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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Robinson

DATE TYPED 3-3-05

HB

SHORT TITLE UNM Special Student Projects

SB 915

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$120.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation to the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriations Act.

Relates to SB547, SB569

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 915 – Making an Appropriation for Special Student Projects at the University of New

Mexico – appropriates $120,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University

of New Mexico for expenditure in FY06 to support the special programs office. The appropria-

tion is allocated as follows:

•

$35,000 for minority graduate recruitment and retention;

•

$35,000 for youth recreation and education;

•

$25,000 for youth leadership and development; and

•

$25,000 for college preparation and mentoring.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

Senate Bill 915 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

CHE indicates that the University of New Mexico (UNM) Special Programs Office provides a

support structure for students in the development of skills necessary to pursue post-secondary

education and to promote retention through supportive programs and promotion of graduate stud-

ies. CHE further notes that the Special Programs Office provides opportunities through educa-

tional, social, and cultural experiences, to increase the recruitment, retention, and development of

students in higher education, and that the programs included in this legislation presently exist or

have recently existed at the university.

CHE adds that, generally, the Special Programs Office programs are federally funded; although,

the commission did recommend $148,300 for Youth Recreation and Education and $76,400 for

Youth Leadership and Development.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $350,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund

allocated for expenditure in FY06. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the

end of FY06 shall revert to the general fund.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation to the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriations Act.

Relates to SB547 in that SB547 seeks to appropriate $150,000 from the general fund to the

Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for expenditure in FY06 to support the uni-

versity's special programs office implementation of college preparatory mentoring programs for

eighth graders in the Albuquerque public school system.

Relates to SB569 in that SB569 seeks to appropriate $200,000 from the general fund to the

Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for expenditure in FY06 to provide mentor-

ing, tutoring and study support for Hispanic students through El Centro de la Raza.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

PED notes the following observations as general background to this legislation:

•

New Mexico’s student population includes 53 percent Hispanic students, 11 per-

cent Native American students and two percent Black students (Public Education

Department (PED) Accountability Data System (ADS) – 2004 data). Efforts by

higher education that specifically use strategies to recruit and retain minority stu-

dents and efforts for college preparation and mentoring could ultimately increase

the percentage of students in New Mexico who apply to and graduate from post-

secondary institutions.

•

The special project at UNM in youth recreation and education is a year-round

program that is directed at elementary, middle and high school students involved

with the Upper Bound and ENLACE programs. These programs focus on promot-

ing higher education by stressing career opportunities that advanced training and

education can provide students. This message is delivered through college prepa-

ration classes and campus orientation tours. Currently, there are 400 students in-

Senate Bill 915 -- Page 3

volved in the program with the goal being to increase the retention rate of students

enrolled in higher education, resulting in improved GPA and graduation rates.

•

The youth leadership and development special project at UNM is a transitional

program from high school to college. This collaborative with TVI, UNM and the

Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) currently involves 80 students and allows en-

tering freshmen the opportunity to take introductory level or remedial level

classes in math and reading as preparatory classes to ensure academic success.

There is a 97 percent graduation rate for students enrolled in this youth leadership

and development special project.

•

Currently, in New Mexico, 49.3 percent of high school seniors apply to four-year

postsecondary institutions and 21.5 percent apply to two-year postsecondary insti-

tutions (ADS data).

BFW/yr