news@dailylobo.com
Today, UNM students will have an opportunity to weigh in on the University’s proposal to address the solvency issue of the New Mexico Legislative Lottery Success Scholarship.
According to the New Mexico Higher Education Report, in Fiscal Year 2012 the Lottery Scholarship balance was about $29 million, less than half of the FY 2009 balance, which was $66.5 million. According to the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), the scholarship will run out by FY 2014.
ASUNM President Caroline Muraida and UNM Student Regent Jacob Wellman arranged a Lottery Scholarship town hall to inform students about the scholarship and receive feedback from students through an online survey. Both said they hope the information provided at the town hall will allow students to have input on potential eligibility requirement changes that may be made to ensure that the scholarship is still available for future students.
“This is a tough conversation to have and I think the best way to carry it out is to educate students on the issues and ask them what makes sense to them,” Wellman said. “I think we’ll walk away from the forum with a sense of where students are at on what direction to lead the Lottery Scholarship.”
Wellman said the scholarship allows students who may not be able to afford tuition to access a college education and encourages talented students to stay in New Mexico.
“The scholarship brought me to UNM and hopefully will help the University deliver its flagship education for many generations,” he said.
Muraida said the town hall will include three speakers from UNM: Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Terry Babbitt, Dean of University College Kate Krause and UNM associate professor Melissa Binder.
Muraida said Babbitt will speak about UNM’s participation in the Lottery Scholarship in relation to other New Mexico institutions and address the ways the University uses the scholarship to ensure students graduate. She said Binder will explain the demographics of the average Lottery Scholarship recipient and Krause will discuss the implications of academic eligibility for the scholarship and academic indicators of success.
“Student Regent Jacob Wellman and I have been working on the lottery summit,” she said. “We saw the need for the UNM community to step up and really come together as a community and propose a few solutions.”
Muraida said a panel discussion will allow panelists, including LFC Deputy Director Charles Sallee, Rep. Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo), Sen. Michael Sanchez (D-Valencia) and Secretary of Higher Education Jose Garcia, to weigh in on the information provided at the town hall. She said that after the panel discussion, students will be able to participate in the survey and share their ideas about the changes that should be made to ensure the Lottery Scholarship remains available.
“We are grateful for all of the support that the New Mexico State Legislature has given us in providing this scholarship and addressing all the various components that come up with funding this massive project,” Muraida said. “So many people are eager to attend and be part of the solution.”
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Lottery Scholarship town hall
Today
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SUB Lobo Room (top floor)
