Chapter 21, Chapter 21

A majority of the four-year institutions of higher education may form, pursuant to the provisions of the Nonprofit Corporation Act [Chapter 53, Article 8 NMSA 1978], a nonprofit foundation, separate and apart from the state. The purpose of the foundation is to improve the educati…

meetings; bylaws. A. The foundation shall be governed by and all of its functions, powers and duties shall be exercised by a board of directors. After the effective date of this 2011 act, the board sitting prior to the effective date of this 2011 act shall appoint the next succes…

The foundation may from time to time issue negotiable bonds in conformity with the applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code [Chapter 55 NMSA 1978]. The foundation shall have all the powers necessary and convenient to carry out its purposes under the Educational Assist…

The foundation may from time to time issue negotiable revenue bonds. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds issued pursuant to the Educational Assistance Act may be used to fund reserves for the bonds, to pay interest on the bonds and to pay the necessary expenses of issuing the b…

A. Bonds and other obligations issued under the provisions of the Educational Assistance Act shall not be deemed to constitute a debt, liability or obligation of or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or any political subdivision thereof, but shall be payable solely fro…

Chapter 21, Article 21B NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Work-Study Act". History: Laws 1982, ch. 88, § 1; 2005, ch. 289, § 27.

As used in the Work-Study Act: A. "board" or "commission" or "department" means the higher education department; and B. "institution" means any state post-secondary educational institution and any private nonprofit post-secondary educational institution within New Mexico. History…

A "work-study fund" is created in the state treasury. The commission is instructed to create and maintain a state work-study program in accordance with the Work-Study Act. The commission is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the Work-Study Act.…

Funds appropriated to the work-study fund shall be allocated by the board to eligible institutions for their use in employing eligible students. History: Laws 1982, ch. 88, § 4.

The board shall assure that expenditures from the work-study fund are apportioned equitably among eligible institutions. History: Laws 1982, ch. 88, § 5.

Any student who is eligible under Section 7 [21-21B-7 NMSA 1978] of the Work- Study Act may apply for work-study employment, but the board must expend at least one-third of the money from the work-study fund in any one academic year for applicants chosen on the basis of monetary …

A student is eligible for employment in the state work-study program if he is enrolled at least a one-half-time student, is in compliance with the institution's satisfactory academic progress requirements, is a resident of New Mexico and has legally entered the United States. The…

Students shall not be paid less than the rate set forth in Section 50-4-22 NMSA 1978. Students are not eligible for benefits under the Unemployment Compensation Law [Chapter 51 NMSA 1978] because of participation in the work-study program. History: Laws 1982, ch. 88, § 8.

Students cannot work in the following jobs and remain eligible for the state work- study program: A. jobs that advance a religious purpose; B. jobs that have an objective that is primarily religious; C. jobs that involve excessive entanglements with a religious organization; and …

This act [21-21C-1 to 21-21C-9 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Student Choice Act". History: Laws 1983, ch. 240, § 1.

The legislature finds that independent institutions of higher education provide a valuable service for New Mexico residents by allowing educational choice. The legislature declares that the purpose of the Student Choice Act is to broaden student choice and to make maximum possibl…

As used in the Student Choice Act: A. "board" ["commission" ["department"]] means the board of educational finance [commission on higher education [higher education department]]; B. "institution" means any independent nonprofit nonsectarian four-year college or university whose N…

There is created in the state treasury the "student choice fund" which shall be administered by the board [commission [department]] in accordance with the provisions of the Student Choice Act. History: Laws 1983, ch. 240, § 4.

Student choice grants shall be awarded in the following manner, subject to rules and regulations promulgated under Section 21-21C-8 NMSA 1978: A. the student desiring a student choice grant shall be entitled to a student choice grant upon a determination by the commission on high…

Eligibility of students under the provisions of the Student Choice Act shall be as follows: A. for the first year of implementation, eligibility shall be restricted to freshmen; B. for the second year of implementation, eligibility shall be restricted to freshmen and sophomores; …

No funds appropriated pursuant to the provisions of the Student Choice Act shall be used for sectarian purposes. History: Laws 1983, ch. 240, § 7.

The commission [department] may make reasonable regulations, consistent with the purposes and policies of the Student Choice Act, to carry out the purposes of and to efficiently administer the Student Choice Act. Those rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with…

Any person knowingly submitting false information to the board [commission [department]] or its agents, which information the board [commission [department]] has requested in order to administer the provisions of the Student Choice Act, is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punis…

This act [21-21D-1 to 21-21D-5 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Senior Citizens Reduced Tuition Act". History: Laws 1984, ch. 96, § 1.

