Introduction to HEOP

Purpose . . .

. . . to help provide a broad range of services to New York State residents who, because of academic and economic circumstances, would otherwise be unable to attend a postsecondary educational institution.

Institutional Eligibility . . .

. . . competitive grants are awarded to Independent institutions of higher education incorporated by the New York State legislature or chartered by the Board of Regents and offering two- or four-year degree programs registered with and approved by the Board of Regents. Programs must serve matriculated students who are working toward a degree. Students shall be selected without regard to age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation.

. . . Funding decisions will take the following into consideration: (1) comprehensiveness of the educational program; (2) evidence of institutional commitment to disadvantaged students; (3) institutional success in conducting programs for disadvantaged students; and (4) potential of the program to increase the number of disadvantaged persons pursuing careers in which they are currently underrepresented, including teaching.

Student Eligibility . . .

. . . HEOP serves New York State residents who are both academically and economically disadvantaged. Disadvantaged students are individuals from low-income families with potential for successful collegiate experiences but who have not acquired the verbal, mathematical, and other cognitive skills required to complete their college work.

Program Services . . .

. . . HEOP provides funds to assist in the recruitment, screening, and testing of prospective students. Higher Education Opportunity Programs also provide structured support services including a prefreshman summer program, counseling, tutoring, and remedial/developmental coursework. In addition to academic support, program participants receive financial assistance toward their college expenses.

Performance Report
FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003

Current Appropriation: $22,000,000
Programs Funded: 63 at 57 Independent Colleges & Universities
Number of Approved FTE: 5,175

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1969 - 2003

Total HEOP Graduates to date: 28,600

SELECTED PERFORMANCE DATA
2002 - 2003

Appropriation: $22,000,000
HEOP Students Enrolled : 5,606
78% had family incomes below $20,801

48% had high school averages below 80
34% of student population was Black
41% was Hispanic

81% had cumulative averages above 2.0
31% achieved averages of 3.0 or better
88% completion rate of credits attempted

Of the 1,013 graduates in 2002-2003, 68% were employed directly after graduation, enrolled in graduate or professional school, or matriculated at a senior college or another institution.

HEOP Impact and Accomplishments

HEOP Results

…HEOP students graduate at a higher rate than their peers

…HEOP benefits all of New York State – not just those who participate – because as greater numbers of Black and Hispanic and disadvantaged students are educated, the potential workforce for the future grows and stabilizes

HEOP Addresses Students Total Needs

…introduces students to college expectations via a Prefreshman Summer Program

…offers academic, career, financial, and career counseling

…provides one-on-one and small-group tutoring

…offers remedial, developmental, and supportive courses

HEOP Serves Disadvantaged and Underrepresented Populations

…over 5,000 underrepresented and disadvantaged students participate annually

…on average, over 75 percent of HEOP students are Black or Hispanic

…66 percent of HEOP students scored below 1000 on their SATs

…over 48 percent of entering freshmen had high school averages below 80

…37 percent of new freshmen came from households with incomes below $10,750, the lowest category of the income eligibility scale

For additional information . . .

. . . Postsecondary institutions that would like further information about sponsoring a Higher Education Opportunity Program on their campus should contact:

Collegiate Development Programs Unit
New York State Education Department
Room 1071, Education Building Addition
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-5313
E-mail: kiap@mail.nysed.gov

Interested students should contact the HEOP Director at the college or university of their choice for specific information with regard to admission criteria. Sponsoring institutions and their telephone numbers (Word).

Sponsoring institutions and their telephone numbers (PDF)

Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs

Collegiate Development Programs Unit