Eastern New Mexico University’s (ENMU) Social Work Program has received nearly $2 million in federal funding to enhance its mission of supporting behavioral health in rural communities.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded ENMU a $1.96 million grant on July 16, 2025, as part of the four-year “Pathways to Excellence” initiative. The project aims to strengthen behavioral health services, particularly for children, teens, and young adults in underserved areas.

Over the course of four years, this funding will directly benefit more than 40 Master of Social Work (MSW) students (or approximately 10 students each year) by providing substantial support, including stipends, licensing assistance, faculty mentorship, and enhanced job placement opportunities after graduation. The program specifically aims to recruit students from rural and vulnerable communities, with an emphasis on Hispanic populations.

“This grant is transformative,” said Melissa Moyer, ENMU’s MSW program director. “Without it, achieving this level of training and community impact seemed almost impossible. Now, we can significantly improve the pipeline of skilled behavioral health professionals in our region.”

The grant will also enable ENMU to collaborate with 12 additional partner agencies to enhance the professional development of agency supervisors further and enrich students’ hands-on experience. Students will gain practical skills through innovative training techniques, including an advanced, AI-powered simulation program designed to simulate real-world scenarios.

Kate Bailey, CEO of Emerald Health Partners, one of ENMU’s collaborators, praised the initiative: “Eastern New Mexico University is leading the charge in addressing the rural behavioral health workforce crisis. We’re proud to partner with them on the Pathways to Excellence project and are deeply committed to its success.”

In addition to the HRSA grant, ENMU recently secured two other significant donations.

On February 15, 2024, the university received $2 million from the Allsup Family Charitable Foundation—the largest private donation in ENMU’s history at that time. This funding supported the Early Childhood Development Program and established the Allsup Family Endowment for initiatives in education, healthcare, agriculture, and business, with awards anticipated to begin in fall 2027.

Surpassing that record, in a historic act of generosity, ENMU received a further $7.5 million from anonymous donors. This funding enabled the creation of the Eastern New Mexico Learning Academy and an Endowed Chair for Literacy and Language Education, fostering year-round reading programs and literacy research.

Chancellor James Johnston expressed profound gratitude for these substantial contributions, stating, “The generous support we’ve received is pivotal. Without such heartfelt investments, our vision—particularly in rural behavioral health—could never fully materialize. These funds ensure not only brighter futures for our students but healthier, stronger communities across Eastern New Mexico.”

A wave of urgency has swept through New Mexico’s education community as the state joined 22 others in a lawsuit over a sudden federal funding freeze for schools. The move united a broad coalition of attorneys general and governors nationwide in their battle against the unprecedented decision to freeze $6.8 billion in K-12 and adult education grants.

The freeze directly jeopardizes over $45 million for the 2025–2026 school year, which the report suggests would “impact programs that serve the state’s most vulnerable children.” Migrant education, teacher professional development, English learner support, and critical after-school initiatives are all left in limbo as state and district leaders scramble to revise budgets and protect services.

The lawsuit, filed July 14 in federal court, alleges that the administration’s abrupt action violates both federal laws and the US Constitution. The coalition contends these funds were duly appropriated by Congress, and withholding them—especially with almost no notice—is illegal under the Impoundment Control Act.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez at a news conference in Santa Fe described the potential impact of the budget freeze. Torrez highlighted the direct threat not only to critical education programs but also to the broader emotional and economic strain on communities that are already navigating uncertainty in today’s economy.

“Imagine what happens when you have nearly 10,000 kids at 127 centers across the state of New Mexico. Instantly, their parents are thrown into this state of anxiety, and they’re trying to figure out what to do with their families,” said Torrez.

Torrez, along with others, criticized the administration’s decision-making process behind the sudden funding freeze. “That is what happens when someone in D.C. looks at a line item something like this and decides, well, this is a place that we can just make a cut,” Torrez said.

“It is, I think, completely irresponsible to engage in policymaking in that way.”

Since the news broke out on June 30, 2025, several institutions have raised concerns and warned about potential disruptions in key programs.

Raton Public Schools, headed by Superintendent Kristie Medina, stated that with this funding freeze, rural districts “may have to cancel essential programs.”

Bill Rodriguez from the 21st Century Learning Center notified that “fall programming is already behind schedule.” Santa Fe Schools have also raised serious concerns, such as staffing and academic planning.

Education Secretary Mariana Padilla also warned that the “more than $44 million in federal support” is in jeopardy for the 2025-2026 school year. The funding includes over $18 million for teacher development, approximately $10 million for after-school programs, and $16 million for support of English learners.

