1960’s & 1970’s – Prior to Educational Opportunity Program, faculty at Sonoma State University created Hidden Talent, which provided students with academic support, financial aid assistance, and cultural center events.
October 1, 1979 – SSU student population in 1979 being served was 450. President Diamandopoulous hires Bill Clarke, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Director, to “fix the front door” as enrollment numbers were low and students were leaving the university. Programs being offered to students are intensified and each student is receiving funding to assist with retention.
1980’s – EOP Director Bill Clarke introduced parent orientation with the focus of providing parents with information about college.
EOP at Sonoma State moved in the direction of being more academically focused after Bill Clarke rewrote the program’s grant.
Mario Savio was hired through Summer Bridge as a Math Specialist.
1 unit course was offered and EOP started awarding EOP Grants, which assisted students with paying for food, housing, and books.
1985 – EOP Summer Bridge was receiving funding and doing early remediation. Summer Bridge was a 6-week program. During the summer, EOP hired Learning Skills Services (LSS) staff to work during Summer Bridge. Partnerships were phenomenal across the board.
1987 – Bruce Peterson begins at SSU and taught the first University (UNIV) 102 support class with freshmen in the mid-1990’s.
1988 – The “front door” issue had been resolved at Sonoma State University.
EOP runs parallel program and offers course through Chicano & Latino Studies (CALS) (EOP freshman seminar)
Early 1990’s – Early 90s brought budget cuts to EOP Summer Bridge in addition to the high cost of living.
- 640 students welcomed to SSU and eight different teams during Summer Bridge.
- A class of 80 first-time freshmen per class and more faculty recruited.
- Bridged the gap between Faculty & Advisor.
- Jeanne L. Moore Scholarship is created. Jeanne L. Moore was the founding mother of EOP at Sonoma State University and a strong advocate for social justice. An outstanding EOP student is awarded this scholarship each year who embodies exceptional courage, dedication, and community service.
Mid 1990’s – Advising, Career, EOP, & Testing (ACE) collapsed and made into one department
- all advisors worked all of the programs.
- Summer Bridge 6 weeks long and offered remedial Math and English, as well as computer skills and a 3 unit GE class.
- Summer Bridge had an incorporated GE class (History GE course).
SSU Freshmen classes and EOP students continued to grow. SSU first freshmen class size over 1,000 in early 2000’s.
Early 2000’s – EOP moves to Salazar Hall.
2001 – EOP Academy implemented and stretched over a whole year and utilized EOP model from Chico State University.
- EOP adopts 3 week Summer Bridge Program and creates EOP Academy.
- Focus of Summer Bridge changes from “Academic Boot Camp” to social transition and emphasis on helping EOP students feel they belong at SSU.
- Offered remedial Math & English support in addition to computer literacy.
2008- 2009 – Strong push to eliminate the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
- Outpour of support from community and EOP students.
2007-2014 – A series of budget cuts reduces Summer Bridge from 3 weeks to 2 weeks to 1 week to 3 days.
- Part of Summer Bridge was merged with Summer Orientation for advising and course selection.
2013- 2016 – EOP experiences a period of transition moving from Student Affairs to Academic Affairs.
2014 – 1 week Summer Bridge program reinstated.
2016- 2017 – EOP experiences a period of transition and moves from Academic Affairs to the newly organized Student Affairs under the leadership of Dr. Michael Young, Vice President of Student Affairs.
2017 – EOP partners with the School of Business and Economics (SBE) and University Advancement for donor funding and created the Wine Industry Scholars Program. The WISP scholarship is the university’s largest scholarship offered. Due to cross campus collaborations, SSU EOP and SBE is awarded over $2.2 million from the Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Rodney Strong Vineyards, and Cooperages 1912.
2018 – The Center of Academic Access and Student Enrichment (C.A.A.S.E.) is created under the leadership of Dr. Wm. Gregory Sawyer, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Dr. Gerald L. Jones, Senior Director of C.A.A.S.E.
EOP moves under C.A.A.S.E. and works collaboratively with other departments to continue work serving underserved, educationally disadvantaged students.