TAMIU Gets DOE Grant for CAMP Program
U. S. Congressman Henry Cuéllar (’82), has announced that Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has received a grant of $424,913 from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for TAMIU’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).
The funding is the first year of an expected five-year award of $2,124,565. The program began at TAMIU in 2004. Gabriela Gómez, assistant secretary of the DOE's Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, notified Cong. Cuéllar of TAMIU’s award.
In remarks at a Thursday press conference announcing the award, Cuéllar said the program has the potential to inspire greatness in students that do not often have the encouragement or access to higher education that they need and deserve.
“This is an impressive, outcomes-driven program that is really making a difference in these students’ lives. By extension, the benefits they accrue from higher education move forward through their family, their community, our State and our nation. I’m delighted that TAMIU is aggressively seeking federal funding to support such bold initiatives,” he said.
Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU president, concurred in a written statement.
"Our fundamental mission at the University is to make higher education accessible to all. This program provides incentives and opportunities to enhance that accessibility for bright students traditionally inhibited by their family's migrant work schedule. We are looking forward to working with these students who come to us from a 200-mile radius and are committed to helping them realize their higher education dreams at TAMIU," Dr. Keck observed.
CAMP identifies and provides services to approximately 36 eligible participants each year from low-income, migrant and seasonal farm worker backgrounds.
In addition to outreach and recruitment, services include supportive and instructional assistance and financial aid to include stipends, travel, tuition and fees and room and board/housing support. CAMP members are also provided with cultural and academic exposure and ongoing follow-up monitoring and reporting. The program goal is to enable students to successfully complete their first academic year of college and acquire the motivation necessary for success at TAMIU.
The program is led by Dr. Julio F. Madrigal, professor and executive director of the University’s Office of Special Programs. Assisting Madrigal in delivering the CAMP program are CAMP director Efraín Sánchez, Karina Saldivar, academic coordinator and Jaime Ayala, outreach/retention specialist.
Dr. Madrigal said students would be recruited from targeted high schools in the South Texas border region, home to a large migrant population and an agricultural center.
"Our research shows that some 4,790 students in our targeted high schools will be eligible for project services. We will welcome them with a coordinated community response that will include academic, financial and social support they need to be successful in their pursuit of higher education," Dr. Madrigal explained.
CAMP director Sánchez said the program would conduct diagnostic needs assessments of program participants and develop a customized plan of action specific to each migrant student’s needs.
For additional information on the TAMIU CAMP program, contact Sanchez at 956.326.2708, visit offices in the TAMIU Student Center, room 233 or click on tamiu.edu/camp
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu