Transcript Educational Opportunity Centers … A federal program engaging and developing the low-income workforce through education and training ... Presented by: Dara Ware Allen, Diane Athanas, Ph.D. The.

Educational
Opportunity Centers
… A federal program engaging and
developing the low-income workforce
through education and training ...
Presented by:
Dara Ware Allen, Diane Athanas, Ph.D.
The Pennsylvania State University
Program Background
Educational Opportunity
Centers (EOC)
The Educational Opportunity Centers
(EOC) program is a federal TRIO
program. Initiated in 1972, EOCs
provide information, admissions and
financial aid assistance, and career
counseling to help adults, age 19 and
older, begin or continue a program of
postsecondary education. EOCs serve
low income, potential first generation
college students who are US Citizens.
2002 Statistics
Total Number of Participants: 217,836
Total Funding: $48,011,331
Average Cost per Participant: $220
Program Background
About TRIO
A series of educational support programs called TRIO emerged
from the United States Department of Education (USDE) in 1964
as a result of former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on
Poverty legislation. Initially three programs, hence the name TRIO
was coined, they were designed to assist low-income individuals
whose parents did not graduate from college to access higher
education in efforts to break social, economic, and cultural
barriers. TRIO has now expanded to include the following
programs:
•
•
•
•
•
Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs
• Upward Bound
Educational Opportunity Centers
• Talent Search
Veterans Upward Bound
• Student Support Services
Upward Bound Math/Science
Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement
Program Background
There are 139 EOCs in the
United States and its territories
Program Background
Penn State University, the Office of the Vice Provost for
Educational Equity, Academic Advancement Programs
(AAP) sponsors all of the following TRIO programs
Upward Bound (UB)
Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS)
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
College Assistance Migrant Program
Talent Search (TS):
• Western Pennsylvania
• York
Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP)
Student Support Services (SSS)
Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC):
• Southwestern Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia
Need for EOC
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics :2000-2010 projections
Professional and related occupations are projected to increase the
fastest and add the most jobs (7 million)
“Employment in all 7 education or training categories that generally
require a college degree or other post secondary award is projected to
grow faster than the average across all occupations. These categories
will increase from 29% to 42 % of the projected new job growth.”
Recent Welfare reform with its “work pays” and “get a job now”
approach does not address the true issue of people (often women)
ultimately obtaining only a low-paying, low skill job. “2/3 of these
former welfare recipients report earnings that are below poverty
level.”
David Pacchioli
Not by Jobs Alone
“Community Colleges are at the core of the workforce
and economic development world.”
Margaret Forde
Community College Journal July 2002
“We must ensure that
our whole population
receives an education
that will allow full and
continuing participation
in this dynamic period of
American economic history.”
Alan Greenspan
“The more highly educated a given workforce is, the
more productive it is likely to be”
Sarah Turner
Connecting Higher Education and the Labor Market 2002
Need for EOC
While the types of demand occupations have changed, the skills of the
workforce have not kept pace. Education and training of the existing and
emerging workforce are critical to bridging this gap. In workforce
development, EOC is the link between viable jobs and the untapped labor
pool: low-income adults.
EOC’s Role in Workforce
Development …What We Do.
EOC informs adults of career
trends, demand occupations,
and occupations in growth
areas to enable them make
more informed decisions about
their futures/careers. In most
instances, a minimum of
specialized training is required
for careers of interests and in
demand. On the job training is
rarely enough.
How does EOC Help?
EOC provides the following four core
services free of charge to program
participants:
•Career Counseling
•Admissions Assistance
•Financial Aid
•Referrals to GED programs and
testing centers
EOC Participants Speak
“The program is definitely needed…just the encouragement to keep going.”
-EOC Participant enrolled at Penn State University in Health Policy and Administration, Sonja
Ford, Pittsburgh, PA
“Many more resources exist that I was not aware of…[the] career decision survey
confirmed my career path. Wow, this was a lot of good, free information.”
-Careers Workshop Attendee, July, 2001
“Best information I have received!”
-Financial Aid Workshop Attendee: Isaac Moore, Pittsburgh, PA
“She [EOC Educational Counselor] gave me a lot of hope that I didn’t have before she
called.”
-EOC Participant working to resolve her defaulted student loan: Joyce Sheers, Pittsburgh, PA
EOC Participants Speak
"It is one thing to get lost, but it's another thing to stay lost. I am so lucky that the EOC was able to get me back on track"
-Norinda Rosario Norinda is currently going to Community College of Philadelphia and working part- time as a mentor
for high school students
" I would never have been motivated to go this far with out the support of the people at the EOC.”
-Virginia Mayo Virginia just completed her High School diploma after being out of school for 13 years.
" I am not sure exactly what made me go the the EOC, but if I hadn't gone there when I did, then I might have continued
the pattern of not going to school or work“ -Samuel Chappell Sam finished his BA in American Studies at Penn State
Abington and has been accepted to Widener Law school
" The future looks very promising, now that I am working towards my dream. I owe a lot to the EOC"
-Denise NunezDenise works part time and goes to Community College of Philadelphia. She is pursuing a career in
nursing.
" The people at EOC gave me the motivation I needed to move forward. Without their guidance I would not have
returned to work.“ -Than Lonh Than is a single mother originally from Cambodia. She is attending Penn State
University studying Human Development and Family Studies. She works part-time at the South East Asian Mutual
Assistance Coalition.
Collaborating Agencies/Partners
“…as a result of personalized assistance from EOC staff, many of our participants are better able to
access higher education and training, which will afford them achievement of life-long goals and an
improved standard of living.” -Collaborating Agency: James M. Stark, Executive Director, Fayette County
Community Action Agency, Inc.
“Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with our class on Friday. Your presentation was
informative, enjoyable, supportive, and encouraging. I hope you will be able to come back. Thank
you!” -Collaborating Agency: Nieves Stiker, Director, New Choices/New Options Program, Carlow College,
Pittsburgh, PA
“EOC has been instrumental in helping us service disadvantaged residences in the Hill District and
Oakland communities of Pittsburgh. EOC has provided much needed information and support in
helping our clients understand the role of higher education and its relationship to employment and
career tracks. The assessment process provided by EOC has helped them to match their talents,
desires and academic abilities with education and career options they had not been previously aware
of. This has made a great difference in their lives.” -Collaborating Agency: Darryl Daughtry, Director,
JobLinks
“I have unwavering faith in the staff of the Educational Opportunity Center and their collective ability to
provide information, guidance, and support that will encourage and motivate our participants to further
their education. There is no denying the need for such an important project.” -Collaborating Agency:
Ruth E. Smith, Project Coordinator, McKeesport Collaborative, McKeesport, PA
How does EOC Recruit
Eligible Adults?
Partnering
Agencies sponsor EOC workshops within their agencies for their customers and
many provide EOC office space to meet with participants. Community partners
provide numerous referrals to EOC for those seeking education and training as well
as other levels of support.
EOC is a community-outreach program that recruits eligible adults through a network
of satellite sites such as CareerLinks (Job Centers), state and federal programs
(SPOC, WTW), veterans resource centers and other community-based organizations.
Locate an EOC near you
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/trio/
Federal TRIO Programs
http://www.neoca.freeservers.com
National EOC association
http://www.trioprograms.org
Council for Opportunity in Education (COE).
http://www.ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education
How to write for an EOC Grant
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/trio/
Federal TRIO Programs
The next competition for EOC Program
will be in the Fall of 2005