Higher education research platform recognizes top master’s programs across disciplines Hobbs, NM – OnlineMasters.com, an independent higher education research platform specializing in online graduate education, has recognized multiple programs at University of the Southwest in its 2026 rankings. The university earned top distinctions across several online master’s disciplines, reinforcing its leadership in academic quality, affordability, and career-focused education. OnlineMasters.com uses a rigorous, data-driven methodology to evaluate accredited online master’s programs nationwide. Each program is assessed using a proprietary scoring model that measures performance across four core factors: academic quality, graduation outcomes, cost and return on investment, and student support resources. Programs receive an Online Master’s Score ranging from 0 to 100 based on their overall performance. The evaluation process incorporates trusted data from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, NCES College Navigator, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, College Board, publicly available institutional disclosures, and aggregated performance indicators from recognized ranking organizations such as U.S. News & World Report. All data undergo multiple rounds of internal review to ensure accuracy, consistency, and objectivity. In today’s rapidly evolving workforce shaped by artificial intelligence and technological innovation, graduate education has become an increasingly important differentiator. Online master’s programs that demonstrate strong academic rigor, competitive tuition structures, measurable career pathways, and robust support for online learners stand out in the rankings. University of the Southwest has been recognized for the following 2026 awards: Best Online Master's in Counseling Programs | Ranked 18 https://www.onlinemasters.com/best-degree-programs/counseling/ Best Online Master's in Online Teaching Degree Programs | Ranked 20 https://www.onlinemasters.com/best-degree-programs/education/online-teaching/ Best Online Master's in School Counseling Degree Programs | Ranked 50 https://www.onlinemasters.com/best-degree-programs/counseling/school-counseling/ This recognition underscores University of the Southwest’s commitment to delivering high-quality online graduate education designed to meet the demands of modern industries and support long-term student success. “Being recognized by OnlineMasters.com affirms our commitment to academic excellence and student outcomes,” said Dr. Ryan Tipton, university President. “We are proud that our online master’s programs continue to provide students with the knowledge, flexibility, and career preparation needed to succeed in a competitive and rapidly changing workforce.” ⸻ ABOUT ONLINEMASTERS.COM OnlineMasters.com is an independent higher education research platform dedicated to evaluating accredited online master’s programs across the United States. Led by a team of data analysts and higher education researchers, the organization operates independently to ensure objectivity and methodological integrity. Using verified federal education data, aggregated third-party rankings including U.S. News & World Report, and labor market research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, OnlineMasters.com produces transparent, research-driven rankings that evaluate academic quality, affordability, return on investment, and student support. The platform’s mission is to provide clear, unbiased insights that empower prospective graduate students to make confident, informed decisions about advanced education. To learn more, visit https://www.onlinemasters.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2025 Hobbs, NM — The University of the Southwest is proud to announce the establishment of a new endowed scholarship made possible through the generosity of the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Foundation. The $25,000 gift will create a permanent scholarship fund to support students pursuing degrees in education and teaching, ensuring that Dr. Trujillo’s enduring commitment to educational excellence continues to inspire future generations. “This gift is not only an investment in our students, but also a profound affirmation of our mission to serve, lead, and transform through education,” said Dr. Ryan Tipton, President of the University of the Southwest. “We are deeply honored by the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Foundation’s trust in our university and moved by their dedication to the teaching profession.” Dr. Karen M. Trujillo was a lifelong educator, mentor, and advocate for New Mexico’s schools. Her legacy as a teacher, administrator, and statewide leader has left an indelible mark on education in New Mexico. Through this endowed scholarship, her legacy will live on in the aspirations and achievements of students who share her passion for teaching. Scholarships from the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Endowed Fund will be awarded annually to students enrolled in the university’s College of Education who demonstrate a strong commitment to entering the teaching profession. This support will help reduce financial barriers, enabling more students to answer the call to educate, inspire, and lead in classrooms across New Mexico and beyond. “At a time when our communities urgently need dedicated and compassionate educators, this gift plants a seed of hope,” said Dr. Tipton. “It will grow into countless stories of service, leadership, and transformation, just as Dr. Trujillo did throughout her remarkable life.” The University of the Southwest extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Trujillo family and the Board of the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Foundation for their vision, generosity, and partnership in shaping the future of education.

