Published October 11, 2022
CAPTION:Pictured left-right: Craig Pooler (Division Director Higher Education Programs), Tammy Anderson (ULM TRIO
CCAMPIS Assistant Director), Catherine Estis, (ULM TRIO Executive Director), Marques
Thomas (Management and Program Analyst Higher Education Programs), Gabby Watts (Office
of Postsecondary Education Senior Advisor to Deputy Assistant for Higher Education Programs)
MONROE, LA – The University of Louisiana Monroe’s TRIO Programs have been awarded $1,472,088 over
the next four years as part of the CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents in School)
grant by the U.S. Department of Education. The funding is designated to alleviate
the financial burden on parents with young children who are pursuing a college degree,
improving the likelihood of academic success. The CCAMPIS 2022-2026 was the only
award received throughout the state.
“We are proud and excited to receive the CCAMPIS grant to support eligible ULM student
parents and their children,” said Tammy Anderson, TRIO CCAMPIS Assistant Director.
“It’s transformative,” said Dr. John Sutherlin, ULM’s Chief Innovation and Research
Officer, “CCAMPIS is not just a childcare grant. It is a retention program.”
The grant will be administered through the ULM TRIO Programs under the auspices of
Catherine Estis, Ph.D., TRIO’s Executive Director. Students receiving financial assistance will receive vouchers to use at area childcare
centers. ULM’s TRIO CCAMPIS Program will support the recipients with its full complement
of student support services, including college and career success coaches, assistance
navigating the financial aid process, and referrals to additional community and government
resources. Dr. Estis states “Childcare can be a barrier for student-parents, so having
safe, high-quality, affordable early-childcare and education can help students succeed
and create brighter futures for their families.”
“The financial resources and community partnerships will provide opportunities for
parents to further their careers, improve their earning potential, and experience
the pride associated with earning a degree while showing their children the value
of higher education,” said Estis.
The university was notified of the award while the ULM TRIO Team by the Office of
Post-Secondary Education while attending the 2022 Council on Opportunity in Education
hosted in San Diego, CA.
There is still availability for this program for the current academic year. For those
students who may feel they would be eligible or know any student-parent who they think
may be eligible, more information and an application can be found by contacting ULM’s
TRIO Programs at 318.342.1097 or Tammy Anderson, ULM TRIO CCAMPIS Assistant Director
at taanaderson@ulm.edu.
