Article by Julie Waechter, special to Adams State

After 52 years of supporting students from farmworker families, Adams State University has discontinued its College Assistance Migrant Program, known as CAMP, according to Aftin Gillespie, assistant vice president of Student Affairs. A total of 1,600 students participated in the program since it was begun at Adams State in 1972. It was funded primarily through federal grants administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

The CAMP funding cycle, set for five years, officially ended this past September. The University was notified of the decision to cancel grant continuation on September 15, 2025, and had the opportunity to appeal. After submitting an appeal, the University received final cancellation notification on September 25. Due to the U.S. Department of Education providing neither a continuation of funding, nor clarity on future intent, the University made the difficult decision to halt the program. The program could be reactivated should the U.S. Department of Education resume funding.

“We are deeply saddened by the impact halting CAMP will have on our students; however, it will not stop our mission of serving our students in need, especially now that such an impactful program has unfortunately been defunded,” said Gillespie.

Adams State’s CAMP program supported an annual average of 30 first-year students from the families of seasonal farmworkers. The $475,000 annual grant provided holistic support, including financial aid, academic advising, mentorship, and community-building. Gillespie said about 95% of Adams CAMP participants have continued in higher education.

Most of the current CAMP students have been enrolled in other Adams State programs, including Student Support Services (SSS), Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), and the Rocky Mountain Service, Employment and Redevelopment program (RMSER).

To be eligible to participate in CAMP, the student or an immediate family member, must have worked as a seasonal farmworker for at least 75 days in the past 24 months, participated in a Chapter 1 Migrant Education Program (MEP), or be eligible to participate in a National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP). Students must also have a high school diploma or equivalency, be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, be eligible to apply for FAFSA, and have been accepted to Adams State.