Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

Student eligibility for EOP is a two-phase process:

Phase 1 – A review of your application and high school academic history (high school courses taken, grades earned, any standardized testing that you share, etc.) take place to see if you meet the academic eligibility criteria for EOP based on the major that you have applied for. The key factor is demonstration that there is a lack of academic preparedness in your educational history for entrance directly into the major.

Phase 2 – If deemed academically eligible as described above, you will need to submit financial materials to SUNY System administration where a review for economic eligibility will occur. Economic eligibility is determined based on total household income (wages, social security, social services support, child support, and assets which may also effect eligibility) and the number of people living within the household. No two households are the same and therefore the review is very individualized. Household income thresholds are determined by the New York State Board of Regents annually. Financially, the program is designed for families that come from generational poverty.

If you meet the required qualifications in Phase 1 and 2, you will be offered a spot in our cohort for the next academic school year. Then it will be up to you to decide if you wish to enroll in the program. There are limited seats available in EOP each year and when the program reaches its enrollment target, we will no longer be able to consider applicants. Don’t delay your decision to join our family!

You have met the qualifications (academic and economic) to be afforded the privilege of being a part of the EOP family at Alfred State College. This privilege comes with many benefits and to be guaranteed the benefits, there are expectations that we have of our students.

Expectations of EOP

• Full participation in the four and half week residential SUNY mandated Summer Prep Academy (SPA) the summer before your first semester of college (typically mid-July through mid-August).
• Attend all classes unless an excused absence has been approved by your faculty with prior communication regarding your absence. Attendance is tracked by our Starfish platform used by most faculty.
• Be an active learner by participating in and remaining alert in all classes.
• Complete all required assignments (and extra credit when given) and turn them in on time.
• Complete all logged study hours as assigned by program staff.
• Be a good citizen of Alfred State College by abiding by the Student Code of Conduct and all local village and town laws.
• Maintain “good academic standards” as defined by the college, the State of New York, and the Federal government to ensure that you remain eligible for student financial aid.
• Meet with your assigned EOP Counselor as requested.

Benefits of EOP

• Becoming familiar with the Alfred State college campus before everyone else in your cohort arrives.
• Support with your academics in the form of tutoring, structured learning classes, study hours, textbook financial support, just to name a few!
• Being part of a Living Learning Community designed to help you meet your full potential.
• Having a team to support you both academically and personally that is passionate about the work they do and that will stick by you through graduation and beyond.
• Financial resources to assist with the costs of college.
• Knowing that you have a group of peers to lean on from day one.
• Access to school supplies (pens, pencils, notebook, highlighters, loaner calculators and laptops, binders, folders, planners, index cards, etc. at no additional cost.
• People to help you navigate conversations with your faculty and offices that you need to interact with across campus.

A Message to the Families/Support Teams of our EOP Students

Greetings and welcome to the EOP Family!

I have been living out my passion for helping college students realize their potential since 1987. I was fresh out of college myself with a degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology and was still getting a feel for what that meant.

Over the years, I found the way! Not alone, mind you, but with the unrelenting dedication of those that were there to guide me by answering questions, correcting my missteps (there were many!), and believing in me and my potential to make a difference. The memories that are ingrained in my mind drive me everyday to help someone like me reach the goals that they set for themselves.

I have learned the hard way and shed many tears learning that college is not for everyone or not for some at the time they enter. My goal is not to convince anyone that college is the answer or that Alfred State College is for them. My goal is to help our students find their “why”. Why are they in college? Why did they choose Alfred State College? Why do they desire to earn a degree in that major? Without understanding their why; forward progress stalls. College is too expensive to not move forward toward a desired goal.

I would like the Alfred State College Educational Opportunity Program and you to partner as a team in supporting your student on this next journey of life. How do we do this? Communicate. I have supported the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child for a very long time and feel the same holds true to helping college students meet their goals and dreams. We need to be flexible and understand that at some point along the journey, goals and dreams may change. That’s okay! What is important is how we support the change and help to guide our student make the best possible decision for themselves at the time. Realize that we may have to do this several times before a true path is found. We will be right there with you.

Please review the benefits and expectations of EOP to become familiar of what is in store for your student.

How about it? Are you ready to travel down this path with us? We are ready and waiting for you and your student to join us for this exciting and sometimes bumpy road to success!

Looking forward to partnering with you!

All my best,
Nadine Shardlow
Director 

The Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Ambassadors mentor their fellow students, create a student EOP support network of EOP students across the SUNY system, advise the Chancellor on strengthening the program, and help inspire more students to seek opportunities through EOP.

The honor is named in memory of Norman R. McConney, Jr., a graduate of the University at Albany and former assistant dean for special programs at SUNY. McConney, alongside former Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped create the EOP as a statewide program that has served 75,000 New Yorkers to date from underprivileged backgrounds.

Congratulations to Al‑Aqib Coulibaly for being a 2024 nominee! This year's ceremony will take place in Troy, NY on April 18.

Peer Mentors

Peer Mentors are students who are interested in helping to support others, build resume experience, and foster and expand leadership skills. The position begins with SPA and continues throughout the academic year.

Becoming a Peer Mentor

Mentoring is a relationship; a journey between the mentor and the mentee on the road to success in college. The more you give in helping others grow and reach their goals, the more you can receive back from the experience. In helping others, you help yourself along the way and gain other positive benefits that enhance your personal development.

As a Peer Mentor, you will:

• Develop transferable and marketable skills to enhance your professional experience
• Increase self-awareness and foster personal growth
• Cultivate leadership, organizational and self-management skills
• Improve communication and interpersonal skills
• Expand your transcript and professional resume
• Support student success in a meaningful way
• Connect to the broader ASC and EOP community
• Build your network

We have free tutoring available every day. We have a Math Lab and Writing Center open to all students who need extra support in these areas. We also have professional specialists dedicated to these areas available only to EOP students.