UTICA, NY – 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.
To learn more about SUNY EOP at SUNY Poly, visit https://sunypoly.edu/eop.html or contact
Melissa Prest, SUNY Poly’s Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Opportunity Programs, at
prestm@sunypoly.edu.
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About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)
SUNY Polytechnic Institute, located in Utica, N.Y., is a vibrant and inclusive community where
students, faculty, and staff are empowered through a forward-looking STEAM education and
dynamic campus experience. Founded in 1966, SUNY Poly is currently celebrating its 60th
anniversary, marking six decades of impact, innovation, and service to the Mohawk Valley and
beyond. As New York State’s premier public polytechnic, SUNY Poly fosters innovation and
interdisciplinary learning across its four colleges—Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, and
Health Sciences—preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Guided by a bold vision for societal impact, SUNY Poly advances use-inspired research and
transformative collaborations that drive economic development, technological progress, and
humanitarian solutions—locally in the Mohawk Valley and globally across diverse communities. For
more info, visit http://www.sunypoly.edu.
