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September is EOP Month!
Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) Impact Student Success
WHAT IS EOP?
EOP is an education access and retention program that provides support services to low-income, educationally disadvantaged students, the majority of whom are first-generation college students. Approximately seventy-six percent of the students in the EOP Programs come from families with incomes under $30,000. EOP services include admission counseling, academic advising, peer mentoring, courses offered in conjunction with academic departments, student success workshops, tutoring, Graduation Writing Test preparation, and supplemental financial assistance. A description of these services is provided below.
WHAT EOP SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO STUDENTS?
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Students are teamed with a counselor who helps them develop an academic roadmap. The counselor meets with students on a regular basis to review short- and long-term goals to ensure a timely graduation.
TUTORING
Qualified CSU students tutor EOP students in subject areas to help improve students' academic performance. Trained peer tutors provide support on an individual basis or in groups.
WORKSHOPS AND STUDY SKILLS COURSES
EOP sponsors seminars and workshops to help students develop learning skills. Sessions cover topics such as test taking, note taking, time management, computer and software skills, career planning, campus policies and numerous other helpful topics.
COUNSELING
Professional counselors and graduate student advisers are available to assess and evaluate students' academic and personal needs. Taking physical, economic, social and cultural environments into consideration, counseling staff members work to involve students in academic and extracurricular activities that integrate them into the campus community and promote personal well being and success.
SUMMER BRIDGE
Summer Bridge Program is a comprehensive support program that assists incoming freshmen to prepare for the rigors of university work. It typically consists of a five-week residential program that assists EOP incoming freshman in making the transition from high school to the university. Summer Bridge offers courses in math, writing and ethnic studies and academic advising, tutorials, workshops, and other activities are also included in the five-week experience. Participants live in the residence halls at no cost to students. Participants benefit from personalized attention, individualized instruction, and accessibility to campus resources.
Summer Bridge students . . .
- Complete remedial course work before enrollment;
- Improve mathematics and language skills;
- Attend study skills seminars;
- Attend an exciting variety of on-campus lectures, cultural entertainment and special events;
- Receive introductions and invitations to join various student clubs and organizations;
- Work with professionals intent on helping students grow as individuals and students;
- Establish a personal support system by meeting new friends;
- Learn from current students who have overcome personal and academic challenges;
- Network with faculty, staff, and other members to the campus community; and
- Gain confidence to meet the challenges of attending a university and participate in a full and rewarding college experience.
HOW DOES EOP WORK TOWARD STUDENT SUCCESS?
EOP programs rely on comprehensive and holistic interventions that maximize student potential. Based on the literature and research in educational equity programming and student development from higher education scholars that is specific to economically disadvantaged and first generation college students (e.g., as Astin, Muraskin, Rendon, Tinto, Thayer, Velasquez, and the Council for Opportunity in Education), the following elements are critical to ensuring an educational environment that promotes academic achievement, transition to the university experience, and college graduation.
BUILDING STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS IS KEY
EOP provides intentional interventions that maximize student academic support. Specific interventions for the EOP student population include such activities as one-on-one counseling or tutoring, academic support and skill development through structured group work, cultural and community-building events, and specific programs such as learning communities, and transfer seminars and conferences. Historically, most college units across the nation do not have the time or expertise to work intentionally with this student population.
Many students from low-income families seek these services because they do not receive guidance about the college experience at home. In general campus student services spend little time on students from low-income families attempting to overcome social, academic, and cultural barriers. Such students require "specialized services" that most units are unable to provide due to limited resources, expertise etc. The academic and human services administered through the EOP programs are comprehensive and are essential in meeting far beyond the traditional services offered by college counselors and other campus professionals.
Over a period of several months or years, EOP professionals build both personal and professional relationships with their students. Such positive relationships are critical to the success of every EOP program. The staff of each EOP program creates a climate of support for students as they strive to move out of poverty and dependence. As a result of these strong positive relationships, many EOP college graduates periodically return to their programs to encourage and inspire current students as well as become employed as educational equity professionals. Like their students, many EOP professionals had to overcome class, social, academic, and cultural barriers to succeed in higher education. As a result, they can effectively relate to their students and know how to motivate them in spite of the obstacles that often serve to discourage students from low-income families and first generation college backgrounds.
