Under the leadership and direction of Dr. William “Jack” Crocker, the Academic Affairs Division is responsible for the academic functions of Western New Mexico University. In addition to setting academic policy and regulation within the university, Academic Affairs provides structure, organization, and leadership to oversee three academic colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, and the College of Professional Studies.

Academic Affairs also oversees the community college functions of the university through the department of Community and Workforce Development which provides workforce development and career training, and Adult Education Services, which is responsible for adult learning programs for English as a Second Language (ESL) and high school equivalency preparation (GED, HiSet).

Academic Affairs also oversees all online learning (Academic Technology Services), extended learning sites, graduate programs, the WNMU Museum, J. Cloyd Miller Library, the Small Business Development Center, Student Research and Professional Development (SRPD), the Child Development Center, academic advising, institutional research, and faculty professional development.