SENATE MEMORIAL 89

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF TWO-YEAR PUBLICLY FUNDED COMMUNITY COLLEGES BEING OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS.

     WHEREAS, the high cost of college tuition is a deterrent to many New Mexico students contemplating career choices after high school graduation; and

     WHEREAS, the need for educated and qualified workers continues to grow, and workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics occupations are the highest-paid in New Mexico and other states; and

     WHEREAS, according to New Mexico 2016 state of the workforce report statistics, New Mexico's labor force had a lower educational attainment than most surrounding states; and

     WHEREAS, as of 2014, only twenty-nine percent of the labor force earned a bachelor's or higher degree; and

     WHEREAS, currently fifty-one percent of the jobs in New Mexico require a certificate or an associate's degree rather than a bachelor's or master's degree; and

     WHEREAS, by 2022, jobs requiring a bachelor's or higher degree are projected to grow thirteen and four-tenths percent, and jobs requiring a master's degree are projected to have the fastest rate of growth at twenty-one and six-tenths percent; and

     WHEREAS, Tennessee and Oregon support programs that cover most tuition at state community colleges for recent high school graduates or general educational development certificate recipients; and

     WHEREAS, a two-year college entry-level program with no or very low tuition would encourage more students, returning students and adult learners to consider pursuing a college education; and

     WHEREAS, to gain competitiveness in the workforce, New Mexico needs to encourage and provide students, returning students and adult learners with low-cost educational opportunities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the higher education department be requested to establish a task force of community college presidents, higher education department representatives, legislators, staff and other interested parties to study the feasibility of providing all students, returning students and adult learners with an education at a two-year college with no or very low tuition; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to study successful programs in other states that cover tuition at two-year colleges to see if such programs could be implemented in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by November 1, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair and director of the legislative education study committee and the secretary of higher education.

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