Cayuga Community College welcomed its newest Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students to campus Monday as they began a summer orientation designed to prepare them for the upcoming fall semester.
Fourteen incoming students are participating in this year’s residential orientation program, which allows them to experience college life and become familiar with campus resources before classes begin.
The Educational Opportunity Program provides academic, financial, and personal support to students from low-income backgrounds who may not have had adequate academic preparation in high school. Many participants are the first in their families to attend college.
Cayuga College President Dr. Brian Durant said the program plays a critical role in helping students adjust to college while providing the support they need to succeed.
“EOP provides tremendous academic support, but is also an essential resource guiding students as they adjust to life in college,” Durant said. “Through these services and their own outstanding work, EOP students at Cayuga have excelled and will continue to do so as they progress toward their degree and a successful future.”
The program received a boost this year through a $10.7 million increase in statewide EOP funding included in New York’s 2026-27 budget. College officials credited Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature for their continued investment in expanding access to higher education.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said the Educational Opportunity Program has helped tens of thousands of students over nearly six decades by making college more accessible and creating pathways to successful careers.
Since 2022, enrollment in SUNY’s EOP has grown by 21 percent. The program has graduated nearly 90,000 students during its 59-year history and now serves more than 9,000 students across the SUNY system.
Cayuga Community College currently has 35 students enrolled in EOP. Since launching the program during the 2022-23 academic year, participants have delivered commencement addresses and earned prestigious honors, including the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence.
Business Administration major Emma Flinn said the program has provided valuable guidance throughout her college career.
“My counselors have helped support and guide my college journey,” Flinn said. “The High Impact Practice has provided opportunities for real-world experiences in my degree.”
The Educational Opportunity Program remains open to students who meet its academic and financial eligibility requirements.
