Institution SUNY at Albany State New York Academic Level Baccalaureate Issue Area Support Services Website https://www.albany.edu/eop/ Key Personnel Maritza Martinez Program Focus First Year Support, Summer Bridge Overview The UAlbany Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides disadvantaged undergraduate students, a significant number who are Latino, college access; academic support; and financial assistance to successfully persist and graduate. EOP’s goal is to ensure high retention, graduation rates, and academic performance for underrepresented students at UAlbany. Program Description Established in 1968, UAlbany EOP was designed to increase college access for underrepresented students in New York State. UAlbany EOP offers participants its Summer Bridge Program, a 5-week intensive experience that provides college readiness instruction (basic writing, reading, mathematics) and supportive services to participants, including ongoing academic counseling. Being aware that strong parental engagement is vital to Latino student success, EOP provides a variety of services to ensure families of Latino students understand the services their students receive. Letters to parents of EOP freshmen and all EOP meetings, events, and presentations are done in English and Spanish. EOP also receives numerous calls from Latino parents, of which 85% are from parents who want to ensure their child is well and adjusting. Three Latino EOP staffers receive and return 95% of calls to parents and even go as far as escorting participants to medical appointments when ill. In collaboration with campus Psychological and Counseling Services, Latino participants are also afforded bilingual mental health services in the EOP complex. Outcome Increased retention: Across 2018 - 2019, 97% of Latino program participants were retained in their first year compared to the institutional average of 79%. Increased 6-year graduation: Of EOP’s Fall 2013 cohort, 68% of Latino program participants graduated in six years compared to 61% of Latino non-program participants. Increased GPA: As of Spring 2019, Latino program participants achieved an average 2.8 GPA compared to 2.7 for Latino non-program participants. Learn more about Latino College Completion in New York Return to Growing What Works Database
