A migrant education program at California State University San Marcos has been recognized for helping students of farm working families, get a higher education.
The university's College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP, is among the top ten in the nation.
CAMP is a federally funded program that targets entering freshmen students of migrant families who are in the U.S legally. Out of the programs 45 participants, 96 percent complete their freshmen year.
"Which is quite successful because at the CSU level statewide, it's 72 percent retention rate for entering freshmen," said director Minerva Gonzalez.
CAMP has been helping incoming migrant students with applications, financial aid and other services at CSU San Marcos for 10 years. But its efforts could come to a halt.
Gonzalez is worried CAMP and other programs like it may be on the federal governments chopping block. As part of the recent budget battle in Washington, Congress approved more than $900 billion dollars in budget cuts.
Gonzalez points out, students of migrant families have added challenges. "So, without CAMP, these students would not be attending (college) in my opinion they would get lost in the shuffle," said Gonzalez.
According to Gonzalez, CAMP, helps students stay on the path toward graduation.
Some of the participants leave CSU San Marcos with even bigger aspirations. One recently completed School of Dentistry at University of Southern California and is in the midst of opening her private practice in Texas, and another student has completed her first year at Harvard University.
CAMP, is on nine other CSU campuses in California. Gonzalez expects to hear more about its funding in the Fall.