It is with great joy and anticipation that we celebrate the relaunch of the Southwest Journal of Arts & Sciences (SJAS)  on the University of the Southwest website. On behalf of the editorial team, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Lopez for their consistent support in making this transition successful and to Shaye Smith for the exceptional work on the professional web design. I also want to take this opportunity to thank our authors, editors, and anonymous reviewers for their invaluable contributions to the success of the journal. One new feature I want to highlight is that we became a Crossref member in March 2024. Crossref is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving scholarly communications. Membership enables us to connect our content to a global network of online scholarly research, which includes over 19,000 members across approximately 150 countries. Crossref manages the world’s largest registry of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and metadata for scholarly research, facilitating an average of 1.1 billion DOI resolutions annually. This makes research objects easier to find, cite, link, assess, and reuse. According to Crossref’s monthly resolution reports, all of our DOIs were resolved (accessed) up to 299 times by December 2024. In December alone, our three unique DOIs for dissertations had 97 total resolutions, while our nine unique DOIs for SJAS  articles had 80 total resolutions. For doctoral candidates and research chairs: if you would like a dissertation to be assigned a DOI, please send me the student’s name, dissertation title, URL link, and year of publication. I will ensure that a DOI is added to the dissertation. Additionally, I encourage all scholars to register for ORCID, which stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID. ORCID provides a free, unique, and persistent identifier (PID) for individuals engaging in research, scholarship, and innovation. Registration is free of charge and allows researchers to be uniquely identified and connected to their contributions across disciplines, borders, and time. By using ORCID, researchers can spend more time conducting their work and less time managing it. A link to ORCID registration can be found on the journal website. SJAS  serves as a platform for the exchange of information on topics in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and more. We accept various formats, including full-length and letter-length research papers, reflective articles, review articles, work-in-progress reports on promising developments, case studies, and best practice articles written by scholars such as faculty, staff, and students. SJAS  is published annually, but we are open to publishing additional issues as needed. To ensure the rapid dissemination of information, we aim to complete the review process for each paper within 1–3 months of initial submission. We are currently preparing to publish the 2024 issue, which is expected to be available by April. Please check the flyer and Call for Papers on the journal website. We encourage more contributions to ensure the continued success of the journal and welcome any comments or suggestions that could help us improve its quality. We look forward to reading your submissions soon. You can access SJAS  at: https://www.usw.edu/academics/sjas Best regards, Yusheng Wu Editor-in-Chief

October 8, 2024 University of the Southwest is proud to announce that we have teamed up with LeadSquared to enable digitization of our student enrollment process.   USW is adopting LeadSquared’s AI-powered Higher Education CRM, which gives the university the tools to personalize and automate the student journey—from inquiry to enrollment. The university will utilize LeadSquared to manage inquiries and student applications, automate email and text message communications, provide the admissions team greater visibility into its lead pipeline and daily tasks, and speed time to enrollment.   University of the Southwest was founded in 1962 and began offering online education in 2008, with the launch of its Master of Science in Education program. Today, the university offers 40 graduate degree programs (100% exclusively online) and 32 undergraduate degree programs (in person and online). Approximately 70% of USW applicants pursue graduate programs.   USW’s evolution over the last 16 years created a need for a customer relationship management (CRM) platform built for higher education institutions. The university’s recruitment and enrollment workflows were highly manual and spreadsheet based, and its student information system lacked marketing automation or enrollment management functionality.   Ryan Tipton, President and Chief Executive Officer of USW, shares, “When the university rolled out a strategic plan in 2022, one of our priorities was to modernize our platforms for student services and instruction. That caused us to also take a hard look at our admissions processes and tools. We were introduced to LeadSquared at a conference, and were so excited about everything that the LeadSquared CRM is capable of. With one license, we could serve two very distinct student groups—adult learners pursuing online graduate degrees and traditional age undergraduate students. That was another bonus.”  Dr. Tipton adds that the USW student journey begins with the enrollment counselor, making their systems even more important. “We’re a small, private institution, and our enrollment team plays a key role in establishing a great student experience,” he says. “So, we want to equip them with the best tools possible. I’m very excited about the LeadSquared CRM platform and eager to see how it will help us reinvent our processes.”   “We’re thrilled to welcome University of the Southwest to the LeadSquared platform, and are confident that our CRM technology will support USW, connect with more potential students, engage them with personalized emails, and boost enrollment,” says Murali Krishna Kantipudi, Head of Growth for LeadSquared. “The university takes pride in its nurturing environment, which is evident from potential students’ first inquiry. LeadSquared will provide USW with the technological foundation to strengthen those relationships and streamline the enrollment process to set students up for success.”   Learn more about LeadSquared for education at www.leadsquared.com/education .   ABOUT LEADSQUARED   LeadSquared is an AI-powered, no-code, student enrollment platform, designed to streamline the entire student journey, with ease and efficiency. The company supports higher education institutions with admission management, personalized student portals, AI-powered chatbot, interactive microsites, student success cloud and more. Our solution simplifies student recruitment and engagement with advanced automation and personalized interaction strategies.

