EOP and HEOP has a number of structures in place to provide students with tools to support their academic success:

• The Pre-Collegiate Summer Scholars Program - PSSP -  helps students prepare for the challenges of their first year at Cornell. All EOP and HEOP students are required to successfully complete this program the summer before their first semester at Cornell.
• Academic Counseling/Advising is designed to support students in their exploration of academic interests, inform students of academic and study opportunities, and aid students in their transition to and success throughout college. EOP and HEOP advisors supplement the academic advising students receive in each of Cornell’s Colleges.
• Tutoring Services are available to all EOP and HEOP students through our partnership with the Learning Strategies Center (LSC).
• Writing Coaches are available to support EOP and HEOP students at any stage of the writing process.
• E-Portfolios and Goal Setting Practices provide EOP and HEOP students the opportunity to identify, reflect on and synthesize their knowledge and skills from all areas of their lives.

EOP and HEOP strive to remove as many financial barriers as we can so that our students can fully participate in the college experience.

• Financial Aid provides students in EOP and HEOP programs with need-based aid. In addition, students receive support from advisors in financial literacy, so they will understand their financial aid and responsibility.
• Funding support is available to EOP and HEOP students to engage in experiences that connect to and prepare them for academic, professional and career goals.

Advisors connect students to valuable resources that allow them to explore their career interests, engage in experiential learning, and identify and prepare for short-term employment, internships, full time employment and/or graduate level education.

Additionally, EOP and HEOP offers two leadership development programs:
 

• The EOP and HEOP Ambassador Program: The EOP/HEOP Student Ambassador Program is a coalition of EOP and HEOP student leaders. Using our knowledge and experience, ambassadors have three aims. First, we aim to educate and increase prospective student awareness of the New York State Opportunity Programs at Cornell University. Second, we aim to facilitate student involvement and engagement on campus to make our EOP and HEOP students heard and seen by others. Lastly, we aim to build coalitions with aligned campus organizations.
• OADI Peer Mentor Program: The OADI peer mentor program launched in fall 2021 merging Cornell’s values of learning, discovery and engagement through intentionally connecting traditionally underrepresented and/or underserved undergraduates in a mentor capacity. This peer mentor program recruits 15 OADI signature program students (EOP/HEOP, Pre Professional Programs (P3), OADI Research Scholars (ORSP) and McNair Scholars) to serve as peer mentors to 15 first year and/or transfer student mentees. The OADI peer mentor program is focused on connecting those who seek access to opportunity and capital through identity-informed community building. OADI advising serves a diverse student demographic, specializing in supporting students who come from low-income backgrounds, students who are the first in their families to attend college, and under-represented students of color. Our peer mentor program will cater to students from these backgrounds and cultivate student leadership to support the transition of peers into and through the university. The program will enable peers to serve as role models, teach and reinforce skills for success through individual and group-based programming, and cultivate leadership skills for both mentors and mentees.

Through programing and intentional opportunities, students are exposed to and connected with EOP and HEOP alumni. This creates the opportunity for students to learn from and engage with people in the different career paths they want to pursue.

Through regular advising meeting, advisors inquire with EOP/HEOP students on how they are doing. They also use their vast network across campus to provide assistance when students need support. We encourage students to seek opportunities and regularly schedule activities that help to nourish and refresh students during the semester, ultimately working toward developing lifelong skills for creating balance. While we value each other’s similarities, we also take time to appreciate and celebrate each other’s differences. Our goal is to give resource support for their health and wellbeing needs in order to successfully transition to Cornell. At OADI they will find:

• A place to destress and relax
• Access to mindful workshops, and more

We strive to provide a variety of occasions where EOP and HEOP students are given space and time to connect with, learn from, and support each other. Current community programming we offer includes:

• Family Dinners: monthly community gathers to connect with peers and break bread together
• Events and Workshops: a wide variety of opportunities for students to engage and connect with peers
• Awards and Recognition: annual end of the year celebration for the achievements of our community. There are also several awards given in recognition of student efforts.
• New York State Opportunity Programs (NYSOP) State-Wide Conference: gathering of students from across opportunity programs at Cornell and other universities.

We encourage EOP and HEOP students to connect to and develop an understanding of the needs of communities both on and off campus. While we refer students to a wide range of community engagement opportunities beyond our programs, we also sponsor a few civic engagement opportunities specific to our EOP and HEOP community:

• Service Projects: students participate in activities throughout the local community to support efforts and be engaged citizens
• Advocacy Days: there are several opportunities for advocacy include two annual trips to Albany to meet with legislators and talk about EOP and HEOP and the importance they play in the student experience. There are also local opportunities to engage with representatives and participation in virtual efforts.