UNM‑Gallup is restructuring adult education to connect high‑school‑equivalency studies with hands‑on workforce training, a change local educators say is already producing tangible outcomes for students and employers. The campus’ Adult Basic Education (ABE) program now delivers an Integrated Education & Training (IET) track in partnership with UNM‑Gallup Community Education & Workforce Development; one participant, ABE student Marisol Reynolds, earned her commercial driver’s license through the new CDL pathway.

The program reports more than 150 adult learners enrolled each year and an uptick in credentials, with 10 graduates already this school year. Program managers report that a recent federal funding cut was backfilled by a state appropriation, allowing the campus to sustain current offerings and plan for expansion. Campus leaders intend to use Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) resources to extend IET options beyond commercial driving to additional career tracks.

Combining HiSET preparations with occupational training is designed to reduce barriers that often separate basic education from employment. For McKinley County residents, where access to credentialed jobs and reliable transportation can shape economic stability and health outcomes, the program seeks to create more direct routes into the workforce. Earning a high‑school‑equivalency diploma alongside an industry credential can shorten the time adults spend between classroom and job, increasing earnings potential and easing access to employer‑sponsored benefits that affect long‑term well‑being.

Beyond individual gains, local stakeholders say strengthening the pipeline of credentialed workers has broader community implications. More licensed CDL drivers can improve regional transportation and logistics capacity, supporting local businesses and potentially attracting employers who need a dependable workforce. Expanded IET tracks in fields such as healthcare support, construction trades, or information technology could address persistent workforce shortages and reduce reliance on out‑of‑county recruitment.

The program’s funding shift underscores the fragility of adult education funding streams and the policy choices that determine program resilience. A state appropriation backfilling a federal reduction allowed UNM‑Gallup to maintain momentum, but program leaders note that long‑term stability will depend on continued investment and coordination with workforce funding under WIOA. For many adult learners, consistent funding is a matter of equity: interruptions in training disproportionately affect low‑income and rural residents who already face structural barriers to education and employment.

As UNM‑Gallup moves to expand IET offerings, the initiative will test whether integrated models can scale in rural and tribal communities across New Mexico. For students like Reynolds, the change is immediate and practical — translating classroom learning into certified skills that open doors. For the county, the program represents a strategic effort to align education policy with public health and economic equity goals, making education a lever for community stability and opportunity.