SUNY Honors Educational Opportunity Program Students

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor John R. Ryan today announced that in addition to graduating this spring, 600 students will have earned an honors certificate of achievement from the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program.

Chancellor Ryan said, “Many EOP students are the first in their families to attend college and have overcome significant obstacles on the way to earning their degrees.  SUNY is pleased and proud to recognize the successful efforts of these outstanding students.  Great praise and thanks also go to the EOP directors, counselors and faculty advisors on our campuses who mentored, advised and instructed these students and to the parents, friends and relatives who loved, nurtured and supported them.”

SUNY Provost Risa I. Palm said, “SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program has a long history of providing access for New York residents who might otherwise not be able to attend a university.  The EOP students who are earning honors certificates of achievement have overcome economic challenges to succeed in their programs.  Our congratulations to these students for earning their honors certificates of achievement. These graduates are clearly well prepared for further educational opportunities or to take their place in the workforce."

SUNY Associate Vice Provost for Opportunity Programs Robert D. James said, "We often say that what is important is not where you start, but where you finish. The success of our students is directly related to their hard work and discipline; the commitment of the sponsoring campuses, the program staff, and the financial support of the governor and Legislature."

Educational Opportunity Program Achievement

• EOP students who have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester are awarded achievement certificates.

• During the spring semester, campuses hold honors convocations to acknowledge achievement and students are presented with certificates signed by the SUNY Chancellor, Provost, and Associate Provost for Opportunity Programs.

• Some campuses use this opportunity to induct students into the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society. For more information about XAE, please visit: www.xaehonor.com

All EOP students are eligible to earn honors certificates. This spring, 2,247 EOP students received honor certificates and more than 1,800 EOP students will have graduated by the close of the spring semester.

Students enrolled through SUNY’s EOP have family incomes consistent with the federal poverty guidelines and grade point averages below the usual threshold for admission, but have demonstrated the potential to master college-level work with the appropriate support.

Financial aid through EOP assists eligible students with the cost of textbooks and other related expenses.  Program participants are assigned an individual EOP counselor who provides personal, academic and career counseling.  Support for EOP students may also include tutoring, developmental coursework and workshops on time management, study and organizational skills.

More than 47,000 students have earned bachelor degrees through EOP since the program’s founding in 1967.  SUNY plans to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the EOP during the fall 2007 semester.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 417,500 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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