Apply Now

Fall 2026 Registration is Open

CNM students in line to pick up basic needs supplies

CNM’s Support Services Continue Growing in Effort to Enhance Student Success

The services address several key areas including basic needs assistance, comprehensive advising, and specialized programs for students who were formerly incarcerated or in foster care
June 22, 2026

CNM launched its first student Food Pantry in December 2021. Since then, the College has continually expanded support services to help students with groceries, personalized advising services, and everything in between.

“Each of these resources and services work together to help students achieve their goals,” says Benjamin Tobias, the Student Basic Needs Manager for Wellness CNM. “Advising will often encourage students to utilize basic needs services and vice versa. We also partner with the THRIVE and F.I.R.S.T. programs to connect students with academic, wellness, and financial resources. When one student succeeds, we all succeed.”

Each of these initiatives plays a crucial role in student success and has significant and measurable impacts on the student experience.

CNM Food Pantries and Basic Needs Services

This spring, the CNM Food Pantries have:

  • Served 604 unique students
  • Distributed 45,000 pounds of food
  • Distributed $50,000 in emergency assistance funds

Along with dedicated food pantry hours, Wellness CNM recently implemented PantrySoft software. This allows students to place an online order with the CNM Food Pantry and pick it up at a time that is most convenient for them.

For many students, the support they receive from the Food Pantry is essential to their educational journey.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the Food Pantry, which was instrumental in my success as a full-time CNM student,” says one of the Food Pantry regulars. “Knowing where my next meal is coming from has reduced my stress significantly and saves me valuable time, allowing me to focus entirely on my studies.”

Advising Services

Advising is one of CNM’s most utilized services, with more than 25,000 unique student visits since July 2025. Course scheduling is just one of the areas advisors can help students navigate. CNM’s advising model focuses on these five areas:

  • Career
  • Resources
  • Academics
  • Finance
  • Transfer

Over half of the students who meet with an advisor discuss at least two of these topics. This comprehensive approach to advising has proven successful, as students who meet with an advisor are twice as likely to register for classes and have a higher one-term and one-year retention rate.

THRIVE and F.I.R.S.T. Programs

The THRIVE and F.I.R.S.T. programs are designed to provide specialized support and resources for students who were in foster care or formerly incarcerated. These programs were created to meet a community need and have continued to grow each term. Over the last year these programs have:

  • Served 50 CNM students
  • Engaged in over 20 community events
  • Secured $50,000 for THRIVE via the Intel-FLOTUS grant

The grant will fund various supports for students in the THRIVE program including gas, groceries, and other emergency financial needs.

“The F.I.R.S.T. program has never turned away from me, whether it was just to help with certain obstacles in life or meeting up for tutoring,” says Kinley Yazzie. “I will keep striving for success because of the help of CNM. I know I can accomplish more.”