Educational Opportunity Program

Apply For EOP at CCC

EOP is now accepting applications for Spring '23 and Fall '24 to first-time, full-time freshmen, CCC readmits (prior to 2022) and eligible transfer students.

Spring deadline: 12/31/23

Fall deadline: 06/30/24

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at SUNY Corning Community College helps to make higher education possible for students who demonstrate academic promise, but whose life circumstances have not permitted them to reach their full potential academically.

EOP at SUNY CCC helps you identify your strengths, meet the challenges of college, and be successful as a college student. EOP is designed to help break down the barriers to higher education and teach you to advocate for yourself and build community.

EOP Application Process

1. 1. Apply to CCC
   2. Complete the FAFSA and Tap Applications
      • Applicants are encouraged to use the IRS Retrieval process when completing the FAFSA application for Pell and TAP and request a Tax Transcript from the IRS for students and parents  at that time. Request a Tax Transcript
   3. Apply for EOP academic verification
   4. Have your high school and/or college transcripts sent to admissions@corning-cc.edu
   5. You will be contacted with directions for part 2 of the verification process, financial verification
   6. Once verified for both financial and academic eligibility, you will receive a letter inviting you to join us for the EOP Pre-freshmen Program. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Meet the New York State residency requirement (12 months)
• Be a first semester, college freshman or qualifying transfer student
• Have earned a High School Diploma or GED
• Attained a high school average in the range of 70-85% or 1.7 GPA
• Meet SUNY EOP Economic Eligibility Guidelines 
• Demonstrate potential and motivation to complete a college program
• Participate in and successfully complete the EOP Pre-freshmen Program; offered in Winter '23 and Summer '24.  

Program Services Provided                                                           

• EOP Pre-freshman Program                       
• EOP Academic and Career Counseling
• EOP Peer Tutoring
• EOP Peer Coaches
• Skillbuilding Workshops
• EOP Social Gatherings and Safe Space
  
• Financial Resources

 

Questions? Join us for a SUNY EOP Information Session, email us at eop@corning-cc.edu or call 607-962-9393.

What Our Students Have to Say about EOP at CCC

EOP Pre-freshman Program

A comprehensive, EOP Pre-Freshman Program for our incoming, first-year, EOP students will be held on-campus each July. All incoming first-year EOP students are required to attend and participate. Programming will include Math for College and Writing for College, daily skill building workshops and travel to community enrichment activities. EOP candidates have the option to move in to Perry Hall early or temporarily with required documentation. All coursework, meals, supplies and transportation assistance options are provided free of charge. Students must successfully complete the summer program for acceptance into EOP. This years' Program will be held in January (for Spring '23) and July (Fall 2024).

Questions? Join us for a SUNY EOP Information Session, email us at eop@corning-cc.edu or call 607-962-9393.

Meet the EOP Staff

"Hi, I'm Kim Saunders (she/her), the EOP Director at CCC. EOP has been my "home" since the summer of  2022, but I have been in  the education business for over 25 years, as an elementary and special education teacher and educational program administrator. I earned a BS and MS in Education from Elmira College and a CAS in Educational Administration from SUNY Brockport, but most importantly, I am a CCC, first generation student! In fact, we are a CCC alumni family, as all of my three children and husband have attended CCC. Go Barons!

My passion for the assurance of equity and inclusion in higher education drives my daily and long-term EOP decision-making. Having most recently worked as the Education and Child Development Manager for the Birth to Five School Readiness Program (Chemung County Head Start, Early Head Start), I love the idea of giving college freshmen a head start in college as well. 

Working with the EOP program has been an incredible experience! At CCC, but especially in EOP, we are all about family, community and engagement in being a successful CCC student. EOP students benefit from tutoring, skill-building workshops and one-stop advising, career exploration and counseling with John Forde, our amazing EOP counselor. Enrichment activities are the extra EOP bonus. We have so much fun, like dining out, bowling, movies, creative arts, visiting community resources, and just hanging out as a family. Who wouldn't want to join EOP at CCC?!?!"

Hi! I'm John Forde (he/him), the EOP Counselor here at CCC. My career in Social Work began in high school volunteering with the Special  Olympics and local homeless shelter kitchens. I have worked professionally with populations including the intellectually and developmentally disabled residing in  group homes, provided legal advocacy and support to foster care teens aging out of program, and provided housing and human services to Veterans experiencing homelessness.

I was active in starting up the Community Health Worker program at Catholic Charities in Buffalo, NY.  This program supported clients referred by local hospitals for individuals who use the emergency room as primary care.  Intensive case management was determined to be needed for clients diagnosed to have comorbidities of schizophrenia or bi-polar and heart disease and diabetes.  The program was determined to be beneficial in reducing visits to the emergency room for clients involved. 

Most recently, I provided intensive case management to Veterans in the Libertad Elmira Veteran and Family Program. This startup found housing for homeless Veterans and provided supports including transportation to medical appointments, counseling, support groups, outings, and linkages to supported housing and health care.

This is my first year as the EOP Counselor, and I love the connections that I make with our EOP students on a daily basis. My office is housed in the EOP Den where students come to receive EOP services, motivation, and to just hang-out. I provide academic and career advisement through bi-weekly sessions with EOP students as well as social and emotional consultation on an as needed basis. When not in sessions, there is nothing I like better than chatting with our students over an intense game of Backgammon in the EOP Den.