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<p>EOP has been credited as being one of the country's most successful college programs, providing access, academic support, and financial assistance to more than 77,000 students from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Students who are part of EOP have higher retention and graduation rates than students in the system overall. While the national graduation rates for earning a baccalaureate degree within six years ranges between 62 and 66 percent amongst universities, SUNY&rsquo;s EOP students graduate at a rate of 74 percent during the same timeframe.</p>

<p>Expanding EOP is a priority for the SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor Malatras, as seen in the SUNY 25-Point Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan <a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/2-21/2-25-21/dei-plan.html">approved</a> earlier this year. The plan&nbsp;will begin with the first-ever Spring 2022 class to better meet students&rsquo; needs on their schedule, includes the following components:</p>

<p><strong>Increase Access</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>SUNY will increase enrollment up to 1,000 more EOP students than were served by the program in 2020-21, from 8,000 students to 9,000.</li>
<li>Currently, 10 SUNY community colleges do not have an EOP program. SUNY&rsquo;s plan will expand the reach of EOP to more students by establishing new programs at five SUNY community colleges this year.</li>
<li>The only option for incoming EOP students is to start during the fall semester. SUNY will expand opportunities to meet students&rsquo; need on their schedule by starting the first-ever spring semester EOP cohort.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Promote Retention and Aid to Students in Need</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>SUNY will establish a $2 million Student Persistence Fund to help EOP students who are at greatest risk of dropping out due to unforeseen financial circumstances during the academic year. Funding can range from $50 up to a maximum of $2,000 per student.</li>
<li>As part of the plan, SUNY will increase the funding per EOP student at each campus&mdash;which goes toward academic counseling, direct financial aid, and additional academic support&mdash;at most state-operated campuses, increasing from $2,600 to $2,800 per student, and the overall funding formula at most community colleges, increasing from $1,050 to $1,300 per student.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Foster Student Success</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>Funding is also being utilized to double SUNY&rsquo;s Pre-Medical Opportunity Program, which was <a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/7-21/7-21-21/pre-med-opportunity-doubles.html">announced</a> in <a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/7-21/7-21-21/pre-med-opportunity-doubles.html">July</a>. By the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, the program will include up to 75 pre-medical scholars. The investment also covers student costs for the summer program, which includes instruction, transportation, and room and board.</li>
<li>New investment will fund the creation of an <a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/7-21/7-29-21-eop/eop-student-ambassador-program.html">EOP Student Ambassadors Program</a> to better support EOP students and help strengthen recruitment efforts by engaging EOP students in meeting prospective students. The first class of 20 student ambassadors will represent SUNY campuses from across New York.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Increase Resources and Counselors to Meet Greater Student Needs</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>SUNY has purchased 890 laptops to mitigate technology gaps for incoming students.</li>
<li>To support the EOP counseling expansion on campuses, 15 additional counselors will be hired across SUNY to assist EOP students as they work toward their college degrees. Without the additional counselors, SUNY cannot serve more students.</li>
</ul>

<p>&ldquo;For decades, the Educational Opportunity Program has helped tens of thousands of students graduate from college and go on to successful careers. That is why growing the EOP has been a priority, one shared by the SUNY Board of Trustees, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and so many of our state and campus leaders who have been champions of this program for years,&rdquo; said Chancellor Malatras. &ldquo;Today, because of the historic state investment, we are increasing access, programming, resources, and support that will be there for students where they are and when they need it so that no student is left behind. Our deepest thanks to Cornella Walker from Westchester Community College, and Ivan Mercado and Leandra Torres from Purchase College for sharing their inspirational stories so that more students just like them have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams of higher education.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The full media release is available on the <a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/10-21/10-6-21/eop-expabnsion.html">SUNY website.</a></p>

<p>Learn more about MCC's Educational Opportunity Program on our <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/depts/eop/">website.</a></p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

SUNY to Expand Educational Opportunity Program, Add Spring 2022 Class

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras and members of the SUNY Board of Trustees announced a comprehensive plan to expand the Education Opportunity Program as a result of the recent increase of $6.4 million by the State of New York. The announcement marks the largest single investment and most significant expansion of EOP since the inception of the program.

EOP has been credited as being one of the country's most successful college programs, providing access, academic support, and financial assistance to more than 77,000 students from economically-disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Students who are part of EOP have higher retention and graduation rates than students in the system overall. While the national graduation rates for earning a baccalaureate degree within six years ranges between 62 and 66 percent amongst universities, SUNY’s EOP students graduate at a rate of 74 percent during the same timeframe.

Expanding EOP is a priority for the SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor Malatras, as seen in the SUNY 25-Point Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan approved earlier this year. The plan will begin with the first-ever Spring 2022 class to better meet students’ needs on their schedule, includes the following components:

Increase Access

  • SUNY will increase enrollment up to 1,000 more EOP students than were served by the program in 2020-21, from 8,000 students to 9,000.
  • Currently, 10 SUNY community colleges do not have an EOP program. SUNY’s plan will expand the reach of EOP to more students by establishing new programs at five SUNY community colleges this year.
  • The only option for incoming EOP students is to start during the fall semester. SUNY will expand opportunities to meet students’ need on their schedule by starting the first-ever spring semester EOP cohort.

Promote Retention and Aid to Students in Need

  • SUNY will establish a $2 million Student Persistence Fund to help EOP students who are at greatest risk of dropping out due to unforeseen financial circumstances during the academic year. Funding can range from $50 up to a maximum of $2,000 per student.
  • As part of the plan, SUNY will increase the funding per EOP student at each campus—which goes toward academic counseling, direct financial aid, and additional academic support—at most state-operated campuses, increasing from $2,600 to $2,800 per student, and the overall funding formula at most community colleges, increasing from $1,050 to $1,300 per student.

Foster Student Success

  • Funding is also being utilized to double SUNY’s Pre-Medical Opportunity Program, which was announced in July. By the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, the program will include up to 75 pre-medical scholars. The investment also covers student costs for the summer program, which includes instruction, transportation, and room and board.
  • New investment will fund the creation of an EOP Student Ambassadors Program to better support EOP students and help strengthen recruitment efforts by engaging EOP students in meeting prospective students. The first class of 20 student ambassadors will represent SUNY campuses from across New York.

Increase Resources and Counselors to Meet Greater Student Needs

  • SUNY has purchased 890 laptops to mitigate technology gaps for incoming students.
  • To support the EOP counseling expansion on campuses, 15 additional counselors will be hired across SUNY to assist EOP students as they work toward their college degrees. Without the additional counselors, SUNY cannot serve more students.

“For decades, the Educational Opportunity Program has helped tens of thousands of students graduate from college and go on to successful careers. That is why growing the EOP has been a priority, one shared by the SUNY Board of Trustees, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and so many of our state and campus leaders who have been champions of this program for years,” said Chancellor Malatras. “Today, because of the historic state investment, we are increasing access, programming, resources, and support that will be there for students where they are and when they need it so that no student is left behind. Our deepest thanks to Cornella Walker from Westchester Community College, and Ivan Mercado and Leandra Torres from Purchase College for sharing their inspirational stories so that more students just like them have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams of higher education.”

The full media release is available on the SUNY website.

Learn more about MCC's Educational Opportunity Program on our website.

Rosanna Yule
Government and Community Relations
10/07/2021