The concern came after House Republicans proposed Monday to replace Senate Democratic cuts in K-12 education with reductions in higher education. Under the GOP plan, colleges and universities in New Mexico would see around an additional 6 percent cut in funding.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers voted to cut higher education funding by 2.5 percent. The proposed decrease would be on top of that funding cut.

The Democratic-controlled Senate has adjourned, and leaders have not signaled if they would support higher education funding reductions to close an overall half-a-billion-dollar shortfall.

Eastern New Mexico University President Steven Gamble told The Associated Press the proposed reductions would add more stress to an already-strapped school budget. “I would not say (the cuts) would totally undermine what we are doing but it would come close,” Gamble said.

Gamble said the Eastern New Mexico likely would have to raise tuition but not see layoffs.