Cayuga Welcomes Incoming Educational Opportunity Class for Summer Orientation

Cayuga Community College on Monday welcomed its incoming class of Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students to campus for summer orientation. 

The EOP summer orientation program gives incoming students the benefit of a residential college experience before starting their classes for the fall semester. At Cayuga Community College, 14 incoming EOP students are participating in the summer orientation program this year.

EOP provides affordable and comprehensive support to help students from low-income backgrounds who didn’t receive sufficient academic preparation in high school succeed in earning a degree. Many EOP students are the first in their family to attend college.

The EOP program at Cayuga Community College is made possible in part by the historic $10.7 million increase in EOP funding in the fiscal year 2026-2027 State budget thanks to the strong support and commitment by Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

“EOP provides tremendous academic support, but is also an essential resource guiding students as they adjust to life in college. 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,” said Cayuga President Dr. Brian Durant. “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and State legislators for their steadfast commitment to advancing higher education opportunities for students at Cayuga, and at campuses across New York State. EOP is a proven program to advance student success and upward mobility.”

“For nearly 60 years, SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program has supported tens of thousands of students, helping them move forward on a path to upward mobility and success,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “The program has made higher education more accessible for students throughout New York State and opened doors for meaningful and successful careers. We are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul, the State Legislature, and the SUNY Board of Trustees for their continued investment in empowering EOP students and supporting their efforts to unleash their full potential.”

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program has a proven track record of supporting students to thrive on campus and be ready to succeed after graduation. Through the strong support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY EOP will be able to provide support for more students as they work to pursue their dreams.”

“Being a part of EOP has been an incredibly rewarding experience. My counselors have helped support and guide my college journey. The High Impact Practice has provided opportunities for real-world experiences in my degree,” said EOP student Emma Flinn, who is majoring in Business Administration at Cayuga.

Since 2022, SUNY EOP enrollment has increased by 21 percent, reflecting continued demand for the program and the confidence students and families place in its supports. In its 59-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and evolved into one of the country’s most successful college access program.

There are more than 9,000 EOP students throughout the SUNY System, 35 of whom are enrolled at Cayuga. Since the program started at Cayuga in the 2022-23 academic year, EOP students have served as speakers at Commencement and earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence. 

EOP enrollment is open to all students who meet the program’s longstanding academic and financial need requirements.

To learn more about SUNY EOP at Cayuga, visit https://www.cayuga-cc.edu/students/services/educational-opportunity-program/ or contact Director Nicole D. Darrow at eop@cayuga-cc.edu or 315-294-8567.