By Lucy Stutesman | FāVS News Reporter
A program to help migrants and seasonal farmworkers get a GED has been cut by the federal government.
The High School Equivalency Program, or HEP, did not receive enough funding from the Department of Education to continue operating.
WSU’s other migrant program, the College Assistance Migrant Program, has funding until 2027, according to CAMP director Michael Heim.
CAMP helps students from migrant and farm-working backgrounds pay for and attend college. They provide funding, advising and community building.
Other schools face similar cuts
University of Idaho’s CAMP program was shut down last month after the Department of Education did not renew the grant that kept it funded.
“It’s very sad because they’ve been there for a long time,” Heim said. “We are fortunate.”
Heim said due to budget shortfalls at WSU, there are no other available funds.
“WSU has been supportive in trying to find where funding might come from,” he said. “As of now, there aren’t any institutional funds that can support the program in this entirety.”
Eastern Washington University’s program was saved by a private donor over the summer. Heim said something similar could be possible at WSU.
“It could be an option,” Heim said. “There could be an organization or a donor that would say, CAMP at WSU is nationally recognized, it’s won some awards that’s been able to demonstrate very high success rates for its students.”
However, due to CAMP’s $475,000 operating budget, it would require a generous donor.
“It’s not always possible for money to supplement federal funds or state funds or institutional funds,” Heim said. “We’re exploring all of the potential avenues that could help with funding.”
CAMP serves 50 students a year, according to Heim. CAMP at WSU has been active since 1967.
This story was written in partnership between FāVS News and The Daily Evergreen, the WSU student newspaper.
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