Questions:
1) Consortium agreement between UNM and UNMVC (or CNM) so that when a student takes courses at both campuses they will not be in danger of losing their Bridge/Lottery Scholarship?
A student will only need to complete the UNM consortium agreement if they plan to designate a college degree program with UNM but plan to enroll in a semester(s) of college classes at another college/university such as CNM, NM Tech, NM Highlands, etc…). It is not necessary for students attending classes between UNM Valencia and UNM Main Campus as they are on UNM Transcript.
2) If a student wants to start at UNMVC and then “transfer” to UNM, what is the best way to go?
A student attending UNMVC or UNM Main Campus is on ‘UNM Transcript’ so they really never have to transfer per se. The main differences between campuses will be in cost for tuition, student fees, class sizes, campus life, & location. If you’re looking at it from an economical and convenience standpoint, the best way to go is to apply for admission at UNMVC and take all the core curriculum classes for the first four-to-five semesters @ UNM Valencia toward a UNM associate and/or bachelor degree and then move over an apply for admission to Main Campus for the 300-400 level classes toward completion of the bachelor’s degree. At this time, UNM does not have a ‘common admission application’ between its Main campus and branch campuses (Main, VC, Gallup, Taos, Los Alamos) so a student MUST complete an Admission Application at the campus they will enroll in classes for the upcoming semester. Although, if the student enrolls in at least one class at Main Campus and the remainder of classes at any of the branch campuses, then they would complete a Main Campus application. If a student plans to enroll in all their classes at UNMVC, then they would only complete a UNMVC Admission Application and NOT the Main Campus application. In the case of a student already submitting a Main Campus admission application with plans to enroll in all their classes for the beginning semester at UNMVC, then the student will have to contact Main Campus Admissions Office and request a release from their Main Campus Admission status so they can be follow- through with a UNMVC Admission Application to be admitted at UNMVC to enroll in all their classes at UNMVC. Vice versa applies if the student plans to enroll in at least one class at Main Campus.
3) Bridge/Lottery Scholarship so that they get it and then do not lose it?
Bridge Scholarship (aka Bridge-to-Success Scholarship) – This scholarship is granted to all N.M. High School and GED Graduates for ONLY the first fall or spring semester in college after their HS/GED graduation date. Awarded by N.M. Public Colleges/Universities only (not by out-of-state or private colleges/universities). If a HS senior graduates early (in December), the Bridge semester would be the Spring semester but for all other graduating in May/June then it is the Fall Semester.
Steps: 1) Graduate, 2)Complete FAFSA for 2012-13 year, 3) Complete Admission Application, 4) Submit H.S. Transcripts to college/university plan to attend, 5) Complete and submit either or both ACT/SAT or COMPASS/ACCUPLACER scores to college/university they plan to attend (based on entry requirements of college/university), 6) Register for college classes at N.M. Public College/University ‘Full-time’ during the qualifying semester (minimum of 12 credit hours/*Recommended a minimum of 15 credit hours*). Criteria: Complete 12 credit hours minimum with a GPA of 2.5 in that qualifying semester of college to qualify for the Lottery Scholarship.
Lottery Scholarship (aka Lottery-to-Success Scholarship) - Granted by all N.M. Public Colleges/Universities to N.M. college/university students completing the Bridge-to-Success scholarship requirements for the Fall or Spring semesters. This scholarship is interchangeable between all N.M. Public College/Universities through the next eight semesters. Steps: 1)) Register for college classes at N.M. Public College/University ‘Full-time’ subsequent to the Bridge Scholarship qualifying semester (minimum of 12 credit hours/*Recommended a minimum of 15 credit hours*). Criteria: Complete 12 credit hours minimum with a GPA of 2.0 each of the next eight semesters or completion of bachelor’s degree (whichever comes first).
Neither of these scholarships apply to the Summer semester. Recommendation to attend Summer semester and seek financial aid: 1) Complete FAFSA, 2) contact college/university financial aid office of the college/university attending to see if there are any aid options available to them. All Financial Aid is determined on a case-by-case basis.
4) high school student who want to take Dual Credit courses this summer (such as world language) can pre-register in April.
Yes, a qualifying high school student may take dual credit classes during the summer semester with the approval and completion of the ‘Dual Credit Admission Application.’ These classes will fall under the ‘concurrent enrollment category’ indicating they will be receiving high school and college credit but will be taking the class on the college campus and not at the high school campus (unless the high school makes arrangements with the college/university to conduct classes on the high school campus). Criteria: High school student must have a minimum 2.5 GPA for academic classes and minimum 2.0 GPA for career-technical classes, submit completed dual credit application, provide official high school transcript, be enrolled in “qualifying course,” Achieve a minimum qualifying score on the ACT, SAT OR COMPASS assessments. Students should be informed they will have to pay for the class in advance or set-up a payment plan in advance of the semester. Tuition reimbursements for students taking ‘concurrent enrollment category’ classes are dealt with on a semester-by-semester basis. The cost of a 3 credit class at UNM Valencia Campus is $195 plus any fees ($5-25) plus book(s) for the class. Registration will start in April for the Summer and Fall semesters so best selection of classes to enroll in is in April.
5) incoming Freshmen who want to take Dual Credit courses this summer (such as world language) can pre-register in April?
Incoming freshmen (students who have completed high school graduation in May/June) are no longer eligible as Dual Credit students since they completed high school. *Recommend that High School graduates register for classes in April for either or both Summer and Fall semesters. To seek Financial Aid during the Summer semester, since the Bridge Scholarship will not be effective until the Fall semester, the student should complete the FAFSA for the 2011-12 year with tax information from 2010, complete admission application, submit high school transcripts and ACT, SAT or Compass/Accuplacer Scores, register for classes and contact the Financial Aid office at the college/university they plan to attend prior to the semester beginning to determine if they qualify for any type of financial aid for the Summer semester.
Any student planning on attending college seeking financial aid, should complete the FAFSA every year they attend college to qualify for scholarships, grants, work-study and loans from the federal and state sources. Also, apply for all other local, campus, extracurricular, service, music, trades, athletic, academic, corporate, etc..scholarships that do not require any fees. Many can be completed on-line or with the financial aid office at the college/university campus attending.