The Civil Rights Movement and the Fight for Educational Opportunity
During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, a growing concern emerged: many capable and motivated students were being denied access to higher education.
These students dreamed of earning a four-year university degree, but faced significant barriers, limited financial resources, unequal access to quality schools, and a lack of academic support. Many came from inner-city communities where schools did not have the resources to prepare them for college.
In addition, many of these students were the first in their families to pursue a university education, meaning they often had no guidance or role models to help them navigate the college application process or campus life.
The 1968 Student Movement and the Birth of EOP
In 1968, students across California began demanding greater access to higher education and equity on college campuses. Through sit-ins, demonstrations, and strikes, they brought national attention to these issues.
One of the most significant protests took place at San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University) during the spring of 1968. The strike, which lasting five months, the longest student-led strike in U.S. history, involved students, faculty, and staff working together to demand change.
The strike leaders called for:
- A special admissions program for underrepresented students of color
- 400 reserved admission spots for these students
- The rehiring of Juan Martinez, a faculty member and strike leader
- The creation of six to seven new faculty positions to support the special admit program
- The removal of ROTC from campus
Most of these demands were met, except for the removal of ROTC. The university went on to hire several new faculty members, and Reginald Major became the first EOP Director at SF State.
Around the same time, similar EOP pilot programs began at other campuses. In 1969, the Harmer Bill (SB 1072) established EOP as a state-funded, systemwide program, expanding access to higher education for thousands of underrepresented students across California.
EOP’s Early Struggles Across California
In the early years of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), directors across the state faced major challenges in establishing their programs.
Dr. Bert Rivas, former Associate Dean of Student Affairs at the CSU Chancellor’s Office, recalled that EOP directors often struggled to gain recognition and legitimacy on their campuses during those conservative times.
Although the Harmer Bill provided statewide funding for EOP, there were few clear policies or guidelines to follow. Each program’s success depended largely on the creativity, persistence, and leadership of its local director and on the support (or lack thereof) from campus administrators such as the President or the Directors of Financial Aid, Admissions, and Relations with Schools.
In many cases, EOP directors had limited authority or resources, making it difficult to fully carry out the program’s mission. Still, their dedication laid the foundation for the strong, student-centered EOP programs that exist today.
EOP in the 1960s: Building Access from the Ground Up
In the late 1960s, EOP played a major role in expanding access to higher education for low-income and underrepresented students. Dr. Bert Rivas noted that during this time, EOP recruited between 75% and 95% of all low-income minority students across the CSU system.
However, the early years were filled with challenges. There were no consistent systemwide procedures for admitting students who didn’t meet traditional university requirements. As a result, many EOP directors had to personally advocate with Admissions offices to secure spaces for their students.
Recruitment was also difficult. The university’s Relations with Schools (RWS) office, which oversaw outreach, took a very conservative approach and often restricted EOP’s efforts to reach students directly. In fact, during the mid to late 1960s, many campuses discouraged or even banned the use of the word “recruitment.”
Instead, EOP staff were limited to participating in formal information meetings organized by RWS. These events were held only a few times a year at select locations that were not always accessible to high school students. This made it extremely challenging for EOP to connect with the very students it aimed to serve.
Despite these obstacles, EOP leaders remained committed to their mission, opening doors to higher education for students who had long been excluded.
EOP in the 1970s: Moving Toward Unity
Before 1973, EOP programs across the CSU system were divided by ethnicity. Each campus operated separate programs and budgets for Chicano and Black students, meaning students received support only within their assigned group. Asian American and American Indian students often had to seek services from one of these two programs, even when their needs were different.
Recognizing the need for a more inclusive and unified approach, Dr. Bert Rivas led efforts to bring all programs together under one director on each campus. This change marked an important step toward making EOP a truly multi-ethnic and collaborative program, focused on supporting all underrepresented students in achieving their educational goals.
EOP in the 1980s: Facing New Funding Challenges
By the mid-1980s, funding for EOP programs began to change. When the Harmer Bill first passed, EOP funds were protected, meaning they could only be used for EOP students and services. But over time, those funds became “touchable,” allowing campus presidents to decide how EOP’s operational dollars were allocated.
While many campuses continued to provide similar funding, others reduced EOP budgets year after year, even as the need for EOP services kept growing. Unfortunately, some campus leaders did not allow EOP programs to expand in proportion to the increasing number of students who could benefit from them.
Despite these challenges, EOP staff and directors remained committed to supporting students, continuing to advocate for the resources needed to help them succeed.
Where EOP Is Today
For more than 55 years, the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) has helped students gain access to higher education, achieve academic success, and earn their degrees. Rooted in a tradition of equity, empowerment, and innovation, EOP continues to change lives across California.
Today, EOP support services are available on all 23 CSU campuses. Each campus tailors its program to meet the unique needs of its students, but all share the same mission: to support low-income, first-generation college students who have the motivation and determination to pursue a university education.
In 2024, EOP celebrated its 55th Anniversary with a statewide conference honoring the students and activists who helped shape California’s history through education, activism, and social justice. The celebration recognized those who opened the doors to higher education, those who continue to carry that mission forward today, and the future leaders who will guide the next generation.
For a more detailed look into the SF State College Strike, please visit the archives at Welcome - SF State College Strike Collection (sfsu.edu)