The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) is a federally funded program through the United States Department of Education’s Office of Migrant Education. In 1967, Educational Systems Corporation, a private educational research company, developed the original CAMP concept for the Office of Economic Opportunity, which was created as part of the Johnson Administration's War on Poverty. In 1972, CAMP became funded through the Department of Labor, and in 1980, CAMP was transferred to the newly created US Department of Education. By 1982 there were 6 CAMP projects: two in Texas, two in California, one in Washington, and one in Oregon.
Since the 1980s, at Oregon State University, CAMP operates within the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) which provides support to students who have traditionally been denied equal educational opportunities. However, there was a break in CAMP services being at OSU. In the early years, CAMP was funded for only 1 year and the program had to compete for funding on a yearly basis. Then, it was funded for 3 years, and as of 2023, for 5 years. The break in services occured sometime in the late 1990s. In 2004, CAMP began anew and as of 2023, OSU CAMP remains active.
CAMP specifically works to provide support and educational services to students from migrant or seasonal worker backgrounds during their first year of college. CAMP provides academic tutoring and advising, personal counseling, social and cultural activities, job search support, stipends and supplemental financial aid, health services, and internship opportunities as well as connecting students to any other support needed within the University and their community.
These records were originally part of the
This collection is open for research.
College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP) Records (RG 320), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
This collection is a component of the
This collection is organized into 7 Series. Series 1: Administration, 1985-1998; Series 2: Admissions and Recruitment, 1989-1998; Series 3: Celebrations and Events, 1990-1994; Series 4: Committee Work, 1990-1994; Series 5: Materials Referenced, 1989-1994; Series 6: Photographic Materials, 1988-2006; Series 7: Promotional Items, Undated.
The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Records include textual documents, two photo albums, and promotional items documenting the program’s activities to further its goal to provide academic and personal support for students from migrant and seasonal worker backgrounds. This collection includes content highlighting CAMP's administrative activities, admission and recruitment resources, celebration and event organizing, staff member’s committee work outside of the program, materials used by the program as reference, two photo albums depicting at least five years of events and students who participated in the program, and three promotional items.
Administrative records include documents showing program structure and information, correspondence, financial aid coordination, statistics on program performance, and student evaluations of the program. Recruiting and admissions materials include correspondence with students and schools, program outreach materials, program visits to high schools, visits to the High School Equivalency Programs at neighboring institutions, and lists of admitted students. Some of the celebration and event planning documents depict the Mini CAMP summer orientation for prospective students as well as the internships that the event provided, student and staff recognition awards, and an end-of-year celebration. Also included are examples of smaller presentations, dance classes, and career fairs. The collection also showcases the work CAMP staff engaged in, including contact with the United Campus Ministry, a talk at the Willamette Criminal Justice Counsel, attendance at the OSU Faculty Award Committee, leadership positions within the Hispanic Student Union, and work on the Total Quality Management and Child Care Committees. Materials sourced from outside of CAMP, but that were used in the office, include articles and community resources regarding essential needs and scholarships.
The digital photographs and two photo albums depict many trips and events that are not represented within the rest of the collection. While summer orientation and recognition awards are present, there are also beach trips, dances, sports teams, and general student life shown. Finally, there are three items with the CAMP program name used as a form of promotion.
Series 1 includes information on the structure of CAMP within the OSU Educational Opportunities Program (EOP), contact lists and correspondence, student financial support, program funding, program evaluations, and program updates via newsletters and mail. Also included is day-to-day information such as phone logs, student worker lists, and commonly used forms. These forms include student requests for support, tutor assignments, and university driver authorization.
Series 2 contains resources used to further recruitment into CAMP, as well as any materials related to admissions into the program. Recruitment materials include outreach visits to high schools, materials such as brochures and information packets, referrals, and information on the High School Equivalency Program (HEP). HEP is a program that helps students from a migratory worker background obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma, and was used as a source for prospective students. Admissions materials include correspondence involving the status of applications, copies of blank student applications, evaluations of applications, and lists of admitted students. This series also includes a set of blank forms that cover requests for admissions materials and school visits, as well as high school, residency, and transfer requirements.
To further its goal of providing support and community, CAMP organizes many events and celebrations for participating and prospective students. Series 3 comprises all documentation dealing with student events and their planning. One of the more notable events documented is Mini CAMP, a summer orientation that allows prospective students to experience a college-like schedule before the start of the term. The orientation also enabled enrolled CAMP students to become resident assistants for the summer. The materials also include recognition awards for students and staff, an end-of-year celebration, and smaller, miscellaneous events such as guest speakers, dance classes, and career fairs.
While working for CAMP, some staff members also contributed to committees across the University. Series 4 shows the contributions and participation of staff in child care, criminal justice, and university admissions committees. There is also represented involvement with faculty awards, the United Campus Ministry, and the Hispanic Student Union.
Series 5 is a collection of materials not produced by CAMP, but still used to further inform students and staff. This series is mainly made up of resources used to find essential services and scholarly advancement; there are also articles, media, and conference information that show the migrant student experience. In addition, there are resources showing local places to find emergency shelter, food, and legal services as well as scholarship and employment opportunities. There is also a set of demographic statistics and sample subject exams that the staff used to inform their work and help students.
Series 6 contains photographic materials that relate to the events and activities of CAMP. The digital photographs are available upon request and include individual spreadsheets with notes on each photograph. Two photo albums are also included that represent at least five years showing various events, trips, and CAMP students as well as the EOP and CAMP offices and staff. Some photos within the albums are stacked within a photo sleeve, but not all are duplicates.
This photo album shows CAMP orientation, the office, the EOP participating student bulletin list, and the graduate and professional school resource bulletin from 1991. There are also student portraits next to the honor roll list in 1988. Undated events include but are not limited to, a beach trip, a trip to California, basketball, skiing, soccer, a Valentine's balloon sale, and dancing.
This photo album shows the EOP student bulletin list from 1991, the 1993 CAMP Christmas card, and the 1995 EOP Alumni Scholarship winners. Undated events include soccer activities, various cultural dances, meal preparation, gift exchanges, and an Oregon Coast Aquarium visit.
Series 7 is made up of three promotional Items for the CAMP program: a lanyard, a pen, and a leather keychain.