Summer EOP 2026

SUNY ESF Kicks Off Educational Opportunity Program Summer Program for Incoming Students

Program helps students build academic skills, campus connections, and confidence before the fall semester begins

07/08/2026

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — July 7, 2026 — The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) welcomed a new cohort of students to campus on July 6 through its Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Summer Program, an immersive experience designed to help incoming students build the skills, relationships, and confidence needed to thrive in college.

This year's EOP Summer Program began with 17 incoming first-year students from communities across New York state. The cohort reflects the diversity of the state, with students arriving from New York City, Long Island, Central New York, the North Country, and Western New York. Twelve students are from New York City, including five from Brooklyn, three from the Bronx, two from Queens, and two from Staten Island. Two students are from Long Island communities in Westbury and Huntington Station, while the remaining students come from East Syracuse, Rochester, and Elizabethtown.

The cohort will also be joined this fall by a student from Fulton returning to ESF after being called to military duty before the start of the fall 2025 semester, as well as a new transfer student from Brooklyn.

"At ESF, we are proud to welcome a new cohort of Educational Opportunity Program students and help them begin their college journey with the support and resources they need to succeed," said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. "We are grateful to SUNY for its continued investment in the Educational Opportunity Program, which has transformed the lives of generations of students by expanding access to higher education and fostering student success. Through this summer session, students will build academic skills, form meaningful connections, and develop the confidence to thrive at ESF and beyond."

For decades, EOP has expanded access to higher education across the State University of New York system, helping students overcome barriers, earn college degrees, and achieve their personal and professional goals. SUNY's continued investment in the program advances educational opportunity, equity, and upward mobility across New York state.

The annual EOP Summer Program introduces students to academic life at ESF while connecting them with faculty, staff, peer mentors, and classmates before the fall semester. Through a rigorous combination of three one-credit courses, tutoring, workshops, leadership development activities, faculty engagement, and community-building experiences, participants build a strong foundation for success at ESF. Program highlights include a family welcome session, a service-learning project at Brady Farms, field day, a Green Lakes adventure and cookout, a campus scavenger quest, and an end-of-program banquet and awards ceremony.

“The EOP Summer Program is what sets EOP apart from other opportunity programs,” said Divya Kirti, director of Opportunity Programs and EOP. “Rather than throw students into their first semester without any preparation, our Summer Program gives EOP students the opportunity to learn collegiate systems, get to know faculty, and experience a taste of college coursework at an introductory pace.”

Kirti said the program helps students build confidence, establish campus connections, and develop the skills needed to succeed before the fall semester begins.

As the newest EOP cohort begins its summer experience, ESF remains committed to creating opportunities for student achievement and ensuring every student has the resources needed to reach their goals.

For more information about ESF's Educational Opportunity Program, visit www.esf.edu.

About SUNY ESF

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.