Educational Opportunity Center
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Virginia State University the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Program grant effective September 30, 2011. The EOC is one of the federal TRiO Programs designed to identify and provide services to individuals from disadvantaged/underrepresented backgrounds. The program serves and assist low-income, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities. The VSU EOC will serve 1000 participants annually in the cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg; and the counties of: Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry, Sussex and the United States Combined Army Support Command (CASCOM) and Fort Lee Military Installation.
The EOC will provide counseling and educational information to those who desire to enter or re-enter postsecondary education. The goal of the EOC is to help adults enroll in GED programs, and/or pursue education beyond high school. All program services are FREE and include the following:
- Referrals to Adult Basic Education and GED Classes with the Southside Programs for Adult Continuing Education (SPACE)
- Information about local colleges, universities and Adult Education Centers
- Assistance with college admissions applications and scholarship search
- Assistance with career planning
- Interest inventories
- Vocational information
- Resume’ assistance
- Assistance completing the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Assistance understanding financial aid, federal and state loan programs
- Assistance understanding Student Aid Reports (SAR)
Eligible EOC participants:
- Must be 18 years and older
- Desire to continue their education
- May need to earn a high school diploma
- Have not earned a bachelor’s degree and have parents who have not completed a bachelor’s degree
- Are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- Must live in the target area listed above and/or
- May be military connected (Veteran, spouse and/or child)
The EOC staff is excited about serving the tri-cities and Central Virginia target areas and supporting the overall mission of Virginia State University. To invite an EOC representative to conduct a presentation or should you have questions, please contact the EOC office at 804-524-5566 or email the Director, Gertrude Taylor at gtaylor@vsu.edu
Important Documents
- Upward Bound Newsletter, Fall/Spring Edition - June 17, 2022
- Upward Bound 2019-2020 Handbook
- 50th Anniversary Flyer
- Upward Bound Application
- Upward Bound Essay Form
- Counselors Recommendation Form
- Recommendation Form for Teachers
Virginia State University
Educational Opportunity Centers
#3 Jackson Place, P.O. Box 9040
Virginia State University, Virginia 23806
804-524-5566 (office)
804-524-5142(facsimile)
Staff
Gertrude H. Taylor, Director
gtaylor@vsu.edu
Rahmat Frimpong, Program Coordinator
rutsey@vsu.edu
Jesika Smith, EOC Counselor
jsmith@vsu.edu
Makeda Markland, Administrative Assistant
mmarkland@vsu.edu