EOP Mission Statement
The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) serves as a primary vehicle for the CSU in increasing the access, academic excellence and retention of California’s historically underserved students (low-income, First-Generation College), thus working in the spirit and abiding by the legislative intent that originally established the program in 1969 and maintaining the innovation inherent in the program.
The Core Elements of EOP are to:
- Provide ACCESS opportunities for historically underserved students (low-income, First-Generation College) by making higher education a possibility for prospective students with potential for academic excellence.
- Provide ADVOCACY and education to address the needs of EOP students.
- Provide a TRANSITIONAL EXPERIENCE that will empower students to manage better and navigate the college experience.
- Provide SUPPORT SERVICES to facilitate student success.
- Provide EOP GRANTS to eligible students who should also receive the highest priority for financial aid resources available from the institution.
1960s
Prior to EOP, SSU faculty created Hidden Talent
1969
EOP is established in the CSU system
1979
SSU President, Diamandopoulous, hires Bill Clarke first EOP Director, to "fix the front door" for low enrollment and high student withdraws
1980s
EOP at SSU moved to a more academically focused after the Bill Clarke rewrote the program's grant
1980s
Mario Savio hired a Summer Bridge Math Specialist
1980s
Bill Clarke, EOP Director, introduced parent orientation with emphasis in college information
1980s
SSU EOP starts awarding EOP Grants
1980s
SSU EOP starts awarding EOP Grants
1985
EOP Summer Bridge Program, 6-week program, was receiving funding and doing early remediation
1985
EOP hired Learning Skills Services (LSS) staff to work during Summer Bridge
1987
Bruce Peterson begins at SSU and taught the first UNIV 102 suppor class with first-time, first year students
1988
The "front door" issue had been resolved at Sonoma State University (SSU)
1988
EOP runs parallel program & offers courses through CALS Dept. (EOP Freshman Seminar)
Early 1990s
Early 90's brougth budget cuts to EOP SB in addition to high cost of living
Mid 1990s
Advising, Career, EOP & Testing (ACE) collapsed and amde into one department
Early 1990s
Jeanne L. Moore Scholarship is created. Jeanne L. Moore is the founding mother of EOP at SSU.
Mid 1990s
Advising, Career, EOP & Testing (ACE) collapsed and amde into one department
Mid 1990s
SB 6-week program offered remedial ENGL & MATH, camputer skills, & a 3 unit GE class
Mid 1990s
SB 6-week program offered remedial ENGL & MATH, camputer skills, & a 3 unit GE class
Early 2000s
EOP moves to Salazar Hall
2001
EOP Academy implemented and streched over a whole year & modeled after Chico State's EOP Program
2001
EOP adopts 3-week Summer Bridge Program and creates EOP Academy
2001
SB transitioned from "Academic Boot Camp" to social transition and emphasized on sense of belonging at SSU
2007
A series of budget cuts reduces Summer Bridge from 3 weeks to 2 weeks to 1 week to 3 days
2007
Part of Summer Bridge was merged with Summer Orientation for advising and course selection
2008-2009
Strong push to eliminate the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
2008-2009
Outpour of support from community and EOP students
2013
EOP experiences a period of transition moving from Student Affairs to Academic Affairs
2014
One-week Summer Bridge program is reinstated
2016
EOP moves from Academic Affairs to the newly organized Student Affairs under the leadership of Dr. Michael Young (Vice President for Student Affairs)
2017
EOP partners with the School of Business and Economics (SBE) and University Advancement for donor funding and created the Wine Industry Scholars Program(WISP)
2017
SSU EOP and SBE is awarded over $2.2 million from the Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Rodney Strong Vineyards, and Cooperages 1912
2018
The Center of Academic Access and Student Enrichment (CAASE) is created under the leadership of Dr. Wm. Gregory Sawyer, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Dr. Gerald L. Jones, Senior Director of CAASE
2018
EOP moves under the CAASE umbrella and collborates with other CAASE departments to continue serving underserved, educationally disadvantaged students
2018
EOP and the Division of Student Affairs sponsored two EOP students to attend for the first time the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Conference in Atlanta, Georgia
2019
23 CAASE students participated in the Kakehashi Inouye Japanese Exchange Program in March 2019
2019
EOP turns 50 years old! Sonoma State EOP staff and six students attend the statewide EOP 50th Anniversary Conference in Long Beach, CA.
2020
COVID-19 impacts the world and changes the normal routine of lives. Shelter in place went into effect on 3/17/2020
2020
EOP shifts and offers student appointments, drop-in advising, programming, and outreach presentations to a virtual platform
2020
Summer Bridge 2020 moves from an 11-day residential on campus program to a 9-day remote online/distance learning program