New Mexico Public Education Department: College Navigators Initiative

The College Navigator Initiative will support a cohort of high school advisors across the state whose role is dedicated to college and career readiness. Navigators will conduct career planning with students and teach students about career readiness, college admission, and financial aid. With a school advisor committed exclusively to college preparation and guidance, students will have greater access to information and advisement. Navigators will provide increased support through the application, admission, and acceptance processes for students to attend two- and four-year colleges and career-focused postsecondary credentialing programs. Sponsored districts, charters, or Regional Educational Cooperatives (RECs) will commit to supporting the initiative for three years, led by one or more dedicated college advisors.

Amount: Awards may be in of any amount up to $65,000 per advisor. Funds may be used to support college advisor salary and related costs, software acquisitions, summer institutes, college visits, or other projects and materials in support of an existing college advisor. Awardees are eligible for two years of partial salary support, plus a third year of project and materials support (dependent on ongoing legislative funding).

Eligibility: Districts, charter schools, or RECs of any size. Applicants can request multiple recipient schools per district; RECs representing more than one district also are eligible. Schools that received college advisor award funds in 2014-15 are eligible for year two funding of an existing college advisor, or may transition into an award for supplemental project and materials funding. Schools that received funding in 2013-14 and 2014-15 are eligible for supplemental project and materials to support the college advisor previously hired through award funds.

Link: http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/rfps.html

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