State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the expansion of the SUNY Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Scholars Program to support students in nursing and teaching degree programs focused on shortage areas. Alfred State is one of nine campuses chosen to participate.
This effort builds on the successful EOP Scholars Program to support SUNY EOP students pursuing careers and advanced degrees in pre-med, engineering, and mental health.
“SUNY provides students with a pathway to upward mobility and opens doors to meaningful and successful careers,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “For nearly 60 years, the Educational Opportunity Program has made higher education more accessible for students – many the first in their families to go to college – through financial aid, guidance, and academic support. By expanding the EOP Scholars Program to support nursing and teaching students, we are working to empower more New Yorkers to enter these essential fields.”
SUNY Trustee Marcos Crespo, Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, said, “At SUNY, we are committed to supporting our students through their academic journeys and are thrilled so many EOP students will directly benefit from this grant to reach their goals. SUNY is New York’s great engine of upward mobility, and through our efforts to advance student success, we will continue to empower New York students.”
SUNY's EOP Scholars Program is designed to support students participating in EOP as they transition to graduate and professional education and high-demand careers. In 2021, SUNY launched the pre-medical Educational Opportunity Program, providing EOP students with additional support and mentoring towards their path to medical school. In 2024, SUNY expanded this program to include mental health fields and engineering. In June 2025, Chancellor King committed to expand these efforts in two high-demand career areas: teaching in shortage fields and nursing.
A total of $300,000 will be distributed to nine campuses to mitigate costs connected to those degrees, including travel, work attire, and equipment to complete required certifications for clinical hours or student teaching. SUNY campuses submitted program proposals to be a part of the pilot expansion of the EOP Scholars program to support nursing and teaching students, with an initial cohort of nine campuses selected. The campuses selected for EOP Scholars Program grant expansion to support nursing and teaching students are:
- Alfred State College
- State University of New York at Binghamton
- Buffalo State University
- SUNY Brockport
- SUNY Corning Community College
- SUNY Cortland
- SUNY Fredonia
- SUNY Oneonta
- SUNY Oswego
SUNY has continued to take steps to expand the support and resources available for EOP students. In June 2025, SUNY launched a partnership with global education company Kaplan, to offer EOP students free access to comprehensive test preparation resources over the next three years, including practice tests, for graduate-level admissions exams and professional licensure exams. In February 2025, Chancellor King announced an EOP Career Development Internship Program in partnership with state agencies to provide students with real-world professional experience and skill development within a field that aligns both with their academic pursuit and personal interests.
Since its inception in 1967, SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. In its 58-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and evolved into one of the country's most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness. EOP currently serves more than 9,000 students across 55 SUNY campuses. More information about SUNY’s EOP can be found here.
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said, “The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is a crucial tool in making higher education equitable and accessible to all students across the state. Currently, we face a shortage in essential areas that sustain human services, particularly in education and healthcare. By providing additional support and equipping students with the necessary resources to complete and pursue education in these fields, we ensure that our communities are prepared to remain competitive and thrive. I extend my gratitude to SUNY Chancellor John B. King and the entire SUNY team for their unwavering commitment to preparing New York’s scholars for the many opportunities that lie ahead.”
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Higher Education Committee Chair said, “Becoming a teacher or a nurse involves significant, but hidden costs that too many students are expected to shoulder. This expansion of the EOP Scholars Program helps minimize those barriers and helps students focus on completing their training. By investing in future educators and nurses, we are strengthening our workforce and expanding opportunity where it is needed most.”
State Senator Robert Jackson said, “Opportunity is built through deliberate investment in people and in the professions that sustain our communities. By expanding the EOP Scholars Program to support future nurses and educators, SUNY is affirming a core truth: equity in education is inseparable from equity in care and learning. These students are preparing to serve in classrooms and clinics where shortages are felt most deeply. By removing financial barriers to that calling, we strengthen not only their futures, but the public good of New York itself.”
State Senator Lea Webb said, “I applaud Chancellor King for the expansion of the EOP Scholars Program to support students pursuing careers in nursing and teaching. Investing $300,000 across nine campuses to help cover costs like travel, work attire, and certification requirements, SUNY is removing real barriers that too often stand in the way of student success. This program ensures EOP students have the support they need to complete their training and step into high-demand careers where they are urgently needed.”
State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos, MSW, said, “The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) has opened so many doors for students who have the talent and drive to succeed but may not always have the resources or support to further their educational experiences, opportunities that all students should be afforded. Expanding EOP to support students pursuing careers in nursing and teaching is critical, as our communities face workforce shortages in education and healthcare. Investing in students means investing in stronger, more resilient communities. I applaud SUNY and Chancellor King for continuing to prioritize equity and ensuring students are awarded the necessary tools and support they need prosper.”