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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
SCHOLARS
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A Historical Overview
THE FUND
The
Educational Opportunity Scholars Program at Drew University is a
partnership between the New
Jersey Commission on Higher Education Educational
Opportunity Fund
(to be referred to as the Fund) and Drew University. This
partnership relationship between an institution of higher education and
a state
regulatory agency is unique in both its character and practice. It
is unique because
of its history and the scope
of accomplishments that have been achieved during its
thirty year existence in providing access to a college education for disadvantaged
students. It is also unique because it provides its participants
with professional
support services along with financial
assistance. Other programs in other states
primarily provide their participants with financial assistance as the main
source of
support New Jersey's commitment to the complete and total development of
its
program participants, over the years, has earned it the distinction of
being a leader
in the education of disadvantaged students. Since the Fund's inception
in 1968,
well over 30,000 students have earned a college degree or certificate,
thus allowing
them to break the cycle of poverty and improve the economics of New Jersey
and
the nation.
The Educational Opportunity Scholars (EOS)
Program at Drew enrolls as a target
goal, twenty first year students per year. These students are required
to participate
in our six week Summer Academic Enrichment Program before beginning the
fall
semester. For the current academic year, there are twenty two (22)
first year
students enrolled through the program. Students in the summer enroll
in course
work to assist in their transition and adjustment from high school to college.
The
summer program is residential and students are aided in this process through
the
assistance of a Summer Program Staff or Peer Counselors/Tutors. Participants
in
this year's program earned eight (8) college credits towards their degree
and a
grade point average of 2.961.
Overall, the EOS Program at Drew University has been very successful in
accomplishing its primary mission of providing access and opportunities
for
students to earn a college degree and to break the cycle of poverty of
which
many of them have been enmeshed. [The current average family income
for
students in the EOS Program is $15,661 in contrast to the average family
income
for New Jersey residents which exceeds $55,000]. In its twenty eight
(28) year
history, the EOS Program has assisted over 240 students in earning their
degree
from Drew University.
The following information provides a profile of student performance for
the
completed 1997-1998 academic year:
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95% earned a cumulative grade point
average of 2.00; of that group,
58% earned acumulative grade point
average of 2.70 or better.
-
There was a credit completion rate
achieved of 93% [earned v attempted].
-
26 students earned dean's list recognition.
-
12 students were inducted into the
Epsilon Omega Psi Honor Society.
-
8 students were honored for their Academic
Achievement by the
New Jersey Commission on Higher
Education.
The Drew Educational Opportunity Scholars (EOS) Program supports talented
and
motivated--yet financially and academically disadvantaged--students from
New
Jersey in their study at Drew, a culturally, ethnically diverse college
where every
student has an equal chance to succeed. Through the EOS program,
students
grow academically and personally as they gain a new, expanded view of the
world.
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Copyright
© 1999 Drew University, Educational Opportunity Scholars Program