Proposed changes to the lottery scholarship program are not on paper yet - the governor's Task Force on Higher Education is keeping them all in a discussion phase.
Two working groups made first reports on Friday to chairman Toney Anaya about changes that would affect New Mexico's Lottery Scholarship program.
The scholarship has funded the educations of 27,000 students since 1996. To expand the program, the task force is looking at possible changes.
* Modifying the requirement that students have to enter college the first semester after graduating high school.
* Covering a student's first semester of college.
* Making lottery funds available for students attending tribal colleges.
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* Making part of the lottery scholarship need-based.
* Having the lottery scholarship cover more than tuition, such as book costs.
"We are trying to make sure more scholarships are available to more students through their college career," Anaya said.
He said the task force is looking at what restrictions make the lottery scholarship less accessible to students.
"We need to make sure it's flexible enough," Anaya said.
A proposal to have the scholarship support nontraditional students is another topic of discussion.
"The lottery should be encouraging students to go back to school and, right now, it doesn't do that," he said.
Anaya said bridge scholarships that cover a student's first semester of college after high school are also being reviewed. He said there is talk of placing the Bridge to Success Scholarship on the tail end of a student's college career instead of at the beginning.
Senator Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said he is against all changes to the lottery scholarship, except for the provision that would make it possible for students to wait up to two years before entering college.
"I don't support any measures other than an increase in the time period between high school and going into an institution of higher education," Sanchez said. "It's the only change that is viable. All the other changes are harmful."
Sanchez said he supports the proposed changes after talking to students and parents who said not every high school senior is ready for college.
People have been trying to make the scholarship need-based for years, he said, but that would be a breach of contract with New Mexico citizens.
"We promised citizens that this would be a scholarship without restrictions and barriers," Sanchez said. "If we change it, we break that promise."
He said so many changes are being discussed because of the lottery scholarship program's success and the large amount of money available.
"It's a great program - the most successful in the state," Sanchez said. "We should be very cautious about changing it."
Anaya said the task force is in the process of digesting the reports and it will be another one to two months before any final decisions are made.
The task force will present an executive summary to the governor within the next 30 days.
