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.”

###


The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu