Prudent financial planning is allowing New Mexico State University to fund a number of campus improvements with one-time funds, including student scholarships, classroom improvements and research support for the Las Cruces campus.

NMSU also will give each regular employee a one-time payment of $950 on Dec. 15.

School officials say the payment will be made to all regular employees who have been employed continuously this year from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.

The amount will be pro-rated for part-time regular employees.

The announcement comes about two months after NMSU president Barbara Couture's State of the University address in which she announced the possibility of a one-time salary payment to recognize employee service, as well as increased research support and funding for classroom renovations and student scholarships.