Gamble: Bill could save lottery scholarship

With all the bills floating around in Santa Fe regarding possible changes to a dwindling state lottery scholarship fund, local college presidents have voiced their support for a senate bill that would appropriate money from the state's Tobacco Settlement Fund to the scholarship fund.

"That's by far the best bill," said Eastern New Mexico University President Steven Gamble. "That gives us a year until the next legislative session to decide what's best for students in regards to the lottery scholarship fund."

Approximately 900 of ENMU's students receive lottery scholarships, which Gamble says is large portion of their undergraduate population. The total enrollment stands at more than 5,200 students, a spring semester record for the college.

Gamble feels there hasn't been enough discussion about how to fix the problem and those at the legislative level haven't consulted universities on the solutions they have to keep the fund solvent, as a decline of lottery ticket sales has affected the balance.

"Those of us in higher education, we feel we have some good recommendations if we have the chance to make them," Gamble said.

He is asking universities to put their money where their mouth is and help save the fund by footing half of the deficit to keep the scholarships funded at 100 percent for students.

"In other words, share the pain," he said. "If the universities are serious about student success, this is their chance to demonstrate by supporting a good fix to the lottery."

Clovis Community College President Becky Rowley also supports the bill sponsored by Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, saying it's the simplest way to keep the fund the way it is.

"It wouldn't have an impact on students in a negative way," Rowley said. "It's a better solution."

Another bill that was just passed in the New Mexico House of Representatives would actually extend the lottery scholarships to students who wait to go to a two-year institution. Rowley sees that as a great opportunity for students who aren't ready to attend college right after high school.

That legislation will extend the lottery scholarship eligibility to students who are accepted to attend a two-year state educational institution within two years of completion of high school, receiving a high school equivalency diploma or beginning service in the U.S. armed forces or honorable service or medical discharge from the service.

"I'm not really sure how it will affect us in numbers, but I do see how it can be useful for students," Rowley said.

An existing statute requires enrollment in a public post-secondary institution immediately upon receiving a high school diploma or GED in order to qualify for the scholarship. Rowley said often times students may not be ready to attend college right out of high school but do not want to miss the opportunity of the lottery scholarship, so they apply and then end up losing it for not keeping up with requirements.

She added that students can have circumstances where they may not be able to attend school right away and if they wait some time off to attend to other matters first, they may do better.

"This gives them an opportunity to do that," Rowley said.

Rowley and Gamble agree that other legislation proposed to solve the lottery scholarship's funding problems would actually go against educational goals to increase graduate numbers.

One senate bill proposes eligibility requirements to be changed from a 2.5 GPA to a 2.75 as well as requiring students to graduate within six years or pay back two semesters worth of tuition assistance.

"It would be a nightmare in my opinion," Rowley said. "That would really limit numbers. If your goal is to get more grads, I think that would have the opposite effect."

"I don't think any of those are as good as Sen. Sanchez'," Gamble added. "The money from the Tobacco Settlement Fund will give us more time to address this important situation."