New Mexico: Helping tribal colleges offer dual enrollment

2012 S.B. 256, signed by the governor last week, will ease the financial strain on tribal colleges offering dual enrollment programs in New Mexico, and hopefully increase the numbers of dually-enrolled students at these institutions in the state.

Under New Mexico law, postsecondary institutions are required to waive tuition and fees for dual enrollment students--which is great for students and parents, but may create a burden for dual enrollment program participation, especially for small postsecondary institutions such as tribal colleges. The newly-enacted legislation creates the "tribal college dual credit program fund" in the state treasury, to be administered by the higher education department. Monies in the fund will be used only to pay tribal colleges for waived tuition and fees for dually enrolled students, both on the college campus and for those taking courses electronically.

While a small number of states make clear that tribal colleges may participate in statewide dual enrollment programs, I do not recall another state policy that took this strategy in hopes of boosting dual enrollment at tribal colleges. The approach is all the more commendable given the research that low-income and minority students are less likely to participate in dual enrollment programs, yet in some settings reap greater benefits from program participation than their more affluent and non-minority peers. Here's hoping the state will track data to determine whether the program does in fact increase dual enrollment participation at tribal colleges, and address other potential barriers to program access if identified.