For 36 incoming SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) students, college is already underway. Before the fall semester officially begins, participants in the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Summer Orientation are getting a head start by living on campus, building friendships, and preparing for academic success through an immersive residential experience. With 36 participants, this year's EOP cohort is among the university's largest in recent years.

SUNY's Arthur O. Eve EOP program provides affordable excellence and comprehensive support to help students from low-income backgrounds who did not receive sufficient academic preparation in K-12 – many of whom are the first in their families to go to college – succeed in earning a degree.

The EOP program at SUNY Poly is made possible in part by the historic $10.7 million increase in EOP funding in the fiscal year 2026-2027 State budget thanks to the strong support and commitment by Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

“We are proud to welcome our newest EOP students to SUNY Poly, where expanding opportunity and empowering students to achieve their full potential are central to our mission. EOP helps ensure talented, determined students have the support they need to earn their degrees, pursue meaningful careers, and make a lasting impact in their communities,” said SUNY Poly President Dr. Winston Soboyejo. “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and State legislators for their steadfast commitment to advancing higher education opportunities for students at SUNY Poly, and at campuses across New York State. EOP is a proven program to advance student success and upward mobility.”

“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. We are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul, the State Legislature, and for the SUNY Board of Trustees for their continued investment in empowering EOP students and supporting their efforts to unleash their full potential.”

There are more than 9,000 EOP students throughout the SUNY System, 105 of which are enrolled at SUNY Poly.

“As a former Dean at Mohawk Valley Community College, I have witnessed firsthand the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program’s (EOP) proven track record of success, which has empowered students across our great state to embark on a path of achievement and upward mobility for nearly 60 years,” said NYS Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon. “Backed by continued investments statewide, enrollment in the program has grown 21 percent since 2022, and here at SUNY Poly, in a testament to their enduring reputation for excellence and their continued ability to attract talented students to the Mohawk Valley, that growth has been even more pronounced, up 60 percent since 2019. As a proud SUNY Poly alumna, it is my privilege to help welcome each of these new students to the Wildcat family and offer my best wishes to them as they begin their next chapter here in the Mohawk Valley.”

“It is a pleasure to welcome the incoming class of Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program students to SUNY Poly,” said NYS Senator Joseph Griffo. “The Educational Opportunity Program is a vital resource for New Yorkers pursuing a college degree, making higher education more accessible and creating opportunities that can transform lives.”

EOP enrollment is open to all students who meet the program’s longstanding academic and financial need requirements.

Learn More About EOP at SUNY Poly