The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) is a state sponsored program available to students who have the will and desire to go to college, but need additional academic and financial support.
EOF was established in 1968 by the New Jersey State Legislature and the efforts of Freshman Assemblyman, Thomas Kean, and began at the County College of Morris in 1969. Since its inception, the EOF program has grown to serve over 13,000 students at 28 public and 13 independent colleges across NJ. Currently, 12.5% of first time /full – time freshmen who enter NJ state colleges and universities each Fall are EOF students.
Congruent with the institutional mission of CCM, the EOF program provides a gateway to higher education for students who are challenged academically and financially. EOF is an academic support program with a financial aid component to help students defray the cost of their education.
The program provides comprehensive services designed to foster persistence to graduation, academic achievement and personal and leadership development opportunities. In addition, it performs a pipeline function to facilitate the pursuit of educational goals at a four year institution, career goals in the workplace, cultural awareness, and citizenship responsibility as future leaders in the community and in the global society.
EOF services begin with a mandatory week and a half summer orientation for all new students to help them make the transition to college easier and to promote academic and personal success.
The summer orientation offers seminars in reading, writing and math, along with advisement, academic assessments, and networking opportunities with CCM community. Throughout their time at CCM and as EOF participants, students will receive continuous individual counseling sessions, tutoring services, careering, transfer support, academic development workshops, and online academic support.
In addition to academic support services, EOF students will be awarded a state grant which will be added to their financial aid package to assist in covering the cost of their education. EOF admissions and state grant eligibility decisions are made at the campus level, within the context of state regulations.
The EOF team at CCM believes that strong student support, translates into a lifetime of success and they are committed to providing a nurturing, supportive environment, which encourages intellectual growth and helps prepare the student to become a productive citizen.