I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
On Monday gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish announced the details of a workforce training agenda that she said would provide high schoolers, college students and the unemployed with marketable skills. Students who agree to pursue a high-demand career would be eligible for free tuition and other help.
Denish discusses workforce training program
Surrounded by students of all ages, Denish outlined the plan at a press conference held at Central New Mexico Community College.
Instead of running out the clock until graduation, high school students would take AP classes, intern at a local company or participate in other career-path education opportunities.
After high school, students who agree to pursue a high-demand career would receive free tuition for the first semester of community college through “Bridge to the Workforce” community-college scholarships.
High-demand careers include health and biosciences, business services, communications and information, arts and entertainment, energy and environmental technology, engineering/construction and manufacturing, hospitality and tourism and education.
If students in the program keep up a 2.5 GPA, they would be eligible for the Lottery Scholarship which would pay for their remaining semesters of college.
Adults who lost their jobs in the last two years would be eligible for financial assistance to complete community-college coursework or a labor apprenticeship.
For mid-career adults in need of updating their skills, Denish proposed better online education programs tailored to the high-demand careers.
The scholarships would cost $3.6 million a year, according to Denish campaign spokesman Chris Cervini. The other elements of the program would be “no-cost/low cost,” Cervini said.
