SFCC campus has made a number of ecological improvements, such as a biomass boiler for heating, LEED Gold certification for two buildings, and treated grey water irrigation for most landscaping and recreation areas.

[4] In early 1983, the New Mexico State Legislature approved a bill to provide 1.5 million dollars to fund the creation of a community college in Santa Fe.

They have coordinated existing resources from their institutions and have agreed to allow students to take basic coursework through SFCC before completing higher degrees through the HEC.

[9] In March 2011, the New Mexico Legislature passed House Joint Memorial 9, authorizing the state's General Services Department to sell to the college a tract of land for the center's building site.

[10] A primary source of criticism has been concerns over long-term funding, as well as a possibly excessive number of higher education options in New Mexico.

[11] In May 2012, attorneys for Santa Fe Community College filed a legal action in district court requesting an order to force the New Mexico Higher Education Department (HED) to grant a hearing to review construction plans for the center.