OpInform 2012 The Educational Opportunity Program – Eligibility and Access

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

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

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

Financial Qualifications Assessment Criteria  Income guidelines  Do not apply if…  Family Assistance payments  Foster child  Ward of the state/county OpInform 2012 Household Size (including head of household) Total Annual Income in Previous Calendar Year 1$20,665 2$27,991 3$35,317 4$42,643 5$46,969 6$57,295 7$64,621 8$71,947

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 OpInform 2012