New Mexico Higher Education Department

10/31/2026

👻 It’s been a festive Halloween season at the New Mexico Higher Education Department!

Earlier this month, we traded our usual workday routine for a little trick-or-treat fun at the annual Boo at the Zoo. Our team had a great time meeting hundreds of families, sharing information about higher education opportunities across New Mexico, and of course handing out plenty of candy.

The spooky season continued this week with our very own Halloween party to celebrate our team and recognize the hard work everyone puts in throughout the year.

Have a safe, fun and happy Halloween!

10/30/2026

UNM Health Sciences is launching a new Master of Social Work program in 2027, expanding graduate education and helping address New Mexico’s need for more social work professionals.

Supported by a $10 million endowment from the state, the program will welcome an initial cohort of 20 students with opportunities to specialize in clinical or medical social work. The medical social work concentration will be the first of its kind in New Mexico, preparing graduates to support patients and families in healthcare settings across the state.

Read more!

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The University of New Mexico is welcoming its first cohort for a new degree in spring 2027. The Master’s of Social Work, housed in the School of Medicine Department…

10/29/2026

Thank you to New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services for inviting our team to the 48th Annual Conference on Aging.

We enjoyed connecting with dozens of families over the two-day event and sharing how the state’s financial aid programs, including the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, help thousands of students across New Mexico attend college tuition-free each year.

Congratulations to the Aging and Long-Term Services Department on a successful conference, and thank you for bringing our communities together.

Learn more about these programs at ReachHigherNM.com and how they can help you take that next step toward higher education!

10/29/2026

10/28/2026

Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez traveled to Los Angeles last week to join leaders, educators and advocates at the College Promise Careers Institute, celebrating the 10th cohort of the LA College Promise program.

In her remarks at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Secretary Rodriguez highlighted New Mexico’s national leadership in tuition‑free college through the Opportunity Scholarship.
She shared powerful outcomes from New Mexico’s investments, including five consecutive years of enrollment growth, more approximately 23,000 graduates supported by the Opportunity Scholarship to date and transformative impacts for working adults, parents, caregivers, veterans and first‑generation students.

Tuition-free college is more than affordability, it’s about hope, opportunity and strengthening communities. Policymakers and education leaders need to keep programs simple, inclusive and student-centered.

New Mexico’s journey demonstrates a core truth: when we remove barriers, students rise.

🔗Learn more about New Mexico’s program at ReachHigherNM.com

10/27/2026

Last month, Director Dina Advani represented New Mexico at the national Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) conference, connecting with federal partners and representatives from other states to discuss how education and workforce data can help track college graduates’ employment and earnings.

The conference highlighted an important milestone for New Mexico as the state recently joined the U.S. Census Bureau’s PSEO initiative, expanding access to data on graduates’ employment and earnings outcomes. Participation provided an opportunity to learn from other states, strengthen partnerships and explore how this information can help align higher education pathways with workforce needs.

Through continued collaboration and data-informed decisionmaking, we are working to strengthen the connection between higher education, career opportunities and New Mexico’s workforce needs.

10/26/2026

🎓 Celebrating Student Success at Eastern New Mexico University - ENMU!

🐾 Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez made a trip to Portales to support the grand opening of Eastern New Mexico University’s new Student Academic Services Building!

This new facility will connect students with essential resources, including academic advising, financial aid assistance, tutoring and other services to support their educational journeys.

The project received significant investment from multiple funding sources, including $27.5 million from the State of New Mexico.

These investments represent a shared commitment to student success, regional opportunity and New Mexico’s future workforce.

💚 Congratulations to university leadership, faculty, staff, and students on this exciting milestone! We look forward to seeing how this new space helps Greyhounds reach higher.

10/25/2026

This month, Director Dina Advani represented New Mexico at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) Communities of Practice convening—Insights and Strategies for Improving Noncredit Pathways and Outcomes—in Kansas City, Missouri. She joined representatives from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, Doña Ana Community College and Central New Mexico Community College as part of the state’s team.

Director Advani also served as a panelist alongside a representative from Maryland, sharing New Mexico’s work through the Workforce GRO initiative and efforts to help students transition from short-term workforce training into college credit and further education. Her presentation highlighted the state’s approach to strengthening noncredit data collection, tracking employment outcomes, and recognizing students’ existing skills and credentials.

The convening brought together state leaders from across the country to exchange ideas, address challenges, and explore strategies to strengthen non-credit education and workforce training pathways. Through initiatives like Workforce GRO, New Mexico continues to support pathways that connect education, workforce training and opportunities for students to reach higher.

10/24/2026

Colleagues from the New Mexico Higher Education Department attended Lumina Foundation’s 2026 State Policy Retreat, bringing together state leaders, policymakers, higher education system offices, college presidents, partners, and students from across the country.

The convening provided an opportunity to reflect on the State Attainment Collaborative, highlight progress across participating states, and discuss the value of higher education and post-high school training. Participants shared perspectives on strengthening education pathways and expanding opportunities for individuals to pursue education and training beyond high school.

We are proud to engage with national partners and state leaders to advance higher education opportunities and support New Mexicans in reaching their educational and career goals. New Mexico is a national example of what we can accomplish when we prioritize higher education for all. Together, we’re helping New Mexicans reach higher.