University of California, Santa Barbara, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) records, 1967-2005

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Educational Opportunity Program
Abstract:
The Educational Opportunity Program records are comprised of correspondence, reports, clippings, administrative and subject files, and other materials relating to the program. Includes materials on student affirmative action and the 1989 hunger strike.
Extent:
5 linear feet (12 document boxes and 1 oversize box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Item description, folder title, box number]. UCSB Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) records. UArch 20. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

This is the collection of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), formerly known as EOP/SAA (Student Affirmative Action). The collection is primarily comprised of materials from Pete Villarreal and Yolanda Garcia.

Arrangement

The collection contains the following series:

Series I: Correspondence, primarily correspondence to and from Villarreal from 1994-1996, organized chronologically. Also includes a large number of letters from El Congreso for which Villarreal was carbon copied.

Series II: Administrative Files, contains general structural information, mission statements, brochures, fliers, and budgets.

Series III: Meetings and Conferences Files, contains chronologically organized meeting notes, including notes from groups in which EOP participated or for meetings which EOP representatives attended.

Series IV: Subject Files, alphabetically arranged subject specific files as distinguished by EOP employees.

Series V: Reports, divided into reports directly related to EOP or SAA, UC based/originated, and externally generated categories. Most reports are related to student affirmative action. Filed chronologically. Highlights include reports leading up to and about the 1989 hunger strike, about affirmative action reform in the mid-1990s, and reviews of the UCSB student body.

Series VI: Newspapers and Clippings, primarily clippings related to EOP specifically or affirmative action generally.

Series VII: Audio/Visual Materials, open reel and VHS; housed off-site.

Biographical / historical:

From http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/eop/alumni/History/index.asp:

"The political volatility of the 1960's, created the context for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at UC Santa Barbara. Educational equity and social justice were themes that emerged from the Civil Rights Movement and civil unrest beginning with the Watts riots in 1964 and other movements that spread throughout the country, including major protests against the Vietnam War. In 1965, the EOP student numbers made up less than 2% of the 8,400 enrolled students (D. Leon). EOP at UCSB was created in 1966 and just completed its 38th year of service.

"EOP has continued to improve and succeed from its 3 students to its current 4,310 undergraduate students or 25% or the total UCSB population. The minority student population at UCSB in the late 1960's was less than 2%, and staff and faculty was less than that. The University was driven to place "inclusion" as a major goal and EOP was the first response to that goal. EOP was charged with the responsibility of recruiting, admitting and providing a variety of student support services to undergraduates which would lead from admission to graduation.

"During 1968 through the 1970s, the campus was involved in many student demonstrations regarding minority issues, as well as the Vietnam War. The minority students accused the University of not making a commitment to improve the campus for minorities and "self-determination" became the rallying charge to bring about institutional changes.

"As a result of student, faculty and staff involvement during this period, Black and Chicano Studies proposals were created and implemented and called for the formation of two Operational Research Units (ORU), Black and Chicano academic departments, and a public service component. EOP was viewed as the entity (with the student organizations) that assisted with the public service charge. With the continued pressure from the communities, EOP gained viability and validity and became a much stronger program with more institutional support.

"In 1970, EOP was divided into two components, one Black and one Chicano. Chicano EOP was relocated to Bldg. 406 where the Chicano research center and academic departments were located. The Black EOP Component remained at Bldg. 477, until its relocation to its present location in Bldg. 434. In 1975, the American Indian, Asian American and Other EOP Components were created to service these particular populations.

"In 1975, EOP supported the English Department in its efforts to offer a summer bridge program entitled the English Innovative Program to assist entering minority students with their preparation of the Subject A writing exam. In 1977, EOP received state funding and developed the Summer Transition Program. EOP also became the administrative home for the Upward Bound and University Partnership Programs (an aspect of the Early Academic Outreach Program). About this same time, EOP participated as a co-host and support unit for the Summer Session's High School Summer Juniors Program (recently known as Early Start and now Pre-College Programs). During this time period, EOP also hosted its own orientation programs for entering EOP students. EOP also offered internship opportunities to its students through it Special Projects (now Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities) effort. This program has since moved to the guidance of the College of Letters & Science.

"EOP hosted its first Parent Conference in 1988, and was part of a larger campuswide visitation program known as Super Saturday. The Parent Conference has been an annual and premier event showcasing the campus for EOP admits (and their parents) who may or may not have already committed to attend UCSB.

"EOP continues to host its summer bridge program, and it too, underwent its evolution - two separate Social Science (Summer Transition & Program) and Science Programs (Academic Enhancement Program [Engineering]) and later became a single program known as the "Summer Transitional Enrichment Program (EOP/STEP)." EOP student Engineering majors were eventually separated out to participate in a engineering-focused program called the Summer To Engineering Program (also STEP) under the auspices of the Minority Engineering Program (MEP) of the College of Engineering. This program then became the Engineering Summer Program (ESP) and ran simultaneously with EOP/STEP. Until 1991, EOP STEP was a 3-week program. STEP has been offered 2-week program but piggy-backed by a third week program entitled the Summer Institute for Math & Science (SIMS) for students interested in pursuing a math or science major. Ultimately, both SIMS and MEP/ESP were discontinued in 2003 as a result of cuts to the state budget. To make up for this loss, STEP 2004 has included a curriculum in engineering, math and science.

"In 1995, the Program of Determined Students (PODS) was developed to assist students in their transition to UCSB by helping students establish learning communities. This program continued until June 2003. Proposition 209 came about in 1997, and race and gender could no longer be considered as a preference within the state of California, changing the face of EOP as a component structure. However, EOP had already made internal programmatic changes prior to 1997. Presently, EOP consists of only one unit, not 4 or 5 distinct ethnic-based EOP components.

"In 2000, two programs, the First Year Experience (FYE) and the Continuing Student Services (CSS), were developed to focus on particular class level needs. The Instructor, Tutor, Mentor Alliance Program (IMAP) was developed to assist students in connecting with Academic Communities for Excellence (ACE) writing faculty and eventually evolved to include the Math Achievement Program (MAP) faculty. These programs were each discontinued in 2002 due to budget cuts.

"With what began as a program with both regular and special admit students, EOP is now a program accepting primarily regular admits, with the make-up continuing to be of first generation, low-income students. However, any campus student that wishes to use EOP services is welcome.

"EOP staff will be moving in the near future to a new and planned facility known as the Student Resource Building (SRB), near the Pardall corridor, close to Snidecor and the Events Center. This state of the art building will also house other Student Affairs departments which include Campus Learning Assistance Services (CLAS), Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS), Office of Student Life (OSL), Women's Center, Early Academic Outreach (EAO), Education Program for Cultural Awareness, Children's Center Satellite, Office of Greek Affairs, resource centers and a Graduate Outreach & Admissions Office."

Acquisition information:
Transfer from Y. Garcia/EOP, Aug. 2006
Physical location:
Del Sur, University Archives, 24B (Series I-VI); 30B (box 13); Annex 2 (Series VII).
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

None.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Item description, folder title, box number]. UCSB Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) records. UArch 20. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
Website