LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Higher
Educational Opportunity Programs in New York State

WHEREAS, The State of New York is renowned for its centuries-old tradi-
tion of excellence and diversity in education and for the place of para-
mount importance which education holds for the people of the State; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commemorate the
50th Anniversary of Higher Educational Opportunity Programs in New York
State, whose achievements and endeavors further enhance excellence in
education, and whose students join us today to protect these programs
for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
is an educational program approved by the New York State Legislature
which serves New York State residents who are both academically and
economically disadvantaged; and
WHEREAS, HEOP provides a broad range of services to New York State
residents who, because of academic and economic circumstances, would
otherwise be unable to attend post-secondary non-public educational
institutions; and
WHEREAS, In 1966, the Governor and the Legislature approved a bill to
provide access to higher education for the educationally and econom-
ically disadvantaged students in New York State; and
WHEREAS, The program known as Search for Education, Elevation, and
Knowledge (SEEK) was begun at The City University of New York (CUNY);
the College Discovery Program, which was already in existence at commu-
nity colleges in New York City, was continued, and the State University
of New York (SUNY) started the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP);
and
WHEREAS, In 1969, legislation established the Higher Education Oppor-
tunity Program (HEOP) at independent colleges and universities in New
York State; in 2006, the Governor and the Legislature approved a name
change in honor of the important role former Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve
played in increasing access to higher education in New York State; and
WHEREAS, These programs are designed to meet the special needs of
students from disadvantaged backgrounds; among the strategies available
to meet these needs are testing, pre-freshman summer programs, coun-
seling, tutoring, coursework, and financial assistance; and
WHEREAS, In general, students in opportunity programs are individuals
from families with low incomes, with high potential for successful
collegiate experience but who have not acquired the verbal, mathemat-
ical, and other cognitive skills required for collegiate level work; and
WHEREAS, Generally, their grades fall in the bottom half of their high
school graduating classes; they are students who have not earned Regents
diplomas, are assigned to high schools which have poor records for
developing students, or have been tracked or scheduled into general,
commercial, or vocational high school programs; and
WHEREAS, Opportunity programs are available for students living in
urban and rural areas; they are available at two and four year levels,
at public and independent colleges, and in every academic discipline and
career field; and
WHEREAS, Students are selected without regard to age, color, religion,
creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin,
race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orien-
tation; and
WHEREAS, With just cause and true purpose, this Legislative Body is
pleased to recognize the significant assistance of New York State Higher
Education Opportunity Programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Higher Educational Opportunity
Programs in New York State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Higher Educational Opportunity Programs in New York
State.