The Opportunity Scholarship Act cruised through the New Mexico state legislature with bipartisan support on Thursday, February 17. The innovative scholarship program, known as SB140 (PDF), could benefit as many as 35,000 New Mexicans by providing tuition-free college.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bill into law on Friday, March 4.
Goals of the Scholarship Act
Gov. Lujan Grisham championed the landmark legislation that makes it possible for any New Mexican wanting to pursue a higher education the ability to do so. “This administration believes in supporting students from cradle to career, and the Opportunity Scholarship provides the resources for every New Mexican who wants to further their education. Not only does this program provide opportunities to build brighter futures, it also helps our state build capacity in high-need fields like teaching, medicine and the trades. This fall, up to 35,000 New Mexicans will go to college for free – that’s a gamechanger for families, communities and businesses around the state. I am grateful to Sen. [Elizabeth] Stefanics [D – Dist. 39] and Rep. [Joy] Garratt [D – Dist. 29] for sponsoring this priority legislation,” stated Gov. Lujan Grisham in a press release, dated February 17.
“Every New Mexican deserves the opportunity to pursue education or career training leading to a brighter future. With the passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act, we have made history by ensuring New Mexicans have the option to access tuition-free college, whether they are a returning adult learner, a working parent, someone who lost the Lottery Scholarship, or anyone in between,” stated New Mexico’s Higher Education Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez. “The Opportunity Scholarship will continue to make transformational change in the lives of New Mexicans and propel our economy toward sustainable growth and success. Together with Gov. Lujan Grisham and fellow New Mexicans, we have ensured that every door is open for students to reach higher.”
The Opportunity Scholarship Act permanently expands the option of tuition-free college to New Mexicans pursuing career training certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees at New Mexico’s public or tribal colleges or universities. The scholarship initiative is the first scholarship program in New Mexico that includes students who are seeking career training certificates.
Bipartisan Support
Funded through the General Appropriations Act, the Opportunity Scholarship program will receive $75 million this fall. This amount of money has the possibility of supporting as many as 35,000 students. This number is over one-half of all undergraduate students in the State of New Mexico.
During the past two years as a result of prior appropriations, many Opportunity Scholarships were awarded to New Mexican students seeking a higher education. Unfortunately, as a result of limited funding and restrictive guidelines, only 10,000 individuals were helped. The simple fact is that many needy students have been unable to take advantage of the program.
“Today, we have taken a large step toward improving outcomes for all New Mexicans by investing in their potential and the potential of our entire state. Working hand-in-hand with Governor Lujan Grisham and Secretary Rodriguez [Cabinet Secretary for the Higher Education Department], we are making transformative change possible for every family and community,” stated Sen. Stefanics.
“I am an adult learner who actually graduated from college by taking six credits per semester, so this bill is very personally important to me. Working together with Governor Lujan Grisham, we have laid a strong foundation in early childhood education, K-12 education, and now, higher education. I am proud to have sponsored this legislation, and I know it will change the lives of thousands of New Mexicans,” commented Rep. Garratt.
Additional Information
Unfortunately over time, all of New Mexico’s higher education venues have seen a drop in enrollment mainly as a result of the high cost of higher education. The hope is that the new Opportunity Scholarship program will solve the problem.
New Mexico post-secondary enrollment data shows enrollment has consistently dropped from 2009 to 2020. The 2009 headcount at the main campus of New Mexico State University (NMSU) was over 18,000 students. In the fall of 2020, just over 14,000 students were enrolled.
Importantly, the new Opportunity Scholarship program is not merely a give away. According to the New Mexico Higher Education Department, the initiative provides New Mexicans with “accessible education”. They can “study, work and live in the state and ultimately invest back into the state’s economy.”
Also, the program does not go away after one year. It “…ensures that students attending part time and pursuing undergraduate degrees and certificates remain eligible for the scholarship year after year,” states a New Mexico Higher Education press release. “The act also creates a non-reverting fund that will help grow and sustain funding into the future.”
Open to all – recent high school graduates, working parents, adult learners, whomever – students can attend college full time or part time. According to Cabinet Secretary Rodriguez, “All you have to do is enroll in a New Mexico public college and maintain a 2.5 GPA.”
Statewide Support
New Mexicans by the thousands have expressed support for the statewide plan to provide greater access to higher education. Specifically, over 30 tribal governments, nonprofit organizations and community groups have submitted letters of support to state legislators and to Gov. Lujan Grisham. Noteworthy in the list of organizations that support both the passage and signing into law of SB140 are the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, New Mexico Voices for Children, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, the Indigenous Youth Council and 14 of the state’s tribal governments.
Resources
Updates about the Opportunity Scholarship program are available here.
A fact sheet with FAQs is available here.
