SUNY New Paltz Welcomes Incoming EOP Class

NEW PALTZ – SUNY New Paltz has 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 SUNY New Paltz more than 100 incoming EOP students are participating in the summer orientation program this year.

SUNY’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program provides affordable excellence and comprehensive support to help students from low-income backgrounds who did not receive sufficient academic preparation in K-12 – many of whom are the first in their families to go to college – succeed in earning a degree.

The EOP program at SUNY New Paltz 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.

“We are excited to welcome the incoming class of EOP students here at SUNY New Paltz. It is thanks to the expectational work of our EOP staff and their student ambassadors who support students with unwavering guidance and resources that we move our University’s mission forward, advancing our students and the community through education,” said SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler. “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and State legislators for their steadfast commitment to advancing higher education opportunities for students at SUNY New Paltz, 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 for 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.”

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, more than 450 of which are enrolled at SUNY New Paltz.

EOP enrollment is open to all students who meet the program’s longstanding academic and financial need requirements.
“With EOP, I have a community of support believing in me every step of the way. My advisor, mentor, tutors and study groups have helped me strengthen my writing skills and build confidence in mathematics,” said Tatiana Perez, a third-year double major in sociology and Spanish from Middletown, New York. “EOP’s legacy of growth and self-improvement doesn’t falter; it’s a program where peers are uplifting each other to become a better version of ourselves.”

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) reflects what SUNY is all about — making sure talented, hardworking students have an equitable opportunity to earn a college degree, regardless of the financial or educational barriers they may face. At SUNY New Paltz and across the SUNY system, EOP has helped generations of students, including many who are the first in their families to attend college, turn that opportunity into a brighter future for themselves and their families. I’m proud to champion funding for this program, and I hope all the incoming students coming to SUNY New Paltz through this incredible program have a great summer orientation.”