Students wheeled suitcases, carried bedding and moved boxes into Cayuga Hall today as families said their goodbyes and a team of energetic peer mentors welcomed SUNY Morrisville’s newest Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students to campus.
For 130 incoming students — one of the largest EOP Summer Academy cohorts in the college’s history — the day marked the beginning of a three-week residential experience designed to ease the transition to college before fall classes begin.
“For nearly 60 years, SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program has supported tens of thousands of students, helping them move forward on a path to upward mobility and success," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “The program has made higher education more accessible for students throughout New York State and opened doors for meaningful and successful careers.”
EOP helps students with demonstrated financial need succeed in college by providing comprehensive academic, financial and personal support. Many EOP students are the first in their families to pursue a college degree.
Benjamin Scott, an incoming criminal justice student participating in the EOP Summer Academy, made the four-hour drive from Staten Island with his mother and uncle, arriving after leaving home in the early morning hours.
“I like that EOP is going to help keep me on track with my studies,” Scott said. “This is a whole new experience for me, and I am really looking forward to it.”
Asked what comfort from home he couldn’t leave behind, Scott laughed before answering: his cell phone.
Helping students settle into their new surroundings was Thomas Eison, of Queens, a criminal justice student entering his third year as an EOP peer mentor.
“I had a great experience coming here my first year and I like being a part of that for others,” he said. “EOP really helped me financially by buying my books and the staff is accessible. They always have the answers.”
Delilah Siejack, of the Bronx, is also a former EOP student and now serves as a peer mentor.
“I have a passion for helping people and I hope to be an EOP counselor in the future,” she said.
This year’s Summer Academy, themed “One Team. One Goal,” runs through Aug. 1, giving students an early introduction to campus life before the fall semester begins. Participants live on campus while strengthening their academic skills, building friendships and learning about the many resources available to help them succeed.
Before scholars arrived, the program’s 16 peer mentors spent a week participating in team-building exercises, leadership development and planning. Serving as guides, motivators and role models, they completed intensive training designed to strengthen collaboration and leadership. This year, mentors also earned First Aid, CPR and AED certifications.
“We want each scholar to see themselves not only as college students but also as capable, confident scholars with the potential to thrive academically, socially and personally,” said Kayle Light-Curtin, executive director of SUNY Morrisville’s Opportunity and Access Programs. “Through programming, mentorship and engaging academic experiences, we aim to foster a strong sense of belonging, purpose and academic identity from day one.”
The EOP program at SUNY Morrisville is supported in part by the historic $10.7 million increase in EOP funding in the fiscal year 2026-27 state budget thanks to the strong support and commitment by Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Since 2022, SUNY EOP enrollment has increased by 21 percent. Throughout its 59-year history, the program has graduated nearly 90,000 students, making it one of the nation’s most successful college access initiatives.
