OpInform 2012

1. The Educational Opportunity Program – Eligibility and Access OpInform 2012

2. OpInform 2012 • Today’s Program: • Educational Opportunity Program Overview • Application Review • Academic Eligibility Evaluation • Financial Qualifications Assessment • Case Studies

3. OpInform 2012 • Educational Opportunity Program Overview • History • 1964 – SUNY Master Plan • 1966 – SEEK created by NYS Legislature • 1967 – Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve appropriation bill • 1968 – expansion of EOP to 10 campuses • 1970 – 30 campuses enroll more than 4600 students • 2002 – 2004 SUNY Master Plan • 2012 – over 60,000 EOP grads from 43 SUNY campuses

4. OpInform 2012 • Educational Opportunity Program Overview • Mission • SUNY EOP provides college access to economically disadvantaged & academically underprepared students. • Demonstrated potential and commitment to success • Full-time students • New York State residents • Academic and financial guidelines

5. OpInform 2012 • Educational Opportunity Program Overview • Participation • Available at 43 of the 64 SUNY campuses • All campuses within each of the following sectors • University Center/Doctoral Degree Granting Institutions • Colleges of Technology • Twelve of the 13 University Colleges participate • Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Purchase • Fourteen of the 30 Community Colleges participate • Broome, Dutchess, Erie, FIT, Finger Lakes, Fulton-Montgomery, Genesee, Hudson Valley, Monroe, Onondaga, Schenectady, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester

6. OpInform 2012 • Educational Opportunity Program Overview • Services • Pre-freshman summer program • Academic advisement • Holistic counseling • Personal mentoring • Tutorial services • Supplemental instruction • Financial assistance

7. OpInform 2012 • Application Review • Involvement • Admissions • Reviews academic credentials for eligibility • Triages EOP applicants • EOP • Application review: academic and/or financial • Outreach and final decisions • Financial Aid • Economic eligibility: financial review • Evaluates discrepancies between EOP/FAFSA applications

8. OpInform 2012 • Academic Eligibility Evaluation • Review • High School Transcript / GED • Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) • Placement test scores • Intended major • Letters of recommendation • Personal statement/essay • Extracurricular involvement

9. OpInform 2012 • Academic Eligibility Evaluation • Transfer • Prior enrollment in similar program • New York State resident • Financial review can be waived

10. OpInform 2012 • Financial Qualifications Assessment • Criteria • Income guidelines • Do not apply if… • Family Assistance payments • Foster child • Ward of the state/county • www.suny.edu/student/academic_eop.cfm

11. OpInform 2012 • Financial Qualifications Assessment • Documentation • Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA] • Campus-based affidavit forms • IRS forms: 1040, 4506-T, W2, 1099 • Court documentation • Reference letters • Birth/death certificates • Personal statements

12. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Academic • Eligible v. Ineligible • Actual students’ transcripts and scores • Pertinent demographic and application information • Personal identifying information has been omitted • Transcripts have been condensed for easier view

13. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Financial • Eligible v. Ineligible • As with the academic examples, these are real applicants • No personal identifying information is included • The audience will be asked to assess eligibility

14. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Financial • Student A • Two-parent home with two younger siblings • Home valued at $150,000, mortgage balance = $98,000 • Business income = +$27,542 • Self-employment tax = -$ 1,946 • Total income = =$25,596 • Eligible? • YES – income is below household maximum $49,969

15. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Financial • Student B • Single-parent home with no siblings • Parent’s earned wages = $43,590 • No other source of income nor assets • Eligible? • NO –income is above the household maximum $27,991

16. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Financial • Student C • Single-parent home with two younger siblings & uncle • Parent’s earned wages = $24,307 • Uncle’s income = $20,000 • Pension & annuities = +$835 • Eligible? • Total income = $25,142 • YES – income is below household maximum $42,643

17. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Financial • Student D • Two-parent home with one younger & two older siblings • Parent’s earned wages = $0 • Social Security benefits = $ 6,367 • Business income = $6,358 • Self-employment tax = $449 • Pensions & annuities = $108,178 • NO – income is above household maximum $42,643

18. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Financial • Student E • Mother incarcerated, father deported • Lives with grandmother • Additional documentation required • Public assistance = $5,304 • Housing assistance = $3,324 • Eligible? • YES – public assistance present, regardless of amount

19. OpInform 2012 • Case Studies – Financial • Student F • Mother died recently, father’s whereabouts unknown • Lives with older sister, not her legal guardian • Requesting independent status • Does not work, no public assistance, no taxes on file • Additional documentation required • Eligible? • YES – granted independent status, income is nonexistent