Their commitment to serving the needs of our State's disadvantaged youth has been one of the best buys for the taxpayers of New York. HEOP has a success rate unparalleled in higher education nationwide. Fifty-three percent of HEOP students graduate. Twenty-five percent of these graduates go on to graduate and professional education. HEOP graduates are doctors, accountants, engineers, corporate executives, lawyers, and educators.
Studies continually document that higher education is the way out of poverty.
Serving the urban, suburban and rural disadvantaged populations, HEOP students come from every county in the State. HEOP students come from those populations traditionally underrepresented in higher education. HEOP students bring a diversity of cultures, life experiences and challenging academic needs to our campuses which enrich the educational possibilities for all students. HEOP is Endangered. Ironically it is not the commitment of the independent colleges and universities that is endangering HEOP but of the State of New York.