Supporters view the lawsuit as a fight for fairness and the survival of essential education services. “This is not a partisan issue,” Torrez said.

“This is about kids who will not have access in the matter of weeks to educational support and resources.”

The court proceeding started in mid-July 2025 at the Federal Court in Rhode Island.

It’s no secret that Native students have faced longstanding attendance gaps and achievement disparities for years in New Mexico. To address this concern, Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) has partnered with Native-led groups, including the One Generation Fund, to introduce the “Being a Good Relative” program.

According to APS, the initiative will focus on four main areas: Culturally Responsive Curriculum, Career and College Readiness, Support for Student Clubs, and Hands-on, Experiential Learning. With 10% of Native students comprising APS enrollment, this program aims to improve their educational outcomes.

Superintendent Gabriella Blakey initially announced the partnership last fall, though the initiative officially began in 2022.

In its quest to better serve Native students and understand their needs, APS held Tribal Leader Meetings in early 2025. Attended by Pueblo presidents, as well as leaders of the Navajo and Apache communities, the gathering facilitated meaningful conversations to take a step forward in involving local indigenous communities in K-12 education.

Tanya Campos, the APS Chief of Equity and Engagement and a member of the Isleta Pueblo, emphasized the importance of honoring Native American identity. She stressed that the initiative isn’t just “symbolic” but a step toward “creating spaces where Native culture can flourish authentically and consistently.

Recently, APS partnered with Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) to help Native students acquire practical skills in areas like business planning, public speaking, and project design. Students who participated in JAG revealed better attendance records and improved school participation, and are more likely to graduate from high school.

The district school also introduced language instruction in Navajo (Diné) and Zuni (A:shiwi), as well as other Native-focused courses.

As APS further extends its plans for Native students in New Mexico, the district school hired more culturally competitive Native educators through grants and residency initiatives to encourage Native students to consider careers in education and strengthen the community.

Over 125 tribal communities widely accepted these APS initiatives, with 6,800 Native students enrolled in the academic year 2023 – 2024.

The “Being a Good Relative” initiative is a responsive approach to address the historical neglect experienced by Native students in New Mexico. APS is confident that its goal of building an inclusive educational environment will lead the way for Native students’ success.

The New Mexico Supreme Court upheld a state policy that restricts the amount of time inmates can reduce their sentences by earning educational degrees while in prison. The ruling issued last Monday affirmed the existing policy of the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD), which offers sentence reductions to inmates who have achieved certain educational milestones.

The recent ruling upheld by the NM Supreme Court came after inmate Steve Swayne challenged the NMCD rule after earning two associate degrees during his incarceration. After receiving a four-month reduction for his first associate degree in liberal arts/university studies, Swayne was denied additional credit when he completed a second associate degree in applied science with a business administration specialization six months later.

Swayne argued that the denial violated the Earned Meritorious Deductions Act (EMDA), a New Mexico state law designed to incentivize inmates by reducing their prison sentences when they complete educational or rehabilitative programs.

However, the Supreme Court disagrees with Swayne’s and the lower court’s argument. Justice Briana H. Zamora stated that the NMCD policy appropriately aligns with the EMDA’s goal of promoting advancement to higher educational levels, rather than merely repeating the same level of education.

Justice Zamora emphasized that without this restriction, inmates could simply pursue multiple associate degrees to continually shorten their sentences, rather than pursuing bachelor’s or graduate degrees.

Justice C. Shannon Bacon, however, offered a dissenting view regarding this matter. She argued that the EMDA broadly supports rewarding all educational achievements at all levels, as each degree enhances inmates’ opportunities for employment post-release. She concluded that the rule is overstepping the statute’s purpose.

The NM Supreme Court’s decision marks the first time it has explicitly applied a standard from the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Turner v. Safley (1987) that tests whether prison regulations serve legitimate correctional objectives.

Experts and policymakers have highlighted the importance of higher education programs in reducing recidivism. Data shows that inmates who achieved higher educational degrees significantly increase their chances of successful reintegration into society upon release.

New Mexico prisons offer various educational opportunities through partnerships with institutions like Eastern New Mexico University, which is primarily focused on vocational skills and distance learning. Recent legislative developments, such as Senate Bill 375, also support the opportunities inmates could earn credits for good behavior and educational advancement.

The court’s decision aims to encourage inmates to pursue more substantial educational achievements to help prepare them for re-entry into society. This policy aligns with broader efforts in the state to enhance rehabilitative opportunities for prisoners.