WELCOME TO THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER
The purpose of the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is to find and identify students who have dropped out of high school or who never attended/didn’t complete post-secondary training and who wish to return to school. The program philosophy is that all individuals should have equal access to secondary completion and postsecondary enrollment. The program aims to assist individuals in overcoming barriers to education and is funded by a Department of Education TRIO Grant. We are funded to serve 850 students annually from Coffee, Geneva, Dale, and Houston counties, two-thirds of whom must be low-income and first-generation students. The program also seeks to work with veterans, active-duty military, and their families.
Information and assistance with topics such as completion of the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA), career exploration, college application completion, scholarship research and application, budgeting, loan repayment, high demand skills, test prep, high school completion/adult education enrollment, and post-secondary enrollment can be shared with participants in either group or individual settings. EOC staff members will engage with high schools and community agencies in their four-county service areas to identify potential participants. EOC has offices housed at Enterprise State Community College on both the Enterprise and Ozark campuses.
OUR GOAL
TRiO’s Educational Opportunity Center at Enterprise State Community College aims to provide you with the best services from point of contact to your successful enrollment in a post-secondary school of your choice. We are also committed to increasing the number of Educational Opportunity Center participants who enroll in post-secondary education institutions.
ELIGIBILITY
You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible non-citizen. You must also meet any of the following criteria:
- First-generation (neither parent has a four-year bachelor’s degree)
- Low income (based on federal guidelines)
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Desire to enter or continue a program of post-secondary education which includes:
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State colleges
- Universities
- Technical schools
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- Veterans, the homeless, and those covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act
SERVICES
As a participant, the Educational Opportunity Center offers you assistance with:
ADMISSIONS
- Information on educational institutions within the region, state, and United States
- Completion of college or vocational/technical admissions forms
- Choosing a program of study including referral to GED
- Transferring to an upper-level college or university
FINANCIAL AID
- Explanation of the financial aid process
- Completing and filing financial aid forms, including Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines Pell Grant funds
- Information about how to apply for a college work-study position
- Information on searching and applying for local, state, and private scholarships and grants
- Referrals for information on reconciling defaulted student loans
EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER EXPLORATION
- Assessments to discover your career interests
- Discussion of careers that match your interests and aptitude
- Information on colleges and vocational/technical programs related to your interests
- Information on selected careers, including job descriptions, employment trends, and wage forecasts