A $70,000 grant funds a 'blended advising' model to help Doña Ana County Dual Credit students choose courses that actually accelerate college completion.
The Thornburg Foundation announced a $70,000, 18-month grant supporting educational collaboration in Doña Ana County. The funding partners The Bridge of Southern New Mexico with Doña Ana Community College and three school districts to develop a "blended advising" model for Dual Credit students.
The initiative aims to better coordinate guidance between high school counselors and college advisors, helping students select courses that accelerate college completion while reducing costs. Currently, students often choose courses that don't progress toward credentials, wasting time and resources.
Allan Oliver, Executive Director of the Thornburg Foundation, stated: "High school students pursuing dual credit deserve clear guidance that will help them select courses to set them on a path toward college graduation."
A Texas study identified weak advising coordination as a vulnerability in Dual Credit programs. New Mexico faces similar challenges, making this pilot model potentially valuable statewide.
The Bridge of Southern New Mexico will coordinate the project, while the SOAR Lab at New Mexico State University's College of Education will evaluate outcomes. Researchers will track whether Career and Technical Education students and Early College High School participants earn credentials at higher rates than peers outside the county.
The collaboration represents a business-led effort uniting educational institutions, economic development organizations, and government leaders to bridge the gap between education and career readiness.