HIGHER EDUCATION
New Mexico's colleges and universities are experiencing record enrollments, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is expected to allocate nearly $55 million to New Mexico students via Pell Grants.
Overview of Higher Education Projects
As New Mexico colleges experience record enrollments, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided significant increases to financial aid programs.
The Recovery Act increased the maximum Pell Grant award by more than $600 - from $4,731 to $5,350 in the 2009-10 school year. The maximum award will increase to $5,500 in the 2010-11 academic year. An estimated 48,530 New Mexico students could qualify for a full or partial award, at colleges and universities across the state.
Also, the Recovery Act boosted the Work Study program in New Mexico by more than $1.4 million.
These extra funds invested into education will both help students and families during the recession and help build a better foundation for New Mexico's economic future.
Students and their families are encouraged to meet with the financial aid office at their New Mexico college or university to explore the additional Pell and Work Study funding available to them.
HIGHER EDUCATION PROJECT
Scholarships For Disadvantaged Students
Funding Recipient: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Award: $225,078
Location: Bernalillo County
Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Health Resources and Services Administrations Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program provide scholarships for full-time students in medical schools and training programs. At the University of New Mexico, the funds have been distributed among nine programs, including:
- MD Program
- College of Pharmacy Program
- Physicians Assistant Program
- Dental Hygiene Program
- Medical Laboratory Science Program
- Occupational Therapy Program
- Physical Therapy Program
- College of Nursing Graduate Program
- College of Nursing Undergraduate Program
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also allocates $190 million for Pell Grants, a popular program that helps tens of thousands of New Mexico college students each year.
