12/19/2025
SUNY Cortland recently earned a $30,000 grant as part of a new State University of New York initiative that will benefit future teachers in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
The competitive grant was awarded to Cortland and several other SUNY partners as part of a goal to make teaching and nursing degrees accessible to more students.
The university’s share of funding will allow for extra aid to Cortland education majors already enrolled in EOP. The amount of aid the students receive will vary based on need. It will help with the costs connected to an education degree, including teacher certification and the expenses of student teaching, such as travel, work attire and equipment.
Students who meet the requirements of the grant will receive outreach through the university’s EOP office.
Kharmen Wingard M ’10, assistant director of EOP, applied for the winning grant and expects the money to promote education as a viable career path to more students.
“(It can) remove any kind of burdens or obstacles that our current students in the program may have,” Wingard said. “They receive the reassurance that they can do their student teaching without letting financial obstacles get in the way of that.”
Cortland’s program currently provides educational and financial support to 114 students who showed strong academic and personal potential but were at risk of missing out on a college education due to adverse circumstances.
In selecting students for the program, priority is given to applicants from historically disadvantaged backgrounds who are the first generation of their familiy to attend college. They enroll in the same coursework as traditional students and have access to financial assistance, a pre-first-year instructional program called the Summer Institute and EOP-specific counselors and tutoring.
Earlier this year, Cortland’s program was also among the first nine SUNY schools to be chosen for a new EOP Career Development Internship, and the only institution to have more than one student be selected.
To be eligible for admission to EOP, students must be:
- A New York state resident for 12 months prior to enrollment.
- Ineligible for admission under traditional standards, but demonstrate potential for completing a college program.
- In need of financial assistance within established income guidelines.
Email eop.office@cortland.edu or visit the program webpage to learn more about EOP at SUNY Cortland.