Salisbury University earns $2.1M Federal Grant for Migrant Farm Workers Interested in Education Degrees

SALISBURY, MD—With nearly 10 million acres of farmland in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, the region attracts thousands of seasonal migrant farm workers each year.

Thanks to Salisbury University and the U.S. Department of Education, some may have an incentive to stay in the area — and teach.

SU recently received a five-year, $2.1 million College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) award from the Department of Education. The Initializing Migrant/Minority/Marginalized Power through Opportunities and Widening Educational Representatives (I’M³ POWER) grant will assist first-year, full-time students who are engaged, or whose parents are engaged, in migrant and other seasonal farm work.

Drs. Amber Meyer, Claudia Burgess and Vincent Genareo of SU’s Early and Elementary Education Department applied for the grant, designed to enhance educational opportunities for those who qualify and aspire to be elementary or early childhood educators.

“With a national, state and local shortage of teachers, particularly those who are culturally and linguistically diverse, this grant will provide communities with highly qualified teachers who can impact all children in meaningful ways,” said Meyer.

Instruction for those receiving the CAMP scholarship will focus on high-impact practices, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning and teaching, and connections between school, culture and family.

“The campus community is excited to welcome CAMP scholars to a dynamic educational environment recognizing that they will enhance learning opportunities by sharing their perspectives, ideas and lived experiences in educational and social settings,” Burgess said.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.