About EOP
EOP Mission Statement
The Educational Opportunity Program 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 initially established the program in 1969 and maintaining the innovation inherent in the program.
Core Elements of EOP
- 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.
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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)
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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
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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
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2018
EOP moves under the CAASE umbrella and collborates with other CAASE departments to continue serving underserved, educationally disadvantaged students
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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
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2019
23 CAASE students participated in the Kakehashi Inouye Japanese Exchange Program in March 2019
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2019
EOP turns 50 years old! Sonoma State EOP staff and six students attend the statewide EOP 50th Anniversary Conference in Long Beach, CA.
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2020
COVID-19 impacts the world and changes the normal routine of lives. Shelter in place went into effect on 3/17/2020
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2020
EOP shifts and offers student appointments, drop-in advising, programming, and outreach presentations to a virtual platform
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2020
Summer Bridge 2020 moves from an 11-day residential on campus program to a 9-day remote online/distance learning program