Citrus College EOP&S Reflects on Success, Prepares for Future

The Extended Opportunities Programs and Services office at , reported its successes last year, while outlining its future goals.

As part of a requirement by the California Community College Chancellor's Office, all EOP&S offices throughout the 112 community college system must submit an annual plan showing with the details described above.

The EOP&S/CARE office helps economically and educationally disadvantaged students complete their educational goals, according to Sara Gonzalez-Tapia, EOP&S, CARE and CalWORKs director.

EOP&S uses counseling, financial aid assistance and other services to help these students.

The office served roughly 576 students at Citrus in 2010. The office serves roughly the same amount this year, which is a significant drop from over 1,000 in 2008-2009, purely because of the cuts to categorical programs. EOP&S had its budget slashed nearly in half in 2009-2010.

All non full-time employees were also let go, leaving half of the 14 positions in the office vacant.

Despite this, the office has made headway.

Two skill awards, six certificates, 54 AA degrees and 34 AS degrees were awarded to EOP&S/CARE students during 2010-2011. Two students graduated with honors (3.3-3.59 GPA), five students graduated with high honors (3.6-3.79 GPA) and another five students graduated with highest honors (3.8-4.0 GPA).

The EOP&S office also implemented a program to address the number of students on academic probation.

"We devised a program that addresses having them to do supplemental contacts," Gonzalez-Tapia said. "They not only have to go to a probation workshop, but they also have to meet with our counselors for follow-up appointments."

Of the 11 EOP&S students on academic probation fall 2010, all students completed the workshop, 90 percent completed their follow-up appointments, 72 percent were able to raise their grade point average, while 55 percent cleared academic probation at the end of the semester.

Due to the worsening budget crisis Citrus College's EOP&S will receive the same level of funding as last year from the state, $590,207, in addition to a district contribution of nearly $146,700.

As far as future goals are concerned, the EOP&S/CARE office seeks to reinstate peer counseling as part of the campus' overall educational master plan and as part of the crucial accreditation process.

The office would also like to offer better guidance on establishing career paths for students by creating workshops, streamline the way students on probation are followed and taken care of and work in better collaboration with the DSP&S office to address policies that impact students in the EOP&S office.