As our Senior cohort heads into application season, they will subsequently head into a period of seeking financial assistance. One program that had helped thousands of Californians transitioning into higher education is the CAMP program. Standing for the College Assistance Migrant Program, they have footholds in many institutions throughout the state, including our very own Mendocino College.
CAMP is focused on bringing financial and academic support to students who have a migrant or seasonal farmworker background or if they’ve ever been a part of the Migrant Education program. The qualifications needed to sign up for CAMP are relatively simplistic, but they vary slightly by the institution.
Dr. Mariana Martinez, the Director of CAMP at Mendocino College, told us, “Each year we have over 85% of our scholars finish the academic year with 24 – 30 units and continue to the third semester or second year as we would call it.” Dr. Martinez said that “The scholars completing units have comprehensive educational plans that mean that they are taking courses that will lead to the completion of their academic goals, be it to complete a certificate program, AA/AS or transfer to a 4-year university.” Regarding the success of CAMP’s efforts, Dr. Martinez said, “Overall, CAMP has a 40% transfer rate, which is still higher than the average for general students.”
Many CAMP scholars have been successful later in their educational career, attributing the program to helping them achieve their goals are even being the sole factor of getting to such a point. Many of their scholars are also successful transfers with a clear vision towards their future. Dr. Martinez told us of some of these students: “A quiet student just finished her first semester at her dream university – UC Berkeley. Another student from Anderson Valley has decided he will be a Principal rather than a teacher, focusing on Chicanx and Latinx studies. Our current SGA (Student Government) President is a CAMP alumnus, and her goal is to transfer to UC Davis and pursue a career as a veterinarian.”
Many students within Ukiah High School come from migrant backgrounds who have a major concern with financial need and college affordability. Students, especially upperclassmen, to see all their opportunities to successfully enter higher education with more confidence and less burden that has plagued college students for decades.
