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

SPONSOR Lopez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/3/2007

HB

SHORT TITLE UNM Academic Pathways for Students Program

SB 107

ANALYST McOlash

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$131.6

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

University of New Mexico (UNM)

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 107 appropriates $131,610 from the General Fund to the Regents of UNM for expen-

diture in FY 2008 for the Multiple Academic Pathways for students (MAPS) program to increase

the accessibility and usage of academic support programs.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $131,610 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 2008 shall revert to the

General Fund.

The University states the appropriation of $131,610 contained in this bill is comprised of a recur-

ring expense of $93,610 for personnel and a non-recurring expense of $38,000 for expenses re-

lating to the creation of the MAPS program from the General Fund. Any program, however, will

require recurring funding for expenses.

Senate Bill 107 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to UNM, MAPS will increase student engagement and achievement by making aca-

demic support services more accessible and available. Academic support includes programs pro-

vided by both Student Services and Academic Affairs such as tutoring, mentoring, and advising.

MAPS will increase awareness and thus utilization of academic support services by making these

services more visible and accessible, campus-wide.

The Higher Education Department asserts that the $131,610 duplicates the FY08 base expansion

request that UNM submitted to HED for review and is not on HED’s recommended funding list.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The University outlines an ambitious measurement program:

Measurable Outcomes:

.

Increase student achievement as measured by GPA, retention, and graduation

rates.

.

Improve engagement through increased use of academic support services.

.

Enhance student and community experience of UNM as a supportive campus

environment

Activities:

Increase awareness of available services

1.

Develop a student-friendly MAPS web-site

2.

Distribute information about MAPS through Lobo Orientation, pam-

phlets, banners, videos in the Student Union Building, pencils, etc.

3.

MTVU: develop music videos geared to the 18-25 year age group,

which will be shown on the TV screens in the Student Union Building.

4.

Have tables at UNM student events such as Lobo Orientation, Wel-

come Back Days, dorm night at the Student Union Building, sorority

and fraternity events, etc.

5.

Have tables at outreach events for new students such as Hispanic Stu-

dent Day, African-American Student Day, Native American Student

Day, Star Scholars Day, etc.

Engage students with the appropriate services

1.

Educate and train advisors, program coordinators, orientation leaders,

etc. about the available services and how to accurately match student

needs with appropriate services

2.

Ensure that information for all programs and activities relating to aca-

demic support for students is accurate, welcoming, and consistent

across all the MAPS technologies: web-based, paper-based, and face-

to-face information sources.

3.

Ensure that the MAPS web-site is interactive and allows students to

schedule appointments with appropriate counselors, advisors, tutors,

etc. during their MAPS sessions

Senate Bill 107 – Page

3

Ensure that support services are ready for a new influx of students

1.

Work with program coordinators to monitor program usage, referrals

from MAPS, and student needs

2.

Train staff across programs to work in concert with each other so that

students receive a consistent and accurate message about available

services

3.

Train faculty and advisors about MAPS.

Assess the effectiveness of both MAPS and academic services

1.

Assess MAPS usage

2.

Assess student satisfaction with MAPS

3.

Assess student outcomes by program (i.e., Center for Academic Pro-

gram Support, El Centro de la Raza, Advising Centers, etc.)

4.

Report retention rates, graduation rates, and grade point averages for

student comparison groups

Re-administer the National Survey of Student Engagement to measure student satisfaction with

academic services in general

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

The Higher Education Department indicates the SB 107 appropriation duplicates funding in the

General Appropriation Act.

BM/yr