The Educational Opportunity Program

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is an academic department of Marquette University that assists first-generation college students, underrepresented students and students whose families meeting federally established income guidelines to succeed in higher education. EOP manages five major TRIO grants from the U.S. Department of Education, all of which share the common purpose of making a college education a realistic option for eligible students.

EOP College Programs

EOP administers two programs designed specifically to assist students while attending Marquette University.

EOP Student Support Services

EOP Student Support Services provide a network of services designed to increase the probability that each student succeeds in the university. Support services include need-based financial aid, a pre-freshman summer program, academic advising, specialized courses and tutoring, as well as personal and career counseling. Students may apply to EOP-SSS when they apply for admission to Marquette University, after completion of the Marquette application or even after beginning studies at Marquette. The majority of EOP-SSS students enroll as entering freshmen and participate in the EOP-SSS summer program. For application information, call (414) 288-7593.

EOP McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program provides services designed to encourage eligible sophomores, juniors and seniors to prepare for doctoral study. During the academic year, McNair Scholars participate in seminars, meet with visiting minority scholars and attend professional and undergraduate research conferences. In the summer, McNair Scholars receive eight-week paid research internships with Marquette faculty, visit graduate schools and enroll in a GRE preparation course. McNair Scholars are eligible for conference travel grants, research stipends, GRE fee waivers and admissions application fee waivers. For application information, call (414) 288-1771.

EOP Precollege Programs

College Bound Scholars

EOP also administers four Pre-College Programs—Upward Bound Classic, Upward Bound Math Science, Educational Talent Search, RISE, SOAR, and CHAMPS. These programs support, guide and empower first-generation, income-eligible young men and women as they strive for successful high school completion, post-secondary enrollment and graduation, and life-affirming careers and futures.

Upward Bound (UBC)

The Upward Bound Classic Program prepares high school students who are low-income and first-generation college students to enter and successfully complete college. The program works with students, their parent(s) and their school to help develop self-confidence, self-discipline and the responsible nature needed to build a strong foundation for high school, college and life.

Upward Bound Classic offers specialized classes, tutorials, college placement assistance, career development labs, academic and personal counseling, and social/cultural activities and trips. Students are recruited from the Milwaukee area during their eighth-grade year. For further information on UB, call (414) 288-7368 or email ub@marquette.edu.

Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS)

The Upward Bound Math Science Program prepares high school students who are low-income and first-generation college students to enter and successfully complete college. The program works with students, their parent(s) and their school to help develop self-confidence, self-discipline and the responsible nature needed to build a strong foundation for high school, college and life. The UBMS Program is designed for students with a serious interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Students are recruited from the Milwaukee area during their ninth-grade year. For further information on UBMS, call (414) 288-7368 or email ubms@marquette.edu.

Educational Talent Search (ETS)

The Educational Talent Search Program identifies and assists secondary students from diverse economic backgrounds and provides academic, career and financial counseling. The program seeks to increase persistence in and graduation from a high school with a rigorous curriculum for all project participants. ETS aim to increase participants ability to apply for admission and be admitted to postsecondary institutions, persist in and graduate from college. The programming and academic enrichment occur within target schools in the Milwaukee area. For further information on Educational Talent Search, call (414) 288-7368 or email talentsearch@marquette.edu.

Project RISE

The RISE Program helps develop an interest and prepare high school and middle school youth for higher education and STEM careers, including in technology and cybersecurity. The program provides college readiness services and academic enrichment with an emphasis on cybersecurity. The project involves Central City Cyber School middle/high school and Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy with an emphasis on students that would be the first generation in their families to go to college.

SOAR Cyber Explorers Program

Seizing Opportunities Academic Readiness (SOAR) Cyber Explorers program serves hundreds of District 4 middle and high school students and a subgroup of 50 Cyber Explorers, to include low-income and first-generation students enrolled in Milwaukee Public Schools, Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, Milwaukee Academy of Science, and Central City Cyberschool, all located in Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District. SOAR is a college and career readiness program that provides additional support for and expansion of EOP’s precollege programming. This project allows precollege students exposure to teaching and learning activities to spark interest in and develop skills for careers in technology, particularly cybersecurity, to follow a pipeline that supports their aspirations. Annual programming is 100+ hours in the SOAR Program.

C.H.A.M.P.S Male Mentoring Program

The mission of the C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program is to Educate, Empower and Expose Boys and Young Men of Color beyond the four walls of the school in order to help them to achieve their dreams and goals.

C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program envisions a safe environment for every young man by developing their mindsets through culturally relevant conversations and interactions that help them develop the skills and habits necessary to navigate life in a positive and productive way.