Extended Opportunity Programs + Services (EOPS)

HomeFinancial AidExtended Opportunity Programs + Services (EOPS)

If you feel like you need a little extra support, are worried about paying for school, or face other, related challenges, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) might be able to help you out.

It gives extra support to students who are underrepresented in higher education.

EOPS is a state-funded support program that assists low-income and educationally disadvantaged students in pursuing and achieving their educational and career goals.

510.215.3949
eops@contracosta.edu
Student Services Center, Room 106

Mon – Thurs | 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Contact the Welcome Center or visit department page for more specific operating hours.

Remote Zoom Services Hours
Monday -Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m

EOPS Students

Please check your InSite mail at least twice per day for updates, and keep these dates in mind. 

CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE  FALL 2024 ACADEMIC CALENDAR and Important EOPS Dates***
August 12EOPS counseling appointments are open to ALL continuing STUDENTS. Go to the EOPS office, website or call the number on the back to schedule your EOPS appointments.
August 24-25Fall Saturday/Sunday Classes begin
August 26First day of instruction
August 31-September 1NO S/S Classes
September 1Last day to drop full-term classes with eligibility for your fee refund or credit
September 2  Competitive CAL Grant priority deadline-FAFSA applicants who did not file by March 2 can file by this date. See financial aid or check out:  https://www.csac.ca.gov/calgrants
September 2-3No Saturday/Sunday Classes due to LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
September 2Holiday — Labor Day
September 6 Last day to DROP full term class with eligibility for fee refund or credit
September 6 (In person)Last day to drop full-term classes without a “W” appearing on your transcript.
September 7-8Fall Saturday/Sunday Classes begin
September 8 (on-line)Last day to DROP a full-term class without a “W” appearing on your transcript. 
September 8 (on-line)Last day to ADD a full-term class 
September 8Last day to add or adjust a variable unit course
September 9Census for full-term courses
September 23EOPS-Academic Progress Report information will be emailed to your Insite portal email. You can also get the information from the EOPS web page. Start setting up your online appts. with your instructors!
September 27   
New EOPS APPLICANTS:ALL EOPS documentation must be submitted 
 electronically into EOPS Intake/Orientation Form Link. You must be registered in 
all your designated units, all transcripts must be submitted from colleges you 
have previously attended and if you are in DSPS (Disabled Students Program 
and Services) program, your unit waiver must be submitted to our office.  
Documentation must be submitted by 4 PM. 
September 27EOPS –Highly recommended – Last day to complete your first EOPS Contact for new and continuing students. EOPS Counseling Appts. must be 15 business days apart. 
October 1FAFSA and CA Dream act applications open. They are due March 2. However, to increase your chances of getting the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG grant-up to $4,000 a year), submit your FAFSA/Dream act now or as early as possible. Go to https://fafsa.ed.gov/ or http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp
October 1CSU/UC application season begins for Fall 2025 admissions  
October 4EOPS –  The last day you can use your book grant or get reimbursed for your 
 books. Deadline is when the bookstore closes, so make sure you know the 
  bookstore hours! Be sure to use the Bookstore Shopping Cart for textbook
access codes.  https://www.contracostabooks.com   215-4958  Email: cccbookstore@contracosta.edu
Contact: Phone: 510-
October 11Holiday — Indigenous People Day
October 15Last day to petition to graduate for Fall 2024 term (go to InSite>Graduation Tile)
October 18  EOPS-Academic Progress Report (APR) is due at 11:59 PM. You must complete your APR online form for each course you are enrolled in. Your instructor will be notified to fill out their portion of the APR. After your instructor(s) completes their portion, EOPS will be electronically notified. All APR submissions will be communicated via email after you and your instructors submit the APR form. 
Oct 28 -Nov.15  EOPS Academic Progress Report Intervention Weeks If your APR indicates that you are not passing a class and/or there are comments indicating that you are experiencing academic challenges, your EOPS Counselor will be reaching out to you during this time. 
November 1EOPS – Highly recommended -Last day to complete your 2nd EOPS Contact for new and continuing students.  EOPS Counseling Appts. must be at least 15 business days apart and/or 3 weeks apart.
November 1CCC scholarship applications are open. Go to https://www.contracosta.edu/admissions/payforcollege/scholarships/
November 1Graduation Petition for spring 2025 graduates available online (Go to Insite<Graduation Tile)
November 1-30Appeal filing period for continuing and returning students with over 100degree applicable units or on 2nd semester probation or dismissal for spring registration 
November 7Fall 2024 Financial Aid Appeals must be submitted with all required documentation and attachments to be considered for reinstatement of financial aid.  https://www.contracosta.edu/admissions/payforcollege/satisfactoryacademicprogresssappolicy/
November 11  Holiday – Veteran’s Day  
November 15  Last day to withdraw from a full-term course with a “W” appearing on transcript
November 18-19EOPS-Priority registration for spring classes! Check your INSITE to see when your time opens. Make sure to register no later than midnight on the 2nd of these two days.
November 21-24Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 23 – 24No Saturday/Sunday courses
November 30CSU/UC Application Deadline for fall 2025 Admission (varies per institution)
December 6EOPS – Highly recommended – Last day to complete your 3rd EOPS Contact for new and continuing students.  EOPS Counseling Appts. must be at least 15
December 6business days or 3 weeks apart. Last day to request Pass/No Pass for full-term classes (See deadlines for shortterm classes, login onto Insite>select “My schedule”).  You can talk to your instructor and counselor about the Pass/No Pass option. 
December 9-13Final examination week
December 13Last day of instruction for Fall 2024 (Full-term M-F classes)
December 14-15Saturday and Sunday classes end
December 18Grades due for full-term classes