-For Immediate Release- Hobbs, NM – The University of the Southwest (USW) has launched a state-of-the-art mobile app designed to significantly revolutionize the "Mustang Experience." Developed through a partnership with Snap! Mobile, the app will provide a one-stop shop for all things USW Athletics and Student Life. Serving as the ultimate campus companion, the app will be the go-to hub for everything—schedules, rosters, scores, real-time updates, and the latest student life events on campus. But that's not all! It also features an exciting student rewards platform where Mustangs can earn rewards for being an amazing fan at home games and participating in other campus activities. "We are excited to provide Mustang fans with a first-class mobile experience," said VP of Athletics and Facilities Steve Appel. "We wanted to offer an app that not only our students, faculty, and staff on campus would enjoy but also a place where fans from afar can keep up to date with everything happening on our campus. This app will be a great asset to our university and allow users to find everything they need regarding Athletics, Student Life, and much more – all in one place." Amanda Guzman-Appel, USW VP of Student Affairs and Campus Life, noted, "We're making it easier than ever for our Mustangs to stay informed, get involved, and feel a stronger sense of community. Whether they're cheering on our teams or participating in campus events, this app ensures students are always in the loop and rewarded for their Mustang pride." The app's creation underscores USW's commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing the educational experience through advanced technology. "The launch of this app is a bold step forward in our commitment to enhancing the Mustang experience," said University President Dr. Ryan Tipton. "At the University of the Southwest, we're dedicated to leveraging technology to keep our community connected, informed, and engaged. This app isn't just a tool—it's a dynamic resource that will enrich campus life, celebrate our athletic achievements, and bring our Mustang family closer together, no matter where they are." The app is now available for download for free from both the Apple and Google Play Store or by going here: https://uswmustangs.app.link/download Mustang fans are encouraged to enable push notifications and location services to get instant updates about their favorite USW teams, game day information, and exclusive offers. For more on USW athletics, fans can follow the Mustangs on Twitter (@USWAthletics) or on Facebook by searching USW Athletics.

