(ROCKLAND/May 12, 2022) — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the expansion of SUNY’s life-changing Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) to include four additional SUNY campuses: Cayuga County Community College, Corning Community College, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and Rockland Community College. This increases the total number of campuses to 54, with work continuing to ensure every campus provides access to EOP’s academic resources, mentorship, and financial aid.
“Access to affordable higher education makes a fundamental difference in the lives of our future leaders,” Governor Hochul said. “By expanding the Educational Opportunity Program, we are helping dismantle inequalities in our education system and giving every New Yorker a chance to pursue a quality education.”
SUNY expects to grow the program further with an additional increase of $5.2 million in the recently passed FY 2023 State Budget by expanding to additional campuses, opening 1,000 more spots for eligible students, and increasing the financial aid award for every EOP student.
“Rockland Community College’s Educational Opportunity Program will provide access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to make higher education possible for 100 first-time RCC students with tremendous talent but insufficient resources to break the cycle of generational poverty that has traditionally made higher education out of reach for some New Yorkers. All services to be provided by the program are designed to enhance student retention and success,” stated Dr. Bart Grachan, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Based on extensive assessment of the needs and diversity in the Rockland County community and RCC’s success with similar projects like TRIO Student Support Services, RCC’s EOP includes a combination of counseling, tutoring, workshops, and pre-freshman services to enhance student retention and success among students who demonstrate academic promise, but whose life circumstances have not permitted them to reach their full potential.
Since SUNY announced its plan to grow EOP in October 2021, the system has:
- Established a $2 million Student Persistence Fund to help EOP students who are at the greatest risk of dropping out due to unforeseen financial circumstances during the academic year. Funding ranges from $50 up to a maximum of $2,000 per student. To date, nearly 1,000 students have received assistance.
- Increased funding for EOP students, which goes toward academic counseling, direct financial aid, and additional academic support—at most state-operated campuses, increasing to $2,800 per student, and the overall funding formula at most community colleges, increasing to $1,300 per student.
- Doubled SUNY’s Pre-Medical Opportunity Program to include 23 new students for the upcoming 2022 summer program. The investment covers student costs including instruction, transportation, and room and board.
- Launched the EOP Student Ambassadors Program with 21 student ambassadors to better support EOP students and help strengthen recruitment efforts by engaging EOP students in meeting prospective students.
Purchased 890 laptops to mitigate technology gaps for incoming students and hired 15 more EOP counselors across SUNY to assist EOP students as they work toward their college degrees