UNM Gallup program combines HiSET and CDL training for adults

UNM Gallup is highlighting a local Adult Basic Education program that blends HiSET high school equivalency preparation with workforce training to help adults move quickly into living wage jobs. According to a UNM Gallup news release published Nov. 7, 2025, the Integrated Education and Training model links basic academic instruction with industry specific training and support services so students can gain a credential and a job focused skill at the same time.

The release profiles students including Marisol Reynolds who earned her HiSET credential while receiving commercial driver license training funded through the program. Early outcomes show two students completed CDL training this semester, an immediate sign that the combined model can produce tangible employment readiness in a short timeframe. Program staff say training costs for participants can be covered through the program, lowering financial barriers for adults who otherwise might not be able to pursue vocational training.

The program model pairs Adult Basic Education classes, which include HiSET instruction for adults without a high school credential, with workforce training that is directly linked to local employer needs. Integrated Education and Training creates a coordinated schedule and shared supports so students are not forced to choose between finishing a high school equivalency and entering a training program. Enrollment begins with an interest form, followed by an orientation and a placement test to determine academic starting point and training readiness.

For McKinley County residents the program addresses several pressing needs. Employment stability is a core social determinant of health, and increased access to credentialed jobs can improve household income, access to health care, and long term wellbeing. A strengthened local workforce in transportation and logistics also supports broader community services and regional supply chains. By reducing up front costs for training and combining education with career preparation, the program is positioned to reach adults who face time, financial, or educational barriers.

Program leadership is planning expansion using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding to scale offerings and enroll more participants. That intent to broaden access highlights how public workforce funding can be leveraged to create equitable pathways into higher paying occupations for adults who have been left out of traditional education pipelines.

For families and employers in McKinley County the initiative offers a practical route to certified skills and employment in months rather than years. As UNM Gallup moves to expand the program, local residents seeking a high school equivalency and job training can begin the process by submitting an interest form, attending orientation, and completing the placement test. The model is a local example of how education and workforce systems can work together to improve economic opportunity and community health.