Hobbs, NM – The University of the Southwest (USW) is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI to bring state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) tools to all students, faculty, and staff at the institution. This collaboration underscores USW’s commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing the educational experience through advanced technology.   Revolutionizing Education with AI   The integration of OpenAI’s advanced AI capabilities is set to transform four key areas at USW: curriculum, instruction, student services, and operations. The initiative aims to prepare students for the evolving job market, enhance teaching methodologies, improve student support services, and optimize institutional operations.   1. Transforming Curriculum   USW is dedicated to preparing its students for the future by incorporating AI into its curriculum. This partnership will enable the development of new courses and the enhancement of existing ones with AI-driven content. Students across all disciplines will gain exposure to AI applications, ensuring they are well-equipped with the skills needed in a technology-driven world. From business to science and from the arts to education, AI will become an integral part of the learning experience at USW.   2. Innovating Instruction   OpenAI’s tools will revolutionize how teaching is conducted at USW. Faculty will have access to AI-powered resources that can help personalize learning experiences, identify student needs, and provide real-time feedback. These tools will support educators in creating more engaging and effective lesson plans, fostering an environment where students can thrive. The integration of AI will also facilitate innovative teaching methods, such as adaptive learning technologies and intelligent tutoring systems.   3. Enhancing Student Services   AI will play a pivotal role in improving how USW serves its students. From AI-driven chatbots providing instant assistance to students, to predictive analytics identifying those who may need additional support, the partnership with OpenAI aims to enhance the overall student experience. Personalized academic advising, career guidance, and mental health support are just a few areas where AI will make a significant impact. These tools will ensure that each student receives the attention and resources they need to succeed.   4. Optimizing Operations   USW is committed to operational excellence, and AI will be instrumental in achieving this goal. The university will leverage AI to streamline administrative processes, enhance data security, and optimize resource allocation. By automating routine tasks and improving decision-making processes, AI will help USW operate more efficiently and effectively. This will enable the institution to focus more on its core mission of providing high-quality education and support to its community.   A Future-Ready Institution   Dr. Ryan Tipton, President of the University of the Southwest, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “Our collaboration with OpenAI marks a significant milestone in our journey toward becoming a future-ready institution. Beginning October 1, 2024, all USW students, faculty, and staff will have access to the dedicated AI platform. By integrating AI into every aspect of our university, we are not only enhancing the educational experience for our students but also preparing them to be leaders in a rapidly changing world.”

University of the Southwest is proud to be featured in the "10 Most Admired Colleges to Watch" list by Education Insights. Read more here.

-For Immediate Release- Hobbs, New Mexico - The University of the Southwest held a private event on campus to unveil the permanent memorial honoring the coach and students involved in the fatal accident that occurred in Spring of 2022.  Approximately one hundred members of the USW Mustang community attended the intimate ceremony held on April 2nd, 2024, at 6:00 pm. In his comments to attendees, Dr. Tipton highlighted the importance of the memorial as a place of reflection on campus. He stated, “Let this memorial be a sanctuary for those who seek solace and a lasting tribute to the lives that have forever shaped our institution. It is a reminder that, in the darkest of times, we can come together as a community to support one another, stand firm in our faith, lift each other up, and move forward, carrying the legacy of those we have lost in our hearts. In addition to unveiling the monument, USW offered a first look at the new indoor golf training facility on campus. Known as “Tyler’s Turf,” the facility has been dedicated to the former coach of the team,  Tyler James, who was also lost in the accident.

-For Immediate Release- On November 30, 2023, the Allsup Family Charitable Foundation established an endowment at the USW Foundation to support students attending the University of the Southwest. With an initial gift of $1,000,000 to the USW Foundation, the endowment will provide direct scholarships to University of the Southwest students as early as Fall 2024. The endowment marks one of the most significant gifts contributed directly to the USW Foundation and is anticipated to award approximately $40,000 in individual student scholarships annually. The University Scholarship Committee will select recipients, with preference given to those full-time undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in education. “At a time when institutions like USW are seeking avenues to make higher education more accessible and affordable, this endowed scholarship is truly transformative,” USW president Dr. Ryan Tipton said. “We began working with the Allsup Family Charitable Foundation in 2023 as part of our Expanding Teacher Education in the Southwest program. Funding for that initiative supported more than 130 students who graduated with education degrees in Southeastern New Mexico. We have been able to make such a tremendous local impact working together with the Allsup Family Charitable Foundation previously, and now, we are thrilled to continue those efforts as this endowment is established. We anticipate that this endowment will effectively double the number of students who receive direct donor scholarships at the university. Again, this gift is groundbreaking for our institution, and we are eternally grateful for the generosity of the Allsup Family.”

