91ÉçÇø

From the Desk of the EOP director

Dear EOP alumni and friends,

Around this time, 30 years ago, I was packing my bags to join the incoming EOP first-year students for the 1996 91ÉçÇø Enrichment Program (BEP) in O’Connor Hall, Dickinson Community, for a new and unfamiliar six-week experience. I brought four rolls of quarters for the pay phone to stay in touch with my family and one book of postage stamps because I promised my younger brother that I would write him a letter each week. I had never been away from my family for longer than one week and I truly could not imagine how I would be okay without them.

That July, I ended up using my quarters in the vending machine to buy snacks for my roommate and a few of my friends who lived on the third floor, which we called "The Penthouse," because that was the mural on the corridor wall — if you know, you know. I never joined the line at the one and only phone booth outside the RA office, which was always too long. Instead, I used my stamps to write letters to my parents. My little brother did get one letter from me that first week, but between all the things to do, papers to type in the computer pod, and campus places to explore, I did not have enough time to feel as lonely as I thought I would.

What I worried about most before BEP, as a reserved, first-generation college student and eldest daughter who was used to helping hold things together at home, was meeting new people and not having anyone to connect to. Those worries proved to be non-factors over the next six weeks. What BEP did well was make me feel like this place was for me — I had a network and belonged here with my peers — and that we would need each other to get through the summer and the semesters that would follow. That is the truth, no embellishment needed.

As I prepare to speak at EOP Orientation for 185 new students and their families, I try to recall those early feelings because they make my description of BEP so authentic. Those reflections keep me grounded in this work, especially when the work gets challenging.

EOP continues to evolve while remaining grounded in its original mission: expanding access to higher education for talented students who have the ability, drive, and promise to succeed. But change does come. This admissions cycle, SUNY implemented a centralized financial review process for all EOP applicants. This marks a significant shift in how economic eligibility is reviewed and confirmed across the SUNY system, and EOP applicants no longer have to be financially verified separately at each campus to which they apply.

Also, this year, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. implemented a new requirement for our first-year students: the graduating class of 2030 must all complete a SUNY-defined high-impact practice before graduation. With funding provided by SUNY, even more EOP students will have access to internships, research, service learning, leadership opportunities, and other meaningful experiences that help ensure they graduate not only with a degree, but also with the experience, confidence, and professional preparation needed for life beyond 91ÉçÇø.

To the newest EOP graduates of the class of 2026, we shout our congratulations to you! We proudly celebrate 109 students who reached this important milestone at 91ÉçÇø. Their achievement reflects years of persistence, growth, academic commitment, and the support of a community that believes deeply in their success. Their glow-up has been amazing to witness. 

Among this year’s graduates were 13 students from the Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, representing the continued growth and excellence of the EOP Engineering Opportunity pilot program, which focuses on the retention of our Watson students. That is a big deal! We also celebrated graduates from the School of Management, including five students who will continue at 91ÉçÇø through the 4+1 graduate program and are expected to complete their MBA next May.

Each graduate represents the power of opportunity, determination, and community. We are proud of who they are, what they have accomplished, and the many ways they will continue to carry the EOP legacy forward. 

Thirty years later, I still believe what BEP taught me in O’Connor Hall: this place is for us, and we need each other. Thank you for being there, for remaining connected to EOP, for celebrating our students, and for helping us carry this legacy forward.

Walk boldly, 
Karima Legette '01, MA '05
Director, Educational Opportunity Program
any time.