
The University of New Mexico
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth (505) 277-5627;kwent2@unm.edu
September 20, 2006
UNM-Taos Receives Million Dollar Title V Award
UNM-Taos Campus is joining with Northern New College and Highlands University to persuade more high school students in northern New Mexico to go to college. The three schools are sharing a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Title V funding program. Part of the money will be spent on high school bridge programs aimed at low income students in Taos , Peñasco, Questa, Cimarron, and Mesa Vista. Two local charter high schools will also be involved.
Students at UNM-Taos will also have more student support such as bilingual language development and other support services to improve student's ability to remain in class. UNM-Taos will also be increasing its postsecondary offerings accessible via distance education, and aligning and articulating curricula with secondary and postsecondary institutions in the collaborative; and supporting student success, retention and graduation by providing academic skill-building and effective support services.
In addition there will be services to better prepare students for baccalaureate and graduate level degree programs. UNM-Taos will work directly with Northern New Mexico College, Highlands University, and The University of New Mexico in a long term effort of joint planning and in order to make transfer among the institutions easier.
Chandler Barrett, Director of Planning & Institutional Development at UNM-Taos says, “We want to increase the number of students who stay in school and graduate. This five-year project will give us a real chance to overcome barriers of geography and to help students who are under-prepared for college level work to succeed.”
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