-For Immediate Release- On August 21, 2023, the University of the Southwest Foundation established the Laci Stone Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was funded through an initial gift of $100,000 from Haydan and Chelsi Stone, who’ve established the Love Like Laci Foundation. Investment earnings from the endowment will fund an annual scholarship awarded to a full-time USW student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a member of USW athletics. Preference for the award will be given to student-athletes on the golf team. Coming to USW from Nocona, Texas, Laci was a first-year student in the business program at USW and a member of the 2022 Women’s Golf Team. Scholarship recipients for the 2023 academic year include Halie Cruz, Phillip Lopez, Harrison Kessler, and Jonathan Flores. President of USW, Dr. Tipton, states, “It is an honor to work with Laci’s parents, Haydan and Chelsi, and the Love Like Laci Foundation. Their commitment to supporting students is evident in the foundation’s mission, and it is our privilege to establish this scholarship endowment in Laci’s name. Laci was a bright light on our campus, and we miss her dearly. We are proud to know that her memory will continue to give hope to future students at the university.” Haydan and Chelsi Stone commented, “We know Laci was so happy to be a Mustang and loved the friendships she made at USW. It is an honor to see her legacy continue while also knowing these young adults have the same life experiences as our daughter. We hope everyone will always remember Laci and her teammates and continue to Love Like Laci.”

-For Immediate Release- On August 21, 2023, the University of the Southwest Foundation established the Karisa Ann Raines Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was funded through an initial gift of $100,000 from Gary and Sandy Raines, parents of Karisa Ann Raines. Investment earnings from the endowment will fund an annual scholarship awarded to a full-time USW student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a member of USW athletics. Preference for the award will be given to student-athletes on the golf team. Karisa (known on campus as “Little Red”) was a USW student and member of the 2022 Women’s Golf Team. As a senior in her last two classes at USW, Karisa’s degree was conferred upon her posthumously in March of 2022. Scholarship recipients for the 2023 academic year include Halie Cruz, Phillip Lopez, Harrison Kessler, and Jonathan Flores. Dr. Tipton, President of USW, states, “It is a privilege to work with Gary and Sandy to establish this endowment forever honoring Karisa. She made such an impact on our campus and brightened every classroom with her kindness and positivity. Her memory here at USW will continue to support future students as they pursue their dream of playing golf and continuing their education.” Karisa’s father, Gary Raines, noted, “Sandy and I are so excited about the opportunity to help deserving scholar-athletes in Karisa's name. Her passions were God, her family, education, and golf. She considered each of her teammates as family, so it is appropriate that our first scholarships should go to Halie, Jonathan, Philip, and Harrison. We know that "Little Red" would be honored and thrilled to be an integral part of their continued education. With the assistance of USW, Karisa Ann Raines will forever remain a huge part of the university and their scholarship program.”

Welcome to a new, modern, USW. We are excited to welcome you to the brand new USW website! Our hope is that this new website is a reflection of the modern direction of the university. We expect that you'll be able to find your way around much easier, whether you're a future student, a former student, or anything in between. Keep reading to learn more about the development of the site and some tips and tricks for navigating. Developing the New Website Developing the new site has been a journey in the making. After evaluating the state of the previous site that has been used for over a decade, we decided it was time to start fresh. Earlier this year, we began a contract with a third-party company to develop our site. After a couple months of back and forth and much discussion, our team decided to part ways with the contractor and bring the project back in house. After all, no one knows this university better than our own people! Once that decision was made, it was full steam ahead from there. We assembled a team dedicated to getting the site up and running as soon as possible. While there will continue to be improvements made on the new site as we get feedback from users, we are proud to present our students, faculty, staff, and community with this resource, as we acknowledge the importance of a clear and professional website. Navigating the Website The primary objective of the new site was to make navigation and information acquisition as easy as possible. This starts with our menu bar, where you can navigate based on the type of information you're looking for (ex. Admissions, Academics, etc.) or based on the type of user that you are (ex. Current Students, Faculty & Staff, etc.). We structured our site this way because we realized that users had applicable information in multiple areas. Since the USW website is the primary resource for students, staff, and faculty, we wanted to make sure each user group had a hub for information most relevant to them. We encourage you to check out the hub for you user group! Providing us Feedback! With the launch of the new site, we know that there is still plenty of opportunity for improvement. That's why we've included a banner right on our homepage for you to give us feedback. If you notice anything wrong, broken, or just an opportunity for a new idea, we want to know! Just click the button on the banner and let us know what we can improve. We're very excited for you to explore the site! #GOMUSTANGS