The purpose of the Senior Citizens Reduced Tuition Act is to provide educational opportunities for senior citizens at reduced tuition rates at New Mexico post-secondary degree-granting educational institutions. Senior citizens on fixed incomes often cannot afford the tuition to a…

As used in the Senior Citizens Reduced Tuition Act: A. "department" means the higher education department; B. "eligible institution" means any New Mexico post-secondary degree-granting educational institution; C. "reduced tuition" means that tuition charged senior citizens at the…

A. Reduced tuition shall be allowed for any individual who: (1) is a resident of New Mexico as determined by the definition of residency for tuition purposes as established by the department; (2) is a senior citizen; (3) pays any course-specific fees charged for a course; (4) enr…

The department may adopt rules and procedures as necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of the Senior Citizens Reduced Tuition Act; provided that senior citizens enrolled at reduced tuition shall be allowed to enroll in classes only on a space-available basis and th…

A. There is created in the state treasury the "Vietnam veterans' scholarship fund". The fund shall consist of all money appropriated to the fund and any grants, gifts and bequests made to the fund. Any money in the fund that was the result of grants, gifts or bequests shall not r…

A. A Vietnam veteran may apply to the veterans' services department for a scholarship. The department shall determine the eligibility of an applicant and certify approved applicants to the commission on higher education [higher education department]. B. The commission on higher e…

administration; disbursements. A. There is created in the state treasury the "military war veteran scholarship fund". The fund shall consist of money appropriated to the fund, any grants, gifts and bequests made to the fund and income from investment of the fund. Any money in the…

This act [21-21F-1 to 21-21F-5 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Fire Fighter and Peace Officer Survivors Scholarship Act". History: Laws 1986, ch. 50, § 1.

The legislature recognizes the importance of the duties performed by our fire fighters and peace officers and the debt we owe to the fire fighters and peace officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The intent of this act [21-21F-1 to 21-21F-5 NMSA 1978] is to make …

As used in the Fire Fighter and Peace Officer Survivors Scholarship Act: A. "board" or "department" means the higher education department; B. "cost of attendance" means the price of attendance, the publication of which is required by federal law, and includes tuition and fees, bo…

A. A survivor meeting entrance requirements shall be entitled to a scholarship to the eligible institution of the survivor's choice. B. If the eligible institution is in New Mexico, the amount of the scholarship shall be equal to the amount of tuition, room and board charged by t…

The commission [department] may adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the Fire Fighter and Peace Officer Survivors Scholarship Act. A financial aid officer may exercise professional judgment when special circumstances exist to adjust the cost of att…

Chapter 21, Article 21G NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Graduate Scholarship Act". History: Laws 1988, ch. 111, § 1; 1991, ch. 262, § 7.

A scholarship is terminated upon the occurrence of: A. withdrawal from the eligible institution by the award recipient or failure to reenroll for consecutive academic semesters; B. failure to maintain the required grade point average and other qualifications for the scholarship; …

The commission [department] may adopt rules, regulations and procedures as necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of the Graduate Scholarship Act. A financial aid officer may exercise professional judgment when special circumstances exist to adjust the cost of atten…

It is the purpose of the Graduate Scholarship Act to increase graduate enrollment in the state's public universities of students from groups underrepresented in graduate education. By encouraging groups underrepresented in graduate education to pursue advanced degrees in accredit…

As used in the Graduate Scholarship Act: A. "academic year" means the consecutive period of two semesters or other comparable units commencing with the fall term each year; B. "award recipient" means a student who is a New Mexico resident and is awarded a graduate scholarship; C.…

There are created "state graduate scholarships" which the commission [department] shall administer pursuant to the Graduate Scholarship Act. History: Laws 1988, ch. 111, § 4; 1991, ch. 262, § 10.

A. Priority shall be given to New Mexico students who are New Mexico residents with the greatest financial need and students who are residents from groups underrepresented in graduate education. B. A scholarship may be awarded to a New Mexico resident who has: (1) earned a bachel…

A. Except as provided in Subsection B of this section, a scholarship may be re- awarded to a student who: (1) was an award recipient the previous year; (2) maintains a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and remains in good academic standing as determined by the e…

Scholarship award amounts shall not exceed one hundred percent of tuition and fees for the graduate program at the eligible institution for the academic year; provided that the department shall fund only one semester at a time and shall not fund the second semester of the academi…

Each scholarship is for a period of one academic year. History: Laws 1988, ch. 111, § 8; 1991, ch. 262, § 14.

The commission [department] shall adopt rules, regulations and procedures for the distribution of scholarship funds to the eligible institutions. History: Laws 1988, ch. 111, § 9; 1991, ch. 262, § 15.

Chapter 21, Article 21H NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "New Mexico Scholars Act". History: Laws 1989, ch. 212, § 1; 2013, ch. 171, § 1.

It is the purpose of the New Mexico Scholars Act to encourage New Mexico students to attend college in New Mexico thereby making it possible for them to pursue their studies and develop their talents at both public school and higher education levels to the greater benefit of the …

As used in the New Mexico Scholars Act: A. "academic year" means any consecutive period of two semesters, three quarters or other comparable units commencing with the fall term each year; B. "award recipient" means a student awarded a New Mexico Scholars Act scholarship; C. "depa…