Educational Opportunity Program Annual Report 2023-2024

I. Mission Statement

The mission of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is to provide access and support services to first-generation college students who have experienced economic, educational, and/or environmental barriers, but display the potential to succeed in post-secondary education and to assist the university in the matriculation, retention, and graduation of EOP students.

II. Program Accomplishments - A highlight

• Proudly Owning Who We Are
  • EOP proudly embraces its identity and history. We successfully partnered with the Valene L. Smith Museum to present a pop-up exhibit celebrating 55 years of service at Chico State. Our staff remain active and engaged within the campus community, consistently collaborating with various departments (across Academic Affairs and Student Affairs) to ensure our students receive the highest quality support.

• Leveraging Our Strengths in What We Do
  • The EOP Second Year Success program was instrumental in providing a foundation for increasing retention rates of our EOP students. The program was successful in ensuring students were enrolled in a minimum of 12-15 units, successfully resolving any grades assigned as “Incomplete” and providing guidance to students placed on Academic Notice, with a success rate of approximately 50% by the end of the spring semester.

• Advancing Our Influence by How We Do Our Work

EOP’s dedication to facilitating access to the University through our admissions process remains a significant achievement. For fall 2024, we received nearly 6,500 EOP applications and are gearing up to support 356 new, incoming students. Specifically, 5,475 freshmen applied, of which 1,699 were admitted. Out of these, 310 matriculated, with 147 FTIC attending Summer Bridge. The program will support a total of 252 incoming freshmen. Additionally, we received 1,018 transfer applications and offered admissions to 412 students and will provide support to the 104 upper division transfer students that matriculated for fall 2024.

III. Program Statistics and Assessment for Past Year

Office Visits

Retention

 *2019 based on 5 year total

• Microsoft Bookings reflected the number of appointments made during the 2023-24 Academic Year:
  • 1653 from Aug-Dec
  • 1330 from Jan-May
• Increased use of Microsoft 360 reflects 636 advising notes entered for the 2023-24 Academic Year

IV. Integrate Unit Objectives with Strategic Action Plan in 2024-25

Proudly Owning Who We Are

• Every spring semester, we coordinate the EOSP Graduation Celebration that honors the achievements of graduating EOP students, recognizing their hard work and perseverance. Our engagement efforts will increase to encourage more of our graduating students to attend the celebration.

Leveraging Our Strengths in What We Do

• Establish a partnership with the Financial Wellness Clinic (Marketing and Finance Department) to provide EOP students with tailored financial literacy workshops and one-on-one counseling sessions, aimed at improving their financial management skills and reducing student debt.

Advancing Our Influence by How We Do Our Work

• Continue to provide a comprehensive Summer Bridge program to support incoming EOP freshmen, focusing on academic preparedness, campus integration, and personal development.