High School Equivalency Program (HEP)

The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) have existed since 1967 and 1972 respectively.   HEP and CAMP are educational programs which serve students from migrant or seasonal farmworker families.

HEP is an educational program which serves students from migrant or seasonal farmworker families. HEP helps students who have dropped out of high school get their GED, and serves more than 7,000 students annually.

CAMP assists students in their first year of college with academic, personal, and financial support. CAMP serves approximately 2,400 migrant participants annually.

Overall, nearly three-quarters of all CAMP students graduate with baccalaureate degrees.

These two programs, which have achieved stunning success rates since their inception, are funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education and are administered by universities, colleges and non-profit organizations nationwide.

The University of Louisiana Monroe was awarded the first HEP grant in the state of Louisiana in 2010.

HEP Eligibility Criteria

The High School Equivalency Program helps migratory and seasonal farmworkers and their immediate family members who are 16 years of age or older and not currently enrolled in school to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma and subsequently to gain employment or begin postsecondary education or training.

A migrant or seasonally employed agricultural worker or their children are eligible for HEP if they meet the following criteria:

1. Within the past 24 months has worked a minimum of 75 days in migrant or seasonal farm work;

a. or has been eligible for, or has participated in a migrant education program;

b. or in a Work Force Investment Act program for migrant or seasonal farmworkers;

2. Is at least 16 years of age or over;

3. Is not currently enrolled in an elementary or secondary school; 4. Has not earned a secondary school diploma or its equivalency

For more information regarding possible training through HEP at ULM please contact Georgia Sanderson HEP Director at 342-3023 sanderson@ulm.edu or Judith Poindexter HEP Assistant Director at 342-3195 poindexter@ulm.edu