Materials in this collection document SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and other special programs for disadvantaged students. Prior to administering programs under the new EOP, which occurred around 1970/1971, some named programs were already in place. Examples of this include SUNY Binghamton’s Special Admissions Program, and New York State’s SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge) Program. This collection does include materials of relevance to the larger statewide programs. Implementation of these programs at SUNY Binghamton (now Binghamton University) is extensively covered, as well as those of some other SUNY schools.

The administration, planning, and evaluation of EOP and related programs is prominently featured in this collection. Common topics on these programs are in the areas of recruitment, admissions, orientation, curriculum, academic advising, extra-academic support and counseling, tutoring, financial aid and staffing. Reports, correspondence, and memoranda contain extensive evaluative information on the various programs.

This collection is relevant to the subject of minority students, particularly Black and Puerto Rican students, who were accepted into these programs in higher numbers than other demographic groups. Problems such as a lack of Black leadership and minority faculty on campus and the cultural and academic adjustment of students are discussed. The collection also includes some student survey materials.