Why EOP?
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), 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.
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is open and available to all who are interested to apply and/or participate, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.
Services provided by EOP include:
- Personalized Holistic Advising with Our Professional Team
- One-on-one Peer Mentoring
- Enrichment programs that include educational and cultural activities
- Skill development workshops
- A supportive environment of student peer mentors
- Computer lab access
- Summer Bridge and Freshman Year Experience (for freshmen only)
- Transfer Student Orientation (for transfers only)
EOP Support
First-Time Freshman: Summer Bridge
EOP provides intensive services in the first year for entering freshmen. Students gain the skills and support networks necessary to ensure their success. A team of faculty, advisors, students, and other campus representatives are involved in all facets of the program.
First-Time Transfer: Transfer Bridge
EOP assists transfer students in adjusting to increased academic expectations, balancing their life commitments with their academic workload, and adjusting to a new area if they are relocating to attend the university.
Ongoing Support
Support services for continuing students include one on one professional advising and peer mentoring, academic workshops and cultural activities, and referral to resources throughout the campus.
Financial Support
Eligible students can receive an EOP financial grant, plus assistance applying for scholarships.
History of EOP at CSUMB
The Educational Opportunity Program at California State University Monterey Bay offers grants, educational assistance and deliberate programming for students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds who display potential for success in the CSU curricula. In April 1969, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 1072 (the Harmer Bill) which established EOP at California state institutions of higher learning. Fifty years later, the EOP program is going strong, with access provided to first generation, low income, historically underserved students.
1995
The Assistant Director of Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at San Jose State assists in setting up the first EOP program at CSUMB. There were no services or programming available to serve the historically underserved students (low income and first-generation) at CSUMB, nor were there special admits.
1999
There was movement toward creating a more defined program and the position of Director of Student Support Services was created who was charged with implementing services such as, creating a Summer Bridge program, and who also oversaw the expansion of Student Disability and Accessibility Center (SDAC), the Child Center, Student Conduct, and the Health Center.
2000
The first EOP advisor at CSUMB was hired. Later that year, EOP, TRiO SSS, CAMP, HEP, and Migrant Student Support Services were shifted to Academic Affairs.
2002
A second EOP advisor was hired with some additional peer mentors and tutors. EOP grew through a Title V grant. The programs were then shifted and placed under Student Affairs.
2005-2006
The Summer Bridge program was redesigned from a six week long program to a shorter, more intense four to six day program focused on community building, campus resource familiarization, and academic skill preparation. More programming was then held throughout the academic year for EOP students with the two EOP advisors and additional peer mentors.
The first orientation for incoming EOP transfer students were held. It was a mandatory two hour event held prior to the start of the semester. This continued for every semester that transfer students were admitted, including spring semesters.
2009
A welcome back event for second year EOP students was incorporated into the program and has evolved and remains a part of EOP today. A resource guide was created specifically for transfer students and distributed to them at the transfer orientation.2010
A foster Youth support program started under EOP. The CSUMB President's Advisory Council formed. This senior EOP advisor coordinated the program for former foster youth, including programming, and mentoring. CSUMB Foster Youth Day started. For the first time local tri-county area foster youth visited the campus for innovative activity based information about preparing and succeeding in college. This included the "A to G Olympics". CSUMB Foster Youth Day ran annually from 2010 to 2014.
EOP Summer Bridge target numbers expanded to 110 students. The orientation was expanded to three hours and the resource guide was expanded to four pages.
The foster youth support program was named the Compass program. A very small budget was approved. A compass peer mentor was hired to support students. Compass collaborated with campus Wellness Services who ran a faculty/staff mentor program for students with a foster youth background. A small scholarship for former foster youth students was created from the "Have a Heart" fundraising by the Financial Aid Office. A Compass club was created for former foster youth students and allies.
Summer Bridge target was expanded to 125 students and the event was extended another day and a half. The transfer orientation was reorganized and expanded to full day program with speakers from across key departments. It was renamed the EOP Transfer Bridge from this point forward.
2014
The target number for Summer Bridge grew to 150.
Summer Bridge students enjoying team building.
Advisor was hired in EOP specifically for former foster youth students. A grant was obtained for some additional programming and the program was renamed Guardian Scholars.Former Foster youth advocating and appreciation their support with blue ribbons.
There was a shift in EOP back toward a longer Summer Bridge format of six weeks with two academic credit bearing course components. Summer Bridge was EOP only, and 40 students who needed remediation attend for all six weeks and lived on campus, and they were then joined by a cohort of 100 students for the last two weeks.2017
EOP Summer Bridge went back to one cohort of 40 students who attended a four week session which included one academic credit bearing course component. An EOP student club was created for the first time at CSUMB. We have graduated over 1,200 students since EOP's inception.
EOP Summer Bridge students spelling out EOP.
2020
EOP held its first-ever Virtual Summer Bridge and Transfer Bridge due to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 pandemic. A total of 110 students participated in the virtual bridge experience.