The EOPS Program at Sierra College provides low income and educationally disadvantaged students with support services that includes specialized counseling, financial aid, priority 1 registration, tutoring, assistance with purchasing books, and more. As a college success program, EOPS is designed to provide opportunities for students with academic potential, who historically would not have been able to attend college. Under the administration of the EOPS Program we also have the CARE and NextUp Programs.
CARE (Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education) Program For Single Parents
Another component of EOPS is the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program. This program provides educational support services for the academically under prepared, single parent population who are receiving benefits through CalWORKS/TANF and are EOPS eligible.
NextUp for Former Foster Youth
NextUp provides enhanced support services to eligible current or former foster youth such as housing assistance grant, emergency shelter assistance, additional funds to buy required textbooks, school supplies, specialized counseling and more.
Sierra College was among 1 of 10 Community College Districts in California that was awarded NextUp funding by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to provide additional/enhanced support services for foster youth entering postsecondary education. The purpose of NextUp is to strengthen the capacity of community college districts to support the higher education success, health and well-being of some of the nearly 13,000 current and former foster youth who are enrolled in California's community colleges.
In addition to receiving EOPS services, NextUp students at Sierra College will receive the following enhanced services:
- Emergency housing assistance
- Monthly CAFYES grant
- Additional funds to buy required textbooks/materials
- Additional funds to buy school supplies
- Monthly gas cards or bus passes, meal cards and grocery cards
- Specialized counseling and supportive success coach-advocate
Qualifications for NextUp :
- Be enrolled in EOPS; and
- Be enrolled in at least 9 units (or approved for less by DSPS); and
- Have court dependency/wardship status that was established or continued on or after your 16th birthday; and
- No older than 25 years of age at the beginning of the academic year.