By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Rio Rancho high schoolers can now train on professional-grade auto shop equipment without leaving campus — or paying tuition — after CNM and Rio Rancho Public Schools cut the ribbon Aug. 28on the new Transportation Systems Technology Center at RioTECH.
The 43,800-square-foot facility becomes the new home for CNM’s Automotive Technology and Electric Vehicle Technology programs, plus select Diesel Equipment Technology courses. Through CNM’s Dual Credit program, RioTECH students in grades 10-12 can take those courses free, earning high school and college credit simultaneously.
“Industry leaders helped shape the training offered here to ensure students gain the skills and hands-on experience employers need,” CNM President Tracy Hartzler said in a statement, calling the center part of a broader push to expand the region’s skilled-trades pipeline.
More Details
- Labs replicate professional repair shops, with dedicated electrical systems space and secure fleet storage
- RioTECH launched in 2025; also offers skilled trades, IT and digital media pathways
- CNM’s automotive program traces back to the college’s 1965 founding as TVI
Learn more about RioTECH: rrps.net/o/riotech
CNM Automotive Technology: cnm.edu/programs/programs-a-z/automotive-technology
CNM Electric Vehicle Technology: cnm.edu/programs/programs-a-z/electric-vehicle-technology