link and use the code LABORDAY-2026-V to receive the gift card and shirt. 

According to Vitalant, only 3% of the population donates blood, although the majority is eligible. Donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh 110 pounds. Donations take about one hour to complete. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets.  

For more information, go to Vitalant's website.

• Q & A Cafe: Virtual pop-in session where students can ask questions about all resources available to students from financial aid to campus life, admissions and more, on Tuesday, August 25, at 4 p.m. via Zoom: 872 6215 7489
• Mobile Food Pantry: Free food distribution on Thursday, August 27, at the Espina Campus, 3400 S. Espina at 9 a.m. outside the library, and at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., at 1:30 p.m. across the auditorium.
• Budgets and Burritos: Free session with free food on how to budget funds: 
• Wednesday, August 26, 11 a.m. at the Espina Campus, 3400 S. Espina St. inside Alex Sanchez Hall.
• Wednesday, August 26, 2 p.m., at the East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. in the Student Resources Building.
• Wednesday, September 2, 11 a.m. at the Sunland Park Center, 3365 McNutt Rd, room 133.
• Wednesday, September 9, 10:30 a.m. at the Gadsden Center, 1700 E. O’Hara Rd. In Anthony.
• AVANZA Open House: Learn about the services the AVANZA Program offers during this event with free desserts and swag, on Thursday, September 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gadsden Center, 1400 E. O’Hara Rd. 

• Scrunchie Making – participants will have a chance to sew scrunchies in the library’s new makerspace. Tuesday, August 25th from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the East Mesa Library, Academic Resources Building, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Register here
• Campus Club Merch Design – Design your own buttons or stickers to promote your club, program or organization. Thursday, September 10th from 1 – 3 p.m. at the East Mesa Library, Academic Resources Building, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Register here
• Recycled DVD Suncatchers – upcycle old DVDs with paint and create your own suncatcher. Tuesday, September 22nd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the East Mesa Library, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Register here 

Registration is open to those interested in becoming a paramedic or a firefighter through Doña Ana Community College (DACC).  

There are still open seats for the fall semester’s firefighter level one and two courses at the college. DACC’s Fire Science Program prepares students for the public safety profession from a comprehensive curriculum that meets standards set by the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE). The program is also accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress. 

Registration is also ongoing for prerequisite courses for the 2027-2028 Paramedic Program. Courses for the prerequisite courses begin Wednesday, August 26^th. DACC’s Paramedic Program meets national standards with formal training and certification to enter the workforce. The program is also accredited by the Committee on Accreditation on Education by EMS Professions.  

For more information on these programs or to register, call 575-527-7640 or 575-528-7039. You can also email ems@dacc.nmsu.edu.  

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) has received nearly $500,000 to enhance STEM programming and STEM careers.  

The college was awarded $494,815 by the U.S. National Science Foundation to enhance STEM education which will prepare students for the workforce in STEM-related fields. The grant funds will support the college’s Development and Excellence through Learning Technology Acceleration (DELTA) Project. Funding will be used to strengthen student success in lower-level math leading to innovative and technological skills when they enter the workforce. 

The college will use AI as a tool to implement and support student development and improve faculty expertise in novel approaches to math instruction. This project reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for students who want to pursue STEM degrees.  

DACC is one of about 20 colleges across the nation to be awarded the grant. Funds are available beginning this fall until 2029. 

Students at Doña Ana Community College (DACC) can take advantage of free tutoring offered at all of the college’s campuses.  

DACC’s tutoring center, the Academic Readiness Center (ARC), provides free tutoring year-round to any student. The ARC is available at four DACC campuses: East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Espina Campus, 3400 S. Espina St., Gadsden Center, 1700 E. O’Hara Rd., and Sunland Park Center, 3365 McNutt Rd. Services are also offered via Zoom.  

Summer hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until August 6th. The Sunland Park Center is closed for in-person tutoring until Wednesday, August 19th when the fall semester begins. Tutoring hours for fall begin Monday, August 10th and will be:  

• Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

• Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays (closed at the Espina campus)  

Tutoring is offered on a walk-in basis or via appointment. For more information on the ARC, please visit Academic Readiness Center (ARC).  

Open computer labs at two of Doña Ana Community College (DACC)’s campuses will be closed permanently next month.  

The labs at both the East Mesa campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., and the Espina campus, 3400 S. Espina, will close effective on Friday, August 7th at 8 p.m. Students still have access to use computers at both campus libraries and tutoring centers.  

“As more students take advantage of DACC’s free iPad and laptop program, the need for open computer labs has decreased significantly over the years,” said Gerald Lisik, associate vice president for Information Technology. “Repurposing the open lab spaces will allow us to better meet the changing needs of our students. We also believe students will benefit from using the tutoring centers and libraries, where they have access to additional learning resources and support.” 

The college libraries and tutoring centers offer not only computer access, but printing and scanning services. Computer classrooms are also available for instructors who require computer testing, classes, or other activities for students.  

New or incoming DACC students may be eligible for a free iPad or laptop bundle through the college’s Xcite Program. Students must be first-time recipients, enrolled in at least six credits and in a degree program. The technology bundle distribution will occur August 13th and 14th at the bookstore on the New Mexico State University campus.  

For more information or to see if you qualify for the Xcite Program, go to DACC iPad Initiative.  

• Wednesday, March 11th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Espina Campus, 3400 S. Espina Street inside Alex Sanchez Hall.  
• Wednesday, March 25th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gadsden Center, 1700 E. O’Hara Rd., in Anthony, NM.  

• Dental exams 
• Full range of comprehensive dental services, including extractions, restorations and much more. These services are provided by the staff dentist.  
• Full range of preventive dental hygiene services, including dental cleanings, periodontal therapy and more.