Kansas State University has taken the lead on obtaining federal funding for a program geared toward college-bound children of migrant workers.

Ten months ago, the U.S. Department of Education denied Kansas University’s grant request to continue its College Assistance Migrant Program.

In the previous five years, CAMP at KU had helped up to 24 students a year by providing tuition for six credit hours and $750 in living expenses per semester.

The grant allowed KU to aid some of the university’s most vulnerable students. Many of them came from poverty and were first-generation U.S. citizens or born in another country.

After KU’s grant request was turned down, a group of college officials started discussing how to collaborate and provide services throughout the state, K-State’s Bob Fanning said. Fanning is director of a program that helps children of migrant workers finish high school and assistant director of K-State’s English as Second Language program.

Under the proposal submitted in the spring to the Education Department, K-State would house CAMP. It then would contract out to other schools where there are eligible students.

In addition to KU, schools involved are Emporia State University, Garden City Community College and Kansas City, Kan., Community College.

Fanning said at the same time KU’s grant was denied, the Education Department renewed a five-year grant for the K-State program that targets high school students.

That program is something of a stepping stone for CAMP, Fanning said, so it made sense for K-State to be the lead on both.

Lynn Bretz, KU director of university communications, said that in an age of declining federal funding, the university wanted to put together a strategic plan to continue the program.

“The main thing is it helps students get a good education,” Bretz said.

The $2.1 million grant request K-State submitted would last for five years, reach 148 students and provide tuition for 12 credit hours per semester and a living stipend.

If funded, the program would give students more choices, Fanning said.

“We had a number of migrant students that just completed high school and had jobs in the local community. They couldn’t leave because they needed the employment,” Fanning said. “Now they can attend university while continuing to work.”

Fanning expects to hear in the next few weeks whether the Kansas proposal made the cut.

Just from his program, Fanning said he knows of 75 students who would be eligible for the money.

As it was last year, competition for the current cycle of grants will be tough, Fanning said. He heard there are far more requests from schools to renew CAMP grants than the Education Department will be able to fund.

He hopes the fact that Kansas ranks seventh in the nation for the number of migrant and seasonal farm workers, plus the reworked grant, will help the state’s chances.