OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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The Educational Opportunities Program is proud to provide support for students who have traditionally been denied equal access to higher education. We will work with you to make sure you have an experience that will prepare you to have a fulfilling career and life.
The Educational Opportunities Program supports the academic, personal, and professional development of students who have traditionally been denied equal access to higher education. If you identify as an underrepresented student on campus, apply to EOP and join our welcoming community where you can continue to grow & thrive.
EOP offers many services to support student growth & development, and we also partner with organizations around campus to ensure each student's success throughout their time at Oregon State University. Students will grow skills needed to succeed through access to academic counseling, smaller classes, innovative programs & more.
EOP supports a variety of programs including mentorship programs, Living-Learning Communities, and other spaces designed to support the transition to college and continued development throughout your time at OSU. We invite you to find belonging and community with your peers through participation in one or more of our programs.
The Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) was created in 1969 to support students in coming to and succeeding at OSU, and we’ve been busy living up to those expectations ever since. Over the past five decades, we’ve seen thousands of students graduate and go on to fulfilling careers and strong community involvement. Among our alumni, we are proud to know doctors, teachers, lawyers, and even Broadway stars!
Throughout our history we have maintained our focus on our primary goal: providing excellent academic and personal support for our students. When you apply to EOP we advocate for you, whether that’s through one-on-one meetings, in the classroom, or in the admissions and reinstatement processes. We provide a home base where you can gain a sense of belonging, work with role models from similar backgrounds who understand the university, and develop skills that take you through graduation and beyond. Overall we help you to navigate the confusing systems and processes that can slow down and block your path to success.
All of us in EOP – students, faculty, staff – are part of the program because we value each other’s dreams and this community will do whatever we can to help you reach them all!
~ Janet Nishihara, EOP Executive Director
Read more about the history of EOP below, and consider making a gift that supports the next generation of EOP graduates.
In 1969, the recently formed Black Student Union organized class boycotts and a sit-in in response to racial clashes between the OSU football coach and Black student athletes including Fred Milton. Tensions culminated in a walkout and march across campus on March 5, 1969. As a result, the BSU successfully advocated for change and better support for students of color which led to the establishment of the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) in 1969 and later led to the seven cultural resource centers serving students from diverse backgrounds. EOP began with 48 students in 1969. Today we serve over 400 students.
The Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) supports the academic, personal, and professional development of students who have traditionally been denied equal access to higher education by providing a welcoming environment which includes smaller classes, academic counseling, and innovative programs & services designed to enhance retention and persistence.
EOP provides many benefits for students. Some include:
Once a student is enrolled and active in the program they remain associated with the program until graduation. Students are expected to meet with their EOP academic counselor on a regular basis.
EOP students are from groups that have been traditionally denied equal access to higher education. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
EOP services are designed to assist incoming first-year undergraduate students at Oregon State University as well as those who are referred by faculty or staff or seek out services. Services are limited to undergraduate domestic students and undocumented/DACA students who are taking classes on OSU's main Corvallis campus. We do not currently have services available for graduate, distance or international students or students studying at other Oregon State campuses, however, these students may still be able to be involved in related programs. See the Participate in Programs page for more information.
Like EOP, CAMP and TRIO SSS also support students in their academic development and assist and motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.
Students are not able to be in more than one program at a time. We encourage interested students to learn about the students each program serves and the services they provide and then decide which program would best meet individual needs. For questions about EOP or for further clarification, please contact Janet Nishihara.
CAMP is a federally-funded program designed to support students from seasonal farmworker backgrounds during their first-year of college. The program provides personal, financial and academic support for students, as well as social and cultural enrichment activities. CAMP students also have an opportunity to participate in a summer orientation program. Students must meet federally mandated guidelines to qualify as being from a seasonal farmworker background. Visit the CAMP website for more information on eligibility and application information.
TRIO SSS is a federally-funded program which provides services to students who meet at least one of the following criteria: 1) being from the first generation in their family in college (neither parent has a four year degree); 2) meeting low-income guidelines; 3) having either a physical or learning disability. Services offered by TRIO SSS include a summer bridge program for new students, academic skills assessment, supplemental academic and personal advising and more. Visit the TRIO SSS website for more information on services and to find out how to apply.
Please contact us so we can discuss specific needs:
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You can now Make an Appointment with your Academic Counselor or Instructor online through Bookings! Read more below about scheduling, onsite activities, and further resources.
Please connect with your academic counselor or instructor through email or schedule online with Bookings. Virtual options will be available if needed. If you have a general question or do not know who your academic counselor is, email or schedule a meeting with Janet Nishihara.
Make an Appointment with Bookings
We realize sometimes things come up. Please let us know how we can help and know that it is fine to cancel or reschedule a meeting. Let us know in advance if at all possible.
Waldo Hall is currently open to the public Monday through Friday and EOP staff are working from the building between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The EOP front desk and the computer lab are available during those hours. Please contact your academic counselor directly or email Janet Nishihara for more information about in-person vs. online meeting availability for individual meetings.
