HEOP Works! Higher Education Opportunity Program Broadens College Choices
A buzz of excitement filled the air as Student Leadership Network’s CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) team welcomed over 50 high school seniors across the city to its Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) Panel at East Side Community High School.
HEOP and CollegeBound Initiative
CBI launched the annual HEOP Panel almost 10 years ago in collaboration with William “Woodg” Horning of Cornell University and Bill Short from St. Lawrence University. “We love working with CBI staff,” said Bill, “because they are so dedicated and knowledgeable about how HEOP works and how it can change a student’s life.” HEOP is named after former New York State Assembly member Arthur O. Eve, who championed educational equity through legislation. HEOP partners with private colleges and universities in New York State to provide a range of support services to eligible students who, due to educational and economic circumstances, might not otherwise be able to attend college. “As a proud HEOP graduate from NYU, I want all of the young people here to learn about how this program can support your path,” said Rob Robinson, Senior Managing Director of Student Leadership Network.
The event allowed students to spend quality time with HEOP directors from eight colleges and universities. “We want to create a space for students to discover new and familiar schools, and not write them off just because they’re private colleges and the tuition on the website seems intimidating,” said Ingrid Selman, Associate Director of CBI. “HEOP’s academic, financial, and social support services can help them achieve their college goals.”
At the event, CBI staff and DCCs intentionally matched students into meeting rotations with colleges based on their interests and academic backgrounds, with a final rotation open for students to approach any college table they wish. One student shared, “It was different talking to the HEOP reps compared to the regular college fairs. I felt I got more out of it, especially about the true cost of college and the community I’d find. It confirmed a few of the options on my list that I want to apply to.”
A Holistic View of the Whole Student
The power of HEOP lies in viewing students holistically. “If I earn a high SAT score and I’ve had years of paid tutoring to get there, and you didn’t get a high score and couldn’t afford SAT prep courses, then we have different starting points to get to those results,” continued Bill. “That’s why we look at the entire student’s circumstances and their potential when paired with St. Lawrence University’s HEOP supports.” Students who are admitted to HEOP have unique experiences that support their college path, one being a signature pre-college summer program. “Students always grumble about spending six weeks of their summer with us,” laughed Craig Tucker, Director of HEOP at Syracuse University. “Then they all tell me it was the best time of their lives, bonding with people and creating that network of friends and staff.”
While each institution runs HEOP independently and have separate admissions requirements, a common thread was their palpable passion for helping students succeed. Colleges and universities often pair academic support with counseling, tutoring, and other services.
Edith Wormley, Director of HEOP/AOP at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, said, “We also support the social and emotional pieces of being in college, as a whole person.” She shared that HEOP at her college includes considerations for students’ transportation home for the holidays and generous financial aid packages, so that working in the first year of college is a choice rather than a necessity.
With a community of educators dedicated to their success, CBI students left the panel event informed about their options and actionable next steps in their college journey. Special thanks to all of the directors of opportunity programs for sharing their guidance with our students!
- Madeline Masi, Clarkson University
- William “Woodg” Horning, Cornell University
- Edith P. Wormley, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
- Heidy Padilla, Keuka College
- Rachel Morrison, New York Institute of Technology
- Temi Pedro, New York University
- Bill Short, St. Lawrence University
- Craig Tucker, Syracuse University