COMMUNITY LINKGAGES
Community is an integral part of EOP as it provides the context for complex needs that students bring with them. These needs encompass income level, education attainment level, dropout rates, student to counselor ratio, social and economic conditions, and overall demographic data. Many students come to EOP from neighborhoods that are filled with economic devastation, violence, negativity and hopelessness. A single parent raising several children, an older child helping to raise younger siblings, a physically-disabled person with few financial resources and a struggling high school student trying to escape a life of poverty describe the young people and adults who turn to the EOP program for help and special assistance. EOP programs work to reach these communities in order for prospective students to learn about the opportunity to attend a CSU.
HOME BASED SERVICES
EOP offices provide a "home based" unit that has physical proximity to the center of campus and houses trained educational equity staff and resources for EOP students is a vital element of student retention. This home base serves as a center of educational equity that addresses the unique needs of program students and fosters a healthy college identity that transitions students into the campus culture through academic achievement, leadership opportunities, employment, and community building. National research shows that "home" based services through physical location, program identity, and personalized assistance is a cornerstone for success for EOP programs.
FINANCIAL AID AND EOP GRANTS
EOP programs are not demonstration programs. They, in fact, are, and should be, a permanent part of every institution's student aid program. In the same way that one does not close down easily an institution's financial aid program, one would not close down its EOP program. These two programs are complementary programs providing equal opportunity in postsecondary education. They should be co-equals in terms of their status and in terms of their permanence in higher education. Grants are offered to EOP's most financially needy students.
ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY INFORMATION AND SERVICES
EOP plays a critical role in providing student access to the University. The services that EOP provides to prepare students for CSU admission include the following activities: presentations to high school students and parents; pre-admission advising appointments with prospective students and their parents; financial aid information and assistance in filling out the FAFSA; information on CSU admissions requirements and deadlines, as well as assistance in filling out the CSU admissions application; ELM and EPT information and deadlines and EOP Orientations and referrals to other general campus services.
DOES THE WORK OF EOP RESULTS IN COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS?
Students in EOP are more than twice as likely to remain in college than those students from similar backgrounds who do not participate in the program. EOP college graduates are working in business, industry, government, medicine, law, education, communications, sales, finance, politics, transportation, publishing, law enforcement, computer science & technology, engineering, and accounting.
EOP programs thrive on each CSU campus and remain a hallmark of the CSU system. The value of EOP programs to the overall success of the CSU and our communities is immeasurable. September is EOP Month and many campuses plan special activities and event during this period. To learn more about specific campus based EOP programs and activities visit the campus of your choice at www.calstate.edu and search for EOP.
CSU Awards Degrees to 77,000 Students
Over the next several weeks, CSU campuses granted degrees to 77,000 students. Highlights from commencements at the CSU's 23 campuses include:
Cal State Bakersfield, June 11-12: The campus celebrated its 34th annual commencement.
CSU Channel Islands, May 29: Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Richard P. West was the featured speaker at the university's second commencement when 900 students will graduate.
CSU Chico, May 22-23: Approximately 3,000 students received bachelor's degrees and 250 were granted master's degrees during the university's commencement ceremonies.
CSU Dominguez Hills, May 21: Mother and daughter graduates Betty Dixon-Ball and Terri Dixon were among nearly 2,000 graduates receiving their degrees as commencement ceremonies returned to campus at the Home Depot Center.
Fresno State, May 21: Fresno State alumna and special education pioneer Mary Carolyn Dobbs received an honorary doctorate as the university held commencement in the Save Mart Center for more than 4,000 graduates.
Cal State Fullerton, May 29-30: Award-winning mystery novelist Elizabeth George returned to her alma mater to receive an honorary degree and deliver the keynote address at commencement ceremonies for 8,000 students.
Cal State Hayward, June 12: Nationally recognized author and young historian Iris Chang was the featured speaker.
Humboldt State, May 15: Just two years after graduating from Arcata High School, Matthew W. Darnall received a bachelor's degree in mathematics at commencement ceremonies.
Cal State Long Beach, May 26-28: The university conferred nearly 6,000 bachelor's and master's degrees during nine separate ceremonies.
