College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) - CSU San Marcos

Institution
California State University-San Marcos
State
California
Academic Level
Baccalaureate
Issue Area
Retention
Key Personnel
Program Focus
College Prep,
First Year Support

Overview

The College Assistance Migrant Program is a unique educational program that helps students from migrant and seasonal farm worker backgrounds to succeed in college. California State University San Marcos was fortunate to have been awarded the CAMP grant in 2002. CAMP offers students pre-college transition and first-year support services to help develop the skills needed to stay in school and to successfully graduate from college. CAMP begins to work with students and their parents years ahead of when they will enter California State University San Marcos. CAMP staff assists students in their freshman, sophomore and junior year of high school to guide them through the college entrance requirements.

Program Description

The purpose of CAMP is to provide entering first-year students with an array of support services and opportunities for cultural affirmation that lead to personal and educational success as measured by exceptional levels of community involvement and academic persistence to graduation.

Outcome

CAMP is a small program with a proven track record of retention. CAMP students are retained at a higher rate that the overall CSU system-wide, retaining 80% or more of its population annually. The CSU system retains only 70% of its freshman population. More recently California State University San Marcos has qualified for HSI status due in part to the efforts of CAMP.