* IMPORTANT NOTE: For short-term classes, the dates to add, receive a refund, or drop are calculated individually for each course based on the length of the course. Therefore, these dates are not included in this calendar. Your “My Class Schedule” on InSite and/or on the roster for the course will include those dates. You may also check with your professor. ** The Student Success Program includes assessment, orientation, and completion of an educational plan  *** Students may register online until 11:59pm, the day prior to the first-class meeting.

**** Important EOPS Dates are in bold and/or italics. This calendar does not replace dates communicated by email.

Important Contact Information Daily EOPS Remote Office Hours Office hours currently held through Zoom.

Note Office hours on Zoom: 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Select the link or call 16699006833, ID#719314028# US (San Jose)

 Must complete 12 units your first semester in EOPS and 9 units every semester thereafter unless you have submitted a D.S.P.S. unit waiver thru fall 2024

To cancel, schedule or reschedule appointments, call the EOPS Front Office:   (510) 215-3949 or (510) 215-3902 or eops@contracosta.edu If they do not answer right away, call back again or leave a VM.

Or cancel, schedule or reschedule online: 

https://www.contracosta.edu/student-services/eops-care

To discuss your EOPS eligibility or status, contact your case coordinator:

Chau Tran (For students whose last name begins with A-L)

EOPS/CARE Case Coordinator, (510) 215-3939

CTran@contracosta.edu

Sarn Saepharn (For students whose last name begins with M-Z)

EOPS Case Coordinator, (510) 215-3940

SSaepharn@contracosta.edu

Counselor and Student Review

Checklist to maintain EOPS eligibility to avoid 

losing your EOPS book voucher and/or avoid EOPS ALERT status

Part 1:  Three (3) counselor appointments. With your EOPS counselor each semester (Fall/Spring).

1.  Optimally, a counseling appointment ought to be one month apart.  They must be at least 15 business days apart under extenuating circumstances.

2.  A student who see a counselor 3 times per semester will be in good standing.  If a student misses one of the three counseling appts. he/she will be placed on EOPS ALERT.

3.  If a student misses all three counseling appts. he/she will be exited from the program.

4.  Life happens! By policy, EOPS students are allowed to reschedule counseling appointments twice per semester. (Practically speaking, there is no guarantee of available appointments.  EOPS appointments fill up fast)

5.  24 hour notice for appts. cancellations:  Please give EOPS/CARE Office 24 hours notice.  If not, the appointment will be marked as a “No Show” in the EOPS Office.  Call 215-3949 to cancel or reschedule.  Be patient. The front office is busy.

6.  If you show up more 10 minutes late your EOPS counseling appts, your EOPS counselor many see a drop in student and you may have to reschedule, so please come to your appointment on time.

