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

SPONSOR McSorley

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/31/06

HB

SHORT TITLE UNM Study Abroad Programs

SB 582

ANALYST Earp

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 582 appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the Uni-

versity of New Mexico to support faculty and students in study abroad programs.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert

to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

This request was not on the list of priority projects submitted by UNM to the New Mexico

Higher Education Department for review and was not included in the department’s fiscal year

2007 funding recommendation to the Legislature.

Senate Bill 582 – Page

2

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

UNM would administer the requested appropriation.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

HED reports that the Office of International Programs and Studies (OIPS) at UNM houses the

exchange program where UNM students have opportunities to study abroad. UNM looks for mo-

tivated students who are interested in a change of life style, who like challenge, who have open

minds, and who have flexible personalities for the Study Abroad Program. Types of programs

UNM students may access include:

1. UNM's One-To-One Exchanges - Students exchange with a student from the partner school

for one year or one semester. Students pay UNM tuition and almost all financial aid can be used.

Credits earned overseas may be transferred back to UNM.

2. UNM Departmental Exchanges - Short-term Study Abroad Programs - Many UNM depart-

ments offer summer courses, field experiences, or other international programs.

3. New Mexico International Education Consortium - UNM has an agreement with several other

universities in New Mexico to share our study abroad programs. Students will pay the regular

tuition for that university for the study abroad program and can use all of their UNM financial

aid.

4. UNM Affiliated Programs - In order to provide more options for places to study abroad, UNM

works with other out-of-state providers. For most of these programs, students need to apply di-

rectly to the program and pay their regular tuition rates (which may be higher than UNM in-state

tuition). However, all of these providers offer scholarship opportunities to UNM students. Stu-

dents can use most of their UNM financial aid on these programs but will have to speak with a

UNM financial aid advisor to find out if there are any restrictions.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Is the intent of this legislation to provide financial aid/scholarships for students who choose to

participate in exchange programs, or to provide administrative support to UNM for such pro-

grams.

How are current exchange programs supported within the university.

DKE/nt