SUNY, New York State Legislators, and Distinguished Guests Honor Dr. Arthur O. Eve
April 13, 2018
Special Event for the Founder of Educational Opportunity Program, Now in its 50th Year of Providing College Access to New York’s Disadvantaged Populations
Albany – The State University of New York, New York State Legislators, and distinguished guests will honor Dr. Arthur O. Eve, the founder of Educational Opportunity Program, which provides access, academic support and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged populations. The April 14 event at Buffalo State College is the culmination of a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of EOP.
Honorable Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve dedicated his career to representing the underserved, particularly through his determination to establish the Educational Opportunity Program at SUNY, as well as companion programs at the state’s private colleges and universities.
The Educational Opportunity Program is one of the oldest, largest, and most successful college access programs in the nation. To date, the program has graduated over 70,000 alumni, 50 of whom will be given distinguished honors at this Saturday’s celebration. Various members of the first graduating class of EOP students will also be honored.
"Without Deputy Speaker Eve’s leadership and tireless dedication to New Yorkers from underserved communities, SUNY’s EOP would not be in the position it is today to help students—many first generation students and those having the greatest financial need—gain access to and pursue a college degree," said SUNY Chairman H. Carl McCall. "We must also pay homage to minority members in the New York State Legislature who helped found the program through advocacy and unwavering support, as well as New York State’s ongoing investment. The Educational Opportunity Program is an example of American Higher Education providing all students with access to a quality education."
"We are proud to honor 50 years of SUNY’s EOP and Honorable Dr. Arthur O. Eve, EOP Founder, legendary state assemblyman, and storied civil rights leader," said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. "As a system, SUNY is devoted to opportunity and access for students from all backgrounds. The accomplishments of our EOP graduates, especially those being recognized at this event, show the benefits of having educational opportunity programs on our campuses and providing EOP students with individualized resources and support.”
To see the program, including a full list of all honorees and the schedule of events, please visit here.
Currently active on 47 SUNY campuses across New York State, SUNY’s EOP serves almost 11,000 academically and economically disadvantaged students, helping them prepare for and succeed in college. Of the current EOP population, 37 percent are African American, 37 percent are Latino, 15 percent represent other underrepresented groups, and 11 percent are white.
SUNY’s EOP program has a six-year baccalaureate graduation rate of 70 percent, far exceeding the national rate of 60 percent for all public institutions. In 2016-2017, more than 3,000 EOP students achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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