Part 2:  Priority Registration

1.  You must register for your classes on PR dates.  To find your PR ; Check InSite, the EOPS page on the CCC website, or ask your counselor for priority registration dates.

2.  Effective Fall 2014: new and continuing fully matriculated EOPS students in good academic standing will get priority registration.

3.  Good academic standing means that:

-A. You are not on academic or progress probation for 2 consecutive terms.

-B.  You have not completed 100 degree-applicable units.

Part 3:  Units Per Semester

1.  We want you to progress, to comply with EOPS regulations, you must complete a minimum of 12 units your first semester and a minimum of 9 per semester thereafter, unless you are DSPS.

Part 4:  DSPS Waiver:

1.  If you are a DSPS student, you may receive a unit waiver to take fewer than the 12 or 9 units per semester.  It is your responsibility to get the unit waiver from the DSPS Office at the beginning of each semester.

2.  There is a deadline each semester for approving unit waivers.

3.  The EOPS Office has a deadline each semester for receiving unit waivers.  See “important Dates” on the EOPS web page.  It is usually about 6 weeks after instruction starts.

4.  If the student does not follow the unit recommendation given by the DSPS Office, the student will be held responsible for the EOPS mandated unit requirement the same as a “non-DSPS student”.  For example, if the unit recommendation for you that year is between 3-7 units, and you decided to take more than 7 units, the waiver is “VOID” and you will be held to the EOPS minimum of 9 or 12 units, depending on the term.

5.  Students with a certified disability must show progress toward their educational goals.

6.  DSPS students are required to enroll in at least 3 units in a given semester in order to receive EOPS services.

Part 5:  70 Degree-applicable units and or associate or a bachelor’s degree

1.  Once a student has completed 70 degree-applicable units or associate degree, the student is not eligible for the EOPS/CARE program.

2.  Remedial and non-degree units are not added toward your 70-degree applicable units.

Part 6:  EOPS Student Alert (We know you are doing your best)

1.  But if for some reason, you do not fulfill the EOPS requirements as outlined in the mutual responsibility contact, you will be placed on EOPS program alert status and will receive book grant support only after you comply with all requirements.

2.  We are still here for all other services.  If you follow through on everything, it is easy to get off EOPS program alert status.  While you may not get book support while you are on alert status, you are eligible to receive all “other” support services; Counseling, academic alert (progress report), priority registration, field trips, workshops, cap and gown, etc.

3.  EOPS students who complete their EOPS Program requirements as stated on the MRC are in good standing and will receive book support.  If not, then they will be placed on EOPS program alert and may not have book support the following semester.

4.  If for some reason, a student from the EOPS program and can reapply to the EOPS program after a year has passed, We welcome you to apply again after a full academic year.

Part 7:  EOPS/CARE Student Alert Status (which prevents you from receiving the book support or the CARE grant)

1.  Please consult with the EOPS/CARE Case Coordinator for additional review.  Your Case Coordinator’s information is on the EOPS page on the website.  If, after meeting with the case coordinator, you are not satisfied with the decision, you may ask to speak with the EOPS/CARE Program Manager for additional review.  S/he will review your case if the circumstance was beyond your control. (you are required to submit documentation)

Part 8:  CARE Program (We know being a parent is demanding when you are student)

1.  If you are a CARE student and you happen to be on EOPS probation services only, you will receive the CARE grant when you are back in good standing with the EOPS program and enrolled in required units.

Part 9:  Double Dipping for the book grant (The state does not allow)

1.  EOPS students who receive book grants from other state sources, such as the State Department of Rehabilitation or county social services department, unfortunately, are not eligible for the EOPS book grant.

2.  A student who are not eligible for the book grant can receive EOPS book services such as eligibility for the EOPS scholarship, counseling, parking permit or bus pass (if available) priority registration, academic alert, field trip, workshops, etc.

Part 10:  International Transcripts

1.  International transcripts must be evaluated by an academic professional evaluation service before applying for the EOPS/CARE Program. 

