SUNY Chancellor King Highlights Educational Opportunity Program Scholars Program Expansion During SUNY Cortland Visit
March 25, 2026
Cortland, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today highlighted the expansion of SUNY Cortland's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Scholars Program during a campus visit. SUNY Chancellor King and SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum met with EOP students who shared their experiences in the program and learned more about plans for the university's new EOP Teaching Scholars Initiative.
"For almost six decades EOP has served as a support system, offering wraparound services that put thousands of students to a path to success," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Remarkable EOP alumni, including public servants like New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Rome Superintendent Nerlande Anselme, are a reminder that the resources EOP provides to students support them to achieve their academic milestones. We are proud to continue this tradition by expanding services to EOP students pursuing high-demand careers."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "The Educational Opportunity Program has been exceptionally successful at guiding students who need extra support as they transition into collegiate life to succeed and we are prepared to hit the ground running with the expansion of our programs to support EOP students passionate about high-demand areas. This expansion will be a fundamental piece in solving the shortage of skilled professional workers who serve communities in every corner of New York State every day."
Last month, Chancellor King announced the expansion of the EOP Scholars Program to support EOP students in nursing and teaching degree programs focused on shortage areas. A total of $300,000 was distributed across 11 SUNY campuses, including SUNY Cortland. At SUNY Cortland, the program will help with the costs connected to an education degree in shortage areas, including teacher certification and the expenses of student teaching, such as travel and work attire. The EOP Scholars Program also prepares EOP students for careers in medical, mental health, and engineering fields.
SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum added, "It has been an extraordinary academic year for EOP at SUNY Cortland. From achieving historic first-year enrollment to joining expanded SUNY initiatives, the university's EOP efforts are changing the lives of our students — providing hands-on experience through internships, helping future teachers offset their early career costs and offering space for our young scholars to learn and to grow. We were honored to host Chancellor King so that he could see this success firsthand."
During his visit, Chancellor King also toured the newly renovated C-Wing of Cornish-Van Hoesen Hall, which underwent a $27 million transformation into a state-of-the-art facility that houses the EOP and student resources in addition to academic space. The building's ribbon cutting will take place later this week.
State Senator Lea Webb said, "As a member of the Senate's Higher Education Committee and proud SUNY EOP alum, I am excited for the expansion of SUNY Cortland's EOP program and the inclusion of a new EOP Teaching Scholar's Initiative. This program will help with the costs connected to an education degree such as teacher certification, student teaching, or travel. Having a strong cohort of passionate, high-quality students who are excited to enter the teaching field is incredibly important. I know that this program will benefit all of us here in New York, and I congratulate SUNY Cortland for being selected as one of the participating SUNY schools."
Since its inception in 1967, SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from low-income backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. In its 58-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and evolved into one of the country's most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness. EOP currently serves more than 9,000 students across 55 SUNY campuses. More information about SUNY's EOP can be found here.
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, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its 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 $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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