OADI - EOP/HEOP

In 1967, New York State Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve pushed forward the principles of access to, and opportunities in, higher education for underrepresented students by developing an appropriations bill, which he modeled after a program at the City University of New York called Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK). This bill related to schools, and ultimately became the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), the first students of which were admitted in 1968.

The following year, the New York State Legislature expanded this program to provide access to private and independent colleges and universities and the Higher Education Opportunity Program was born.

Currently, EOP has a presence on 45 campuses across New York State with HEOP operating on 57 campuses.

The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) facilitates students whose financial and academic environments have not allowed their potential to come to fruition. H/EOP gives students who have the ability for academic success, but not the requirements for regular admission, the chance to attend Cornell University. The programs allow students eight to ten semesters to successfully complete a degree.

EOP serves students enrolled in one of the contract colleges at Cornell:

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• College of Human Ecology
• School of Industrial and Labor Relations

HEOP serves students enrolled in one of the endowed colleges at Cornell:

• College of Architecture, Art and Planning
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Engineering
• School of Hotel Administration

The Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is funded in part by a grant from the State University of New York.

The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is funded in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Education.