Jesse Gallegos
Public Relations Coordinator
Luna Community College
November 4, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 2022
CONTACT: Laura J. Mulry, CHESS Communications Officer, 505-946-7980
Jesse Gallegos, Luna Community College Public Relations Coordinator, 505-454-5367
SANTA FE, NM – Luna Community College, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, has joined the Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services. CHESS is a nonprofit organization that works to transform the student experience and modernize administrative processes through a new shared-services Enterprise Resource Planning platform and Student Information System.
“We are extremely pleased to join the Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services,” said Luna Community College President Dr. Edward Martinez. “We are excited to improve our internal processes which in turn will service our students in a more efficient manner which is our No. 1 priority.”
Luna Community College joins these CHESS member colleges: Central New Mexico Community College, Clovis Community College, Northern New Mexico College, San Juan College, and Santa Fe Community College. Each college retains its independence and governance structure as well as its special connection to the community it serves.
Together, CHESS member colleges are designing an enterprise resource planning and student information system that will include student services, finance, human resources, payroll, and more. The CHESS vision includes a central database using the same technologies to strategically share resources and information. After issuing an RFP last year and evaluating the proposals, CHESS chose Workday as its partner to implement its shared services vision. In addition, CampusWorks continues as a valued guide in the project.
This December, Wave 1 colleges Central New Mexico Community College, Clovis Community College, Northern New Mexico College, and Santa Fe Community College will go live with the Workday platforms for finance, human resources, and payroll. Dozens of representatives from each of the colleges have been collaborating extensively over many months to align their business processes in anticipation of going live. This approach is unique in higher education nationally. In addition, Wave 1 colleges currently are in pre-planning for Workday’s student information system platform.
Dr. Martinez announced last year that the college was exploring its capacity for joining CHESS. After conducting a readiness study, it was clear that Luna Community College would join CHESS, he noted.
“We’re delighted to welcome Luna Community College to the CHESS organization,” said Becky Rowley, Ph.D., chair of the CHESS Board of Directors and president of Santa Fe Community College. “Dr. Martinez and his faculty and staff will bring important contributions to our initiative and strengthen our efforts to support all students.”
Dr. Martinez serves as a member of the CHESS Board of Directors. Dedicated to providing accessible, innovative and integrated learning experiences that prepare students to compete at the forefront of their chosen fields and to lead in their communities, Luna Community College will begin its participation as part of Wave 2 of the CHESS ERP implementation later this year, joining San Juan College. More information about Luna Community College can be found at luna.edu.
Photos: Dr. Martinez, Luna Community College campus
Located in the beautiful high country of northern New Mexico, Luna Community College helps students pursue their dreams, whether they include a rewarding entry-level job or continuing in higher education. With a tuition rate among the lowest in the nation, Luna is committed to providing a great start at a great value. The college’s main campus is in Las Vegas, N.M., with satellites in Santa Rosa and Springer and a site in Mora. LCC students have the option of staying at the residence halls on the nearby New Mexico Highlands University campus. Luna is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
CHESS is a nonprofit organization that employs a unique solution to align student services and key business processes using as its foundation a more efficient, secure, and fully integrated Enterprise Resource Planning and Student Information System. Member college presidents serve on the CHESS Board of Directors to manage the needs of the diverse group and to ensure a true collaboration among all colleges in the decision-making process. Visit CHESS.edu.
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