The future of New Mexico, which has a unique diverse minority population (Hispanics, Blacks, and Native Americans), is linked with how well the educational systems serve the special needs of these groups. However, these groups are the least educationally prepared to function meaningfully in and to contribute to both the contemporary society and the growth potential in New Mexico. Higher education, representing the ending integral in the educational preparation of minorities for employment and functional proficiencies, can be identified as the major opportunity to redress the problem. Unfortunately, minorities have not always fared very well in institutions of higher education and training. Representing a minority's perspective on the critical issue of minority access to excellence in higher education, this paper discusses minority access to higher education in terms of enrollment, retention, and persistence, and presents a discussion for expanding the definitions of excellence and excellence accountability. The paper draws upon the professional and life experiences of a minority student and instructor in higher education, an informal survey of 12 minority students, and a review of current literature on the status of minority education. (NQA)