Stansbury introduces bill to help nontraditional students

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) hosted a press conference recently at Central New Mexico Community College on the Postsecondary Student Success Act.

The Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2024, introduced by Stansbury, will remove barriers that stand in the way of student’s academic success by permanently reauthorizing the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program. This bill will help nontraditional students and students from all walks of life.

“Today is really a celebration of a piece of bipartisan legislation that I've been working on for the last several years,” Stansbury said. “The Postsecondary Student Success Act is really about helping nontraditional students succeed, whatever their life journey is about. We all know people who are on different educational journeys and know the critical role that resources play in helping us fix things.”

Nontraditional students face unique challenges in higher education, including a lack of resources and support. Stansbury emphasized the importance of investing in students' academic success, particularly for nontraditional students, and highlighted the need for institutions to provide just-in-time support and services. She stressed the critical role of education in New Mexico's core values and the state's commitment to providing opportunities for all individuals to pursue their educational goals.

Stansbury thanked U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Lori Chavez-Deremer (R-Ore.) for co-sponsoring the bill and shared her experiences as a student at CNM, then known as New Mexico Technical Vocational Institute (TVI).

“I was one of those students where teachers kept pulling me aside and saying, ‘Hey, don't you want to get a degree in this or certificate in that?’ And I was like, 'OK, I don't know what I want to do with my life yet.' But some of the classes that I took at this esteemed institution, I took welding across the street over there in the trades building behind us. I got a wastewater certification to work in a sewage treatment plant. And I took classes in fire science because I thought it might be a firefighter one day. The thing that is so cool about our community colleges is whether you're just starting your educational journey straight out of high school, you're getting your GED, or you're in a post educational environment where you're trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life. That's what community colleges are there for. So I am so grateful for CNM/TVI.”

CNM President Tracy Hartzler, University of New Mexico Associate Provost for Student Success Dr. Pamela Cheek, New Mexico State University President Monica Torres and several nontraditional student leaders joined Stansbury at the press conference.

Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in high school graduation and college enrollment rates, reflecting a concerted effort to expand access to higher education. However, despite these strides, a significant number of students who embark on their college journey, whether at two-year or four-year institutions, falter before completing their degrees. Currently, only 62% of college enrollees nationwide successfully achieve their educational aspirations.

The Postsecondary Student Success Act will provide investments in evidence-based initiatives aimed at enhancing retention and completion rates. This includes empowering individuals through support programs tailored to address the challenges that impede students’ progress from enrollment to graduation.

“Every New Mexican deserves a fair shot at success. With the Postsecondary Student Success Act, we’re moving one step closer to making this goal a reality — unlocking the long-term success that can come from higher education,” Heinrich said in a release. “By removing the barriers students run into when completing their education, this legislation will help more New Mexicans graduate, achieve economic stability, and thrive in their communities.”

One of those New Mexicans who are thriving is Roberto Chavez, a deaf student who delivered a powerful speech via sign language that was translated for the crowd.

“I am actually a first-generation student. I was the first person in my family to go to college,” Chavez signed. “So it's always been my home here in New Mexico. I really wanted to start working with various people to talk about how we can remove some of these barriers that prevent students from gaining an education, students with disabilities like myself. There is a system for training, whatever it is, to provide services to help us succeed in college. The journey really is a challenge sometimes just going to college. We have the barriers that make it so much more difficult. But we can work together as an institution, as a community to help students succeed. There's nothing impossible as long as you're trying to improve your life. Anyone can succeed.”