In 2002, the Department of Education awarded New Mexico State University a College Assistance Migrant Program (NMSU-CAMP) grant to serve the educational needs of migrant and seasonal farm workers. Currently in its sixth year, the program serves 134 Latino students. CAMP is a residential program based in a centralized dormitory to facilitate access to university resources and to CAMP offices, study halls and computer labs. First-year mechanisms to retain students include: support from staff, peers and CAMP alumni; family involvement; learning community residential living system; a special course section of University 150 exclusively for CAMP students; educationally tailored workshops; and art and cultural activities. The program also provides financial assistance for housing, meal plans, comprehensive health exams and stipends for textbooks and training during freshman year.
Institution:
New Mexico State University
Academic Level:
Baccalaureate
Issue Area:
Retention
Year:
2008
Designation:
Examples of Excelencia
Designation:
Finalist
Key Personnel:
Montano, Michelle
Address:
NMSU College Assistance Migrant Program
Address 2:
New Mexico State University
Address 3:
PO Box 30001, MSC 3487
City:
Las Cruces
State:
NM
Zip:
88003 Goal/Mission:
The mission of NMSU-CAMP is to retain students at the end of the freshman year and enroll them into their second academic year. The long-term goal is to graduate CAMP alumni with Bachelor’s degrees from NMSU.
Outcome:
One of CAMP's greatest accomplishments is the recruitment of Latino students to post-secondary education who otherwise would not have entered a college setting. Ninety-five percent of the students who enter NMSU via CAMP finish their first full year of college. NMSU-CAMP's average freshman retention rate over a four-year period is 77%, which is high for a four-year institution and higher than NMSU's general first-year retention rate of 70%. All 133 of the students who have participated in CAMP since 2002 have been Latino. Seventeen CAMP alumni have graduated with four-year degrees from NMSU in various disciplines, including Biology, Accounting, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Criminal Justice, Government and Social Work. Three CAMP alumni have graduated with two-year degrees, and at least six are pursuing Graduate degrees. One completed his Master's in Accounting this June. Also a 2006 Semi-Finalist.
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