Skagit Valley College (SVC) is pleased to announce it has received a $2.5M College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The five-year grant provides academic and financial support services to eligible students from migrant and seasonal farmworker families as they complete their first academic year of college and continue into a second year.

The grant reflects the college’s core themes of equity in access, achievement, and community. SVC is one of only two higher education institutions in western Washington to house this program (University of Washington is the other), and SVC is the only community college in western Washington.

“Many migrant and seasonal farmworker families dream about attending college and we want them to know a college education is within their reach,” said SVC President Tom Keegan. “The CAMP grant will help us welcome them to SVC with holistic and caring support that is specifically designed to meet their needs.”

The first group of 30 students will begin fall quarter and the program will add 35 students in years two through five. All students will receive wrap around services and support to help them succeed:

  • Students will develop individual education plans, financial plans, and career goals;
  • Students will have access to at least one supplemental activity quarterly (workshops on study skills, growth mindset, and cultural/educational activities);
  • Students will have access to mentoring and tutoring.

Within the SVC district, migrant and seasonal farmworkers are primarily Latino and Native American and work in the agricultural and fishing industries concentrated in Skagit County. Skagit County has higher minority populations, lower educational attainment, and higher poverty levels than the State. Skagit County has a much larger population of Latino (18.4%) and Native American (1.9%) residents than the state (12.7% and 1.3%, respectively). Poverty rates are higher than the state average for Latino and Native American residents. Education attainment in the county is lower than the state average for Latino and Native American residents.