Ramapo Provides Access Through Educational Opportunity Fund Program

By MEHNAZ LADHA

Institutions of higher learning across N.J. participate in the state-funded Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program in an effort to provide students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds access to a college education.

The Department of Education established EOF in 1968 following the Newark riots, which were caused in part by residents feeling powerless due to their lack of education. Ramapo College of New Jersey established its own EOF program in 1971 and currently has almost 350 students enrolled.  

“The mission is definitely the same across the board. We are really not only an access program, but an advocacy program as well that provides students with all the necessary support they need to exceed at the college level,” said Tandjza Robinson-McCray, student development specialist.

With the constant increases in tuition rates across the nation, it becomes more important that institutions of higher education have an EOF program to support these students of disadvantaged backgrounds. Research from College Board indicates that tuition for a public four-year institution increased 10 percent in the past five years from $17,710 in 2010 to $19,548 in 2015.

“If you want to end poverty, if you want to increase people’s lives and educate people, if you are really serious about educating people and helping them to improve their lives, then you need programs like EOF. I’m a product of this program so I’m a strong believer in it,” said Barbara Harmon-Francis, director of Ramapo’s EOF program. “This program is really important at ending that cycle of poverty and that cycle of disillusionment that there is nothing better.”

Highly motivated students admitted to Ramapo College though the EOF program must fulfill the academic and financial requirements for eligibility. Academic eligibility is based on numerous factors such as grades, types of courses taken, SAT scores, class rank, and letters of recommendation. Financial eligibility of an applicant is determined by the size of the household and family income.

Constant Support at Ramapo

Throughout their academic career at Ramapo, EOF students have access to an abundance of resources that help them succeed in college. This support includes financial assistance in the form of grants and scholarships, career development through workshops co-sponsored by EOF and the Cahill Center, and supplemental instruction that provide students with extra academic support.

[VIDEO: Watch Ramapo students share their opinions on the EOF Program.]

Community support for EOF students begins during the Pre-Freshman Summer Program, mandated for all students enrolled in the program. This bridge program is a 6-week intensive and comprehensive program that gives students an opportunity to experience college level classes, acclimate to the environment, and acquaint themselves with the faculty, staff, and members of the EOF office. 

“To start my four years here with that summer program, I am grateful and very appreciative. That was the best thing that could have happened to me. It helped me adjust to the college life, understand the workload, and understand time management,” said Wilson Quiceno, senior EOF student from Morristown, N.J.

Incoming EOF students participating in the Pre-Freshman Summer Program are provided on-campus housing, enrolled in two courses and one seminar, and required to attend tutoring and study sessions hosted by supplemental instructors. The academic component of the summer program also includes a student life aspect, where EOF students participate in social, cultural, recreational, and educational events throughout the six weeks. All costs related to this program, such as tuitions, books, and meals, are paid by the EOF program.

LISTEN: Alina Sanchez, senior student in the EOF program from Paterson, N.J., shares her experience of participating in the Pre-Freshman Summer Program. 

Improving the Program for Future Students

With a model that has worked for almost 50 years, the new director of the EOF program is looking to build upon the existing foundation to provide more for students. While Harmon-Francis plans to continue offering services such as the tutorial program and supplemental instructors, she is interested in introducing a peer-mentoring program that would provide incoming freshman with another source of support that can help them adjust to the college environment.

“It really helped me when I was a student to have a mentor who was looking out for me and saying don’t go down that road, go down that road, this is a great professor to take, stay away from this. Of course, all professors are great,” said Harmon-Francis. “But it’s always great to have a peer who is doing well, who has walked through your steps and who has been a first-generation college student.”

Research shows that students who feel like they belong in their community thrive more academically than students who do not feel a part of their school. These feelings can lead a student to drop out of college. The current senior class of the EOF Program started with almost 90 students, but has dropped down to almost half partially due to financial reasons as well as their feelings of being detached from the environment, according to Quiceno.

Students within the program have expressed interest in having the EOF office integrate more with the college so that the community can develop a better understanding of the program and why it’s important. The EOF office currently has strong relations with other departments on campus such as the Office of Financial Aid, Office of Specialized Services, and the Cahill Career Development Center, but needs to strengthen its connections with the five schools.

“We do have relationships with offices on campus, but we have to take a step back and reevaluate who we do not have a relationship with and how we could strengthen it,” said Robinson-McCray.