EOP supports first gen and low income students

For first generation and otherwise disadvantaged future Cal Poly Humboldt students, there have likely been many hurdles to overcome to even get as far as applying and being accepted to a university. 

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is a statewide program designed to help students attain their degrees and have an overall supportive and positive experience at college. EOP resides at Hadley House along with Student Support Services (SSS), under the TRIO Program.

According to the California State University website, EOP developed out of a Civil Rights era  student led campaign seeking to “overcome economic and social barriers that prevented minorities and underrepresented students from attaining a college education.” The program came to Humboldt State in 1972. 

Last year between spring 2024 and fall 2024, EOP recognized 280 students with honors that meet their requirement, 100 of those were on the dean’s list and 96 were presidential scholars.

Students enrolled in EOP receive additional funding and services that support them and to demystify the experience of going to college.

“Most of them are 17 or 18 years old and have never been away from home, and their parents haven’t gone to college, so navigating that is not something that’s going to come naturally to them,” said Rama Rawal, EOP and TRIO programs Director and Advisor. “They’re starting the race behind a lot of other folks.”

“EOP is for first generation low income students, and also students who, when they apply, share with us that they would like help with their academics, whether it’s with test taking, reading strategies, coaching, advising…,” Rawal said. 

EOP application process

Once a student checks a box stating they are interested in EOP when applying to a university, the process becomes much more personalized. Students who qualify are either incoming freshman or transfer students who have been admitted to college. If students don’t meet both requirements there are other programs they may qualify for which EOP can help them with. They will have to answer questions about their financial status and provide two letters of recommendation. 

When accepted into the program, advisors will reach out and guide students through the next steps, whether it be for registering for classes, filling out their FAFSA, applying for housing and more. 

“We also work on their DARS with them, we try to plan out their four years with them. We have career exploration dialogue… first generation students are known to have what they call the ‘first gen jitters’, which is kind of second guessing themselves, ‘do I really belong here?’” Ramwal said. 

Xelha Puc, an administrative assistant at Hadley House and a current graduate student in education, was an EOP recipient.

“Being first generation to me meant navigating this world that no one in my community knew, so I had to look for these resources on my own,” Puc said. “My parents wanted me to go straight into college but how am I supposed to do that? Unfortunately, they couldn’t help me financially, they couldn’t help me mentally, these weren’t resources my family knew.”

Besides offering academic support services, EOP can direct students to other resources on campus. 

“Because EOP has been on this campus for so long we have a wonderful relationship with financial aid, the advising center and we also have really strong relationships with all the cultural centers on campus,” Rawal said. 

“Rapport is really important and we offer holistic advising, which means we really hold that space for [students], whatever they need. We see them as dimensional human beings… it’s a hallmark of EOP,” Rawal said. 

According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “Among full-time workers, college graduates are more likely to have jobs that offer paid vacation, health insurance, retirement, and flexible work arrangements. These forms of non-wage compensation help provide greater financial stability and security over the long run.” 

As of now Puc shared that of 483 current students, 385 are on honor roll and maintaining a 3.0 or above GPA.