About EOP&S
In 1969, Senate Bill 164 was enacted into law, establishing Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) within the California Community Colleges system. This action came about as a direct result of the civil rights activities and social unrest witnessed throughout the 1960s. Today, EOPS exists at 116 community colleges in California.
EOP&S is the original and longest-standing educational equity program in California. It is a state-funded program that offers educational support services and monetary awards to students who have been historically excluded and/or underserved due to language, social, economic, and/or educational system barriers and who are often among the first-generation in their families to attend college. The intent, purpose, and resources of the EOP&S Program are directed at assisting EOP&S-eligible participants in achieving their academic, enrollment, retention, transfer, and career goals.
The EOPS/CARE Program and its staff at American River College (ARC) provide care and support through core counseling services related to academic, personal, career, and short-term crisis support to help students achieve their goals and academic objectives. The services provided by the EOP&S/CARE Program are meant to support students over, above, and in addition to the services provided by the ARC campus to all ARC students in its general student population.
The program partners with student participants who voluntarily apply to participate for the duration of 70-degree applicable units (unless the participant is in one of ARC's EOPS/CARE Program high unit majors). The program services intend to reduce the likeliness of a student participant leaving college or not passing courses due to lack of support. The program offers high-touch-level services over and above the existing services available to all students at American River College.
The program partners with students who want and need extra support due to one or more of the following factors in their academic/personal profile: college placement results indicate below college-level English or Math placement or ESL courses; or previous enrollment in remedial educational courses; did not graduate from high school and did not complete a GED or high school proficiency test; high school GPA is 2.49 or below; are a first-generation college student (are the first in your family to attend a college/university or to complete a college degree); are a current or former foster youth; are part of BIPOC communities (people of color including, Black, Indigenous, Latine, or Asian communities); English is not the primary language spoken at home.