2.  If you wish, you may use these services for international transcript evaluations. Academic and professional international evaluation (APIE) phone#: (562) 594-6498 or website: www.apie.org

Part 11:  English as a Second Language (ESL)

1.  Students who are eligible to enroll in Level II and above ESL courses are eligible for the EOPS programs.

Part 12:  New EOPS/CARE Students

1.  All students entering the EOPS/CARE Program who have post-secondary transcripts with grade point average below 2.0 GPA will be placed on “alert status” with services if accepted into the program.

Part 13:  Check your “E-Mail” Daily

1.  All communications from the EOPS program will be delivered via college InSite portal email.   

2.  The EOPS/CARE Program may send confidential information to you and will assume the contact information you provide is strictly for you only.  EOPS/CARE is “not” liable for breach of confidentiality if you have given someone else access to your mailing or email address.

3.  We respect you.  For marketing purposes (photographs/ videotaped), we want to show who we are.  The materials will be used for outreach purposes and promotion of the EOPS/CARE program only.

4.  If you don’t want to be photographed or videotaped, you need to let us know at the time of this event.  (Your request to not be photographed or videotaped will be honored)

EOPS/CARE Policies and Procedures are subject to change per the discretion of the EOPS/CARE Director, Title V guideline, EOPS Implementing Guidelines, or Budget Restraints.

EOPS/CARE Office: 11/2023-PP

EOPS students are required to meet with a counselor three times per semester. The appointments should be no less than 15 business days (three weeks) apart.


  • Book vouchers
  • Counseling
  • School supplies
  • Calculator and textbook loans
  • Priority registration
  • Parking permits
  • Bus passes
  • Transfer scholarships
  • Transfer application fees
  • EOPS scholarships
  • Useful workshops

It also hosts some pretty cool activities throughout the semester, including a summer academy where you get to visit cultural destinations like museums and universities.

And—maybe most important of all—it offers regular chances to connect one-on-one with your instructors. That can be a real advantage when it comes to understanding the material and getting higher grades.

Thanks to all that support, EOPS students are more likely to succeed than they otherwise would have been. For example, in recent years, EOPS students have been as much as 20% more likely than other students to stay in school.



How to Qualify

To use EOPS services, you have to be:

You also need to identify yourself as having at least one of these educational disadvantages:

But, the application is a lot easier than you would think. Almost everything is self-reported, so you won’t need a high school transcript or tax forms.


How to Sign Up

Just do the following (if you haven’t, already):

  1. Apply to attend Contra Costa College
  2. Apply for federal student aid or California Promise Grant fee waiver
  3. Submit all transcripts from any colleges you have previously attended to the Admissions & Records Office. (If you can’t get an official transcript because you owe fees, an unofficial one will work for now.)
  4. Complete and submit the EOPS application

If you need help or have any questions about EOPS or how to apply, come by the EOPS/CARE + CalWORKS office, or give us a call. We’d be happy to help.


Summer Academy

The EOPS Summer Academy is sponsored and administered by the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) department. It helps students develop the skills and tools necessary to succeed in college. We connect students with peer mentors who provide guidance in helping to make the adjustment and rigor of the college life a little smoother. Summer Academy students also have the opportunity to visit cultural destination like museums and universities. The purpose of this academy is to assist high school seniors and re-entry students transition into higher education. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for college level academic studies.

We’re Here to Help

Charles Ramirez

Director

EOPS, CARE, CalWORKs + NextUp

Leticia Mendoza

Outreach Coordinator

Extended Opportunity Programs + Services

Chau Tran

Program Coordinator

CARE / CalWORKs

Sarn Saepharn

Program Assistant

Extended Opportunity Programs + Services

Culoz (Ms. Cookie) Davis

Administrative Assistant II

Extended Opportunity Programs + Services

Sabrina Cruz

Administratie Assistant II

Extended Opportunity Programs + Services

Ivette Jimenez

Program Assistant

Extended Opportunity Programs + Services

Dionne Perez

Counselor

Extended Opportunity Programs + Services

Natasha Lockett

Counselor

EOPS / CARE

Julie Skoler

Counselor

EOPS / CARE

Peer Mentorship

Taking the first step into the college environment can be challenging.

EOPS/CARE/Calworks peer mentors are here to provide guidance in helping to make the adjustment and rigor of college life a little smoother.

Peer Mentor Coordinator: DeEboni Herron Noureddine

Contact: eopspeers@contracosta.edu