TITLE 5               POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

CHAPTER 7       TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID

PART 34              TEACHER PREPARATION AFFORDABILITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

 

5.7.34.1                 ISSUING AGENCY:  New Mexico Higher Education Department.

[5.7.34.1 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019]

 

5.7.34.2                 SCOPE:  Provisions of 5.7.34 NMAC apply to all public post-secondary institutions or tribal colleges in the state of New Mexico.

[5.7.34.2 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019]

 

5.7.34.3                 STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Section 9-25-1 et seq. NMSA 1978 and Chapter 193, Laws of 2019.

[5.7.34.3 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019]

 

5.7.34.4                 DURATION:  Permanent.

[5.7.34.4 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019]

 

5.7.34.5                 EFFECTIVE DATE:  July 30, 2019, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

[5.7.34.5 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019]

 

5.7.34.6                 OBJECTIVE:  The objective of 5.7.34 NMAC is to provide a guideline for implementing the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act (the Act).  The purpose of the Act is to encourage eligible New Mexico students to attend and complete an accredited public education department approved teacher preparation program at a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution or a tribal college by providing a scholarship opportunity.  The Act also provides a scholarship opportunity for licensed teachers enrolled in a graduate program in education or a degree related to their teaching specialty. The scholarship is intended to help defray the educational expenses charged by the public postsecondary institution or tribal college including tuition, fees, books and course supplies and living expenses.

[5.7.34.6 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019; A, 8/15/2023]

 

5.7.34.7                 DEFINITIONS:

                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 scholarship.

                C.            “Department” means the New Mexico higher education department.

                D.            “FAFSA” means the free application for federal student aid.

                E.            “Institution” means a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college.

                F.            “Public post-secondary educational institution” means a research or comprehensive institution, as defined in Article XII, Section 11 of the New Mexico constitution, and branch community colleges or community college or technical and vocational institute as defined by Section 21-13, 14 and 16 NMSA 1978.

                G.            “Returning adult” means a student enrolling in an institution at any time later than the first semester following high school graduation or the award of a high-school equivalency credential recognized by the State of New Mexico.

                H.            “Satisfactory academic progress” means maintaining the required academic progress toward program completion as determined by the institution.

                I.             “Scholarship” means a teacher preparation affordability program award.

                J.             “Tribal college” means a tribally, federally or congressionally chartered post-secondary educational institution with a physical campus in New Mexico that is accredited by the higher learning commission.

[5.7.34.7 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019; A, 8/15/2023]

 

5.7.34.8                 STUDENT ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION OF AWARD RECIPIENTS:

                A.            A scholarship may be granted to a student who:

                                (1)           is a resident of New Mexico as defined in 5.7.18.9 NMAC or is eligible for the nondiscrimination waiver as defined in Subsection K of 5.7.18.10 NMAC;

                                (2)           has demonstrated financial need as determined by the institution;

                                (3)           is enrolled or enrolling at an eligible institution; and

                                (4)           is:

                                                (a)           a licensed teacher enrolled or enrolling at an eligible institution in a graduate program in education or a degree related to their teaching specialty; or

                                                (b)           an individual who has not earned appropriate educational credentials to be licensed as a teacher by the public education department and enrolled in a teacher preparation program that leads to an appropriate educational credential to be licensed as a teacher by the public education department, including to an education major or alternative licensure certification program, at any time later than 120 days following high school graduation or the award of a high school equivalency credential recognized by the state of New Mexico.

                B.            Institutions shall make awards first to students who meet the provisions of Subsection A of 5.7.34.8 NMAC and who:

                                (1)           are English language learners whose first or heritage language was not English;

                                (2)           are historically underrepresented minorities in New Mexico’s teaching profession; or

                                (3)           have declared intent to teach in a high-need teacher position as defined by the public education department.

                C.            After scholarships have been awarded to eligible students pursuant to Subsection B of 5.7.34.8 NMAC, institutions shall make awards to students who meet the provisions of Subsection A of 5.7.34.8 NMAC

[5.7.34.8 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019; A, 7/12/2022; A, 8/15/2023; A, 2/27/2024]

 

5.7.34.9                 AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP AND DURATION:

                A.            Institutions shall make awards to qualifying eligible students based on financial need. The following provisions shall also apply to the scholarship:

                                (1)           each scholarship award is for a period of one semester;

                                (2)           the scholarship may apply to educational expenses including tuition, fees, books and course supplies and living expenses; and

                                (3)           awards shall not exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000) per academic year.

                B.            A student may not receive more than five academic years of the scholarship. A scholarship may be renewed as long as the student continues to meet the conditions of eligibility in Subsection A of 5.7.34.8 NMAC and maintains satisfactory academic progress or until the student graduates from an eligible institution.

[5.7.34.9 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019]

 

5.7.34.10               ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM:

                A.            Institutions shall:

                                (1)           determine initial and continuing student eligibility for the scholarship based on the provisions in Section 8 and Section 9 of 5.7.34 NMAC;

                                (2)           distribute awards to qualifying eligible students; and

                                (3)           provide information to the department on an annual basis to be used by the department for calculation of the allocation to the institution. Required information shall include:

                                                (a)           income reported on the FAFSA;

                                                (b)           the number of students enrolled in a public education department approved teacher preparation program at the institution; and

                                                (c)           the percentage of the teacher preparation program students classified as returning adults who are otherwise ineligible for state financial aid.

                B.            The department shall allocate money to institutions based on a student need formula calculated according to:

                                (1)           income reported on the FAFSA;

                                (2)           the number of students enrolled in a public education department approved teacher preparation program at the public post-secondary institution or tribal college; and

                                (3)           the percentage of the institution's teacher preparation program students classified as returning adults who are otherwise ineligible for state financial aid.

[5.7.34.10 NMAC - N, 7/30/2019]

 

5.7.34.11               TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIP:  A scholarship is terminated upon occurrence of one or more of the following by the award recipient:

                A.            withdrawal from the institution or from the teacher preparation program;

                B.            failure to maintain enrollment;

                C.            failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress; or

                D.            substantial noncompliance with the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act or the provisions of 5.7.34 NMAC.

[5.7.34.11 NMAC – N, 7/30/2019; A, 8/15/2023]

 

HISTORY OF 5.7.34 NMAC:  [RESERVED]