Cal State Los Angeles, June 11-12: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta was the keynote speaker.
California Maritime Academy, May 1: The campus officially kicked off its 75th anniversary with commencement activities for 120 graduates.
CSU Monterey Bay, May 21: The annual Capstone Festival featured the culminating work of graduating seniors and master's degree students with oral presentations, performances, films and videos, multimedia works, and more.
Cal State Northridge, June 1: A record 8,656 students received diplomas at ceremonies featuring speakers including nationally acclaimed charter school leader Yvonne Chan and poet Eloise Klein Healy.
Cal Poly Pomona, June 11-13: California Secretary of Agriculture A.G. Kawamura was the featured speaker at the College of Agriculture.
CSU Sacramento, May 21-22: Jawad Alie joined four brothers and a sister with seven college degrees, all earned at CSUS, as the university awarded degrees to 3,600 graduates.
Cal State San Bernardino, June 11-13: Attorney Florentino Garza, named the California Trial Lawyer of the year for 2000, received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from the College of Arts and Letters, one of the university's seven commencement ceremonies.
San Diego State, May 13-16: Math major and Outstanding Student of the Year in the College of Sciences Edward Jimenez were among more than 9,600 graduates receiving their diplomas.
San Francisco State, May 29: Students from 110 countries make up the 7,500 graduates who received diplomas at the university's 103rd commencement.
San Jose State, May 29: Outstanding Graduating Senior honorees Deborah Ann Hennessee and Kirandeep Kaur were among the 7,000 graduates. Both had near perfect GPAs.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, June 12: Cal Poly alumni Astronaut Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson and San Diego Chargers owner Alex G. Spanos received honorary degrees and deliver keynote addresses.
Cal State San Marcos, May 15: College of Business Administration Dean's Award winner Szilvia Andorka came from Hungary at 19 speaking no English. Andorka spent 12 years as a competitive swimmer in her native country.
Sonoma State, May 22: Mother and daughter Anne and Lacey Taylor were among the 1,300 graduates receiving diplomas.
CSU Stanislaus, May 29: Actress and Broadway star Carol Channing received an honorary degree along with 1,700 other graduates at the 44th commencement ceremony. Excerpted with permission, CSU Leader, May 27, 2004, www.calstate.edu
Governor Names Eight New CSU Trustees
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today appointed eight members to the California State University Board of Trustees, the largest number named at one time since the original board was formed in 1960. The new members will fill the vacant seats on the board so that all positions are now filled.
The new trustees are:
Jeffrey Bleich of Piedmont, who is a partner in the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson, as well as an adjunct professor at the Boalt Hall School of Law at University of California, Berkeley. He is a past president of the San Francisco Bar Association and serves on the board of trustees for Boalt Hall.
Herbert Carter of Los Angeles, who is the past interim president of CSU Dominguez Hills and most recently served as a special consultant to the California State University.
Carol Chandler of Selma, who is a partner in Chandler Farms and was an instructor at Fresno City College. She previously served on the California Postsecondary Education Commission and has been involved for over 25 years in California Women for Agriculture. She is a Fresno State alumna.
Moctesuma Esparza of Los Angeles, who is executive producer of Esparza/Katz Productions and served as president of Buenavision Telecommunications, Inc. for over 20 years. He is now the chief executive officer of MAYA Cinemas of North America, Inc.
George Gowgani of San Luis Obispo County, who is associate dean emeritus of the College of Agriculture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He has over 35 years of experience in higher education serving as a professor and department head of crop science at the university. He is a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo alumnus.
Raymond Holdsworth of Palos Verdes Estates, who is the past president of the California Chamber of Commerce and oversees AECOM's worldwide companies. He is also involved in the Friends of Community Colleges in Los Angeles.
Melinda Guzman-Moore of Fair Oaks, who is a partner in the law firm of Goldsberry Freeman Guzman & Ditora, where she practices business, tort, labor, and employment law. She is a member of the State Bar of California and chair of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
These positions require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem.
Corey Jackson of Rialto, who is a junior at Cal State San Bernardino, was named as the new student member of the board. Jackson is a member of the Student Union Board of Directors and is legislative coordinator for the Cal State San Bernardino Lobby Corp. He is also the chair of the City of Rialto Housing Redevelopment and Beautification Commission. This position does not require Senate confirmation.
