The following is the text of a news release from the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College:
(THROGGS NECK, N.Y.) — More than $55,000 will go to the State University of New York Maritime College to expand a program designed to give economically and academically disadvantaged students a better chance of earning a college degree.
The funding, from the State University of New York system, is part of $2.4 million in Investment and Performance Fund awards from New York state that will expand so-called Education Opportunity Programs (EOP) at 12 SUNY campuses and create the program at another four.
“The EOP combines close advising, tutoring, seminars and off-campus enrichment to provide an extra level of support to help students succeed and graduate from SUNY Maritime College,” said Rear Adm. Michael Alfultis, president of SUNY Maritime. “This has been a highly successful program; our 2014 valedictorian was an EOP student.”
The money will be used to increase the number of students admitted to SUNY Maritime through the program, from 15 to more than 20. The program supports at-risk and under-represented minority students, especially first-generation students, as they pursue college degrees.
“The Educational Opportunity Program at SUNY is one of our most successful and sought-after programs, with more than 30,000 students applying for 2,500 available seats every year,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Bringing programs like EOP to more students — that’s what our completion agenda sets out to do, and it is precisely what the Investment and Performance Fund can accomplish.”
The grant is in addition to an award of $750,000 to SUNY Maritime from SUNY. The previous award, announced last month, will expand the tutoring services that are available to all SUNY Maritime students.