The CSU's Board of Trustees sets policy and provides guidance for the CSU system and appoints the chancellor, vice chancellors, and presidents. The board consists of 25 members, 19 of which are appointed by the governor. Excerpted with Permission, CSU Leader, July, 2004.
18 CSU Campuses Among Nation's Top 100 in Awarding Bachelor's Degrees to Hispanics
Eighteen California State University campuses are listed in the May issue of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education as being among the annual "Top 100," a national list of colleges and universities that conferred the most bachelor's degrees upon Hispanics, according to the latest report by the National Center for Education Statistics. CSU campuses consistently rank among the very top in the nation in this area. In addition, 11 CSU campuses were in the top 100 in awarding master's degrees nationwide.
"The CSU is the most diverse university system in the nation, with 53 percent students of color, more than twice the national average for four-year public universities," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed "We are proud that we are the university of choice for so many talented and bright Hispanic students. They truly enrich CSU's academic environment."
CSU campuses in the Top 100 in awarding bachelor's degrees are Cal State L.A. (3rd), CSU Fullerton (6th), San Diego State University (7th), Cal State Northridge (8th), Cal State Long Beach (10th), Fresno State (14th), Cal State San Bernardino (22nd), Cal Poly Pomona (24th), CSU Dominguez Hills (26th), San Jose State University (27th), CSU Sacramento (32nd), San Francisco State University (34th), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (42nd), Cal State Bakersfield (63rd), CSU Stanislaus (69th), Cal State Hayward (73rd), CSU Chico (74th), and Cal State San Marcos (100th).
Campuses in the Top 100 in awarding master's degrees are Cal State L.A. (9th), San Diego State University (16th), Cal State Long Beach (21st), Cal State Fullerton (23rd), San Jose State University (28th), Cal State San Bernardino (30th), Fresno State (38th), CSU Dominguez Hills (40th), Cal State Northridge (46th), San Francisco State University (53rd), and CSU Sacramento (59th).
National rankings such as these typically focus on student demographics that favor larger, urban universities, which excludes several of CSU's smaller, rural, newer and specialized campuses-California Maritime Academy, CSU Channel Islands, CSU Monterey Bay, Humboldt State University, and Sonoma State University.
CSU campuses were among the top 10 nationally in awarding degrees in a range of academic fields, sweeping nine of the 10 top spots in Liberal Arts and Sciences. In addition, they were notably strong in Agriculture (3 out of 10), Area Studies (4), Communications (3), Education (3), Protective Services (5), Psychology (4), and Public Administration (4).
The CSU graduating class of 2003 included 11,945 Hispanic bachelor's degree recipients among the 25,801 students of color graduating.
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, nearly 409,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded more than 2 million degrees. The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job- ready graduates it produces. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever- changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. See: www.calstate.edu.
Public Affairs, CSU Chancellor's Office
CSU Bakersfield Selects New President
Dr. Horace Mitchell, former vice chancellor for business and administrative services at the University of California, Berkeley has been selected as the new president at CSU Bakersfield.
"Horace Mitchell has the administrative experience and academic background to lead Cal State Bakersfield solidly into the future," said CSU Trustee Roberta Achtenberg, chair of the presidential search committee.
Dr.Mitchell served as vice chancellor for business and administrative services at the University of California, Berkeley from 1995 to 2004. Prior to that he served as vice chancellor for student affairs and campus life at the University of California, Irvine from 1983-1995. Prior to coming to UCI in 1978, Dr. Mitchell chaired the Black Studies Program at Washington University (St. Louis, MO) and served in several key leadership roles at that institution.
Dr. Mitchell holds a Masters degree in Counseling from Washington University and a
Ph. D. in Counseling Psychology from Washington University.
Cal State Bakersfield is a growing campus with infinite possibilities, and the opportunity to serve as its president is an honor," said Mitchell, who assumed the presidency on July 15. Mitchell succeeds President Tomás Arciniega, who is retired in June after 21 years as CSUB president and 31 years in the CSU system.
Excerpted with permission, CSU Leader, www.calstate.edu
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