EOPS and CARE

Meet Online with EOPS via Starfish (Current EOPS Students Only)

Welcome to EOPS

Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) is here to assist you in making your college experience successful. Getting through college is not an easy task, especially when you try to do it alone! Since 1969, EOPS has been a California state funded program that provides an accessible and rewarding college experience to low income students facing various barriers to academic success. We provide a support network of West Valley EOPS counselors, dedicated staff and fellow students to help you stay focused on your educational path and reach your goals more quickly. If you meet academic and financial eligibility requirements, you may qualify for the broad range of support services and opportunities offered by our program.

NextUp logo

NextUp is a new program at West Valley College that provides extra services for foster and former foster youth who were in foster care at least one day after their 13th birthday. NextUp offers services that will help you stay in school so you can realize your educational goal.

  • First-day Priority Registration
  • Academic, career, and personal Counseling
  • Book Grants for required textbooks for WVC Classes
  • University transfer process assistance and UC/CSU application fee waivers
  • EOPS Grants (funding permitted)
  • Assistance with scholarship applications and letters of recommendations
  • Study area with computers, and printer
  • EOPS student success workshops, activities and campus tours
  • Basic school and test supplies
  • Graphing calculator loans
  • Additional services and referrals to community services

CARE Services available for eligible single parents receiving TANF:

  • Additional financial assistance for books, school supplies, transportation and meals
  • CARE grants and academic achievement grants (dependent upon state funding)
  • Workshops for single parents
  • Opportunities to create support networks
  • Assistance with social service issues
 

EOPS Eligibility and General Requirements

EOPS is open to full-time students who are considered low-income and educationally disadvantaged and facing various barriers to success. You will need to qualify by both income standards and educational background standards.

To qualify for EOPS you must:

  • Be a California resident. AB540 students are eligible to apply.
  • Be enrolled as a full-time student at West Valley (minimum of 12 units, with exceptions considered for students with a verified disability)
  • Have fewer than 70 units of degree applicable college credits

Financial Disadvantage

Be identified as having an economic and educational disadvantage by qualifying for either:

  • The California College Promise Grant Program (formerly Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program) – Refer to table below for income standards
  • TANF, SSI or General Assistance

Education Disadvantage

Be educationally disadvantaged as defined by state guidelines by meeting one of the following criteria:

  • Not qualified for enrollment into the minimum level English or mathematics course that is applicable to the associate degree at West Valley College
  • Did not graduate from high school or obtain the General Education Diploma (GED).
  • Graduated from high school with a grade point average below 2.50 on a 4.00 scale
  • Previously enrolled in remedial education.
  • Other factors determined by the EOPS Director, using state guidelines

Steps to Apply for EOPS at West Valley College

  • Apply to West Valley College
  • Complete and submit the West Valley College EOPS Application
  • Register for a West Valley College Orientation (or show completion from another college if transferring to West Valley)
  • Complete the application for the California College Promise Grant Program (formerly Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program)
  • Complete and submit the West Valley College EOPS Application
  • Transcripts are required from previous colleges for eligibility purposes. Unofficial transcripts are accepted.
  • One of our helpful staff will review your application and let you know your eligibility.
  • You are welcome to use EOPS computers to complete your application and print required documentation.

If you are eligible for EOPS, you will be required to attend an EOPS New Student Orientation prior to the beginning of each semester.

If you are a single parent receiving TANF or CalWorks, you may be eligible for our CARE program. Talk to the staff person assisting you with your EOPS application for more information.

2023-24 California College Promise Grant (CCPG) Type B Income Standards

(Formerly Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program)

Family Size
(including yourself)
Base Year Income
(adjusted gross income and/or untaxed income)
1 $20,385
2 $27,465
3 $34,545
4 $41,625
5 $48,705
6 $55,785
7 $62,865
8 $69,945
Each additional family member $7,080

5CCR § 58620: Student (dependent or independent) household income in the prior year equal to or less than 150% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines for a family of that size.

5CCR § 58620(b)(1)(F): For purposes of this subdivision, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines used each year shall be the most recently published guidelines immediately preceding the academic year for which a fee waiver is requested.

See US Department of Health and Human Services for more information.

EOPS Services

An EOPS counselor is available for EOPS students after the student is accepted into the program. Our counselors provide personal, academic, and career counseling. EOPS students are required to meet with their EOPS counselor three times each semester.

EOPS is one of the groups that are given priority registration over all other students. Priority registration happens in Fall and Spring semesters. To be eligible, students must complete a campus orientation and have a Student Education Plan (SEP) on file.

EOPS Counselors can assist you in determining your tutorial needs and assist you in getting services at the campus Tutorial Center. The Net Tutor Online Tutoring Program provides 24/7 services for all WVC students.

Students receive counseling and advisement that helps to ensure a successful transition to the four-year college or university of your choice. Our counselors work closely with you to make sure you are on track to transfer. We also sponsor university campus visits to learn more about student life at the university. EOPS students are eligible for up to four UC/CSU application fee waivers.

EOPS offers various student success workshops, activities, and opportunities each semester. Workshops are offered based on student feedback and include sessions on Managing Stress, Test Taking, Note Taking, Time Management, Study Skills, and Transfer Preparation.

We have a study area exclusively for EOPS students equipped with computers and printer.

We get to know our students throughout their time with EOPS. Our counselors and staff are a resource for letters of recommendation. Please review the short video on how, why and when to ask for letters of recommendation.

Financial Services

EOPS Book Funds are provided to students in the form of an EOPS Book Fund Grant. EOPS Book Funds amount varies depending on program funding. Funds are provided for fall and spring semesters to students who:

  • have completed an EOPS New Student Orientation (new EOPS Students)
  • attend a Welcome Back Session (continuing students) or complete their first EOPS Contact
  • signed an EOPS Mutual Responsibility Contract
  • are progressing academically.

First Day EOPS Book Fund Grant

EOPS New Student Orientation (new students) sessions and a Welcome Back session (continuing students) are scheduled prior to the start of the semester in time to be awarded a First Day EOPS Book Fund Grant. Students who don’t make those sessions will receive their grant later in the semester after they have attended an EOPS New Student Orientation (new students) or completed a first contact (continuing students).

EOPS Book Funds are meant to purchase required textbooks for classes that you are enrolled in during the current semester.

NOTE: West Valley College no longer has a bookstore on campus. Barnes and Noble is now a virtual bookstore. See more information.

Create a Course Materials List

Creating a Course Materials list will allow you to determine what you need to buy, what you can borrow from the WVC library, and to find the least expensive options online. Students can search for their required texts and materials online through the virtual bookstore.

EOPS End of Term Grant

EOPS End of Term Grants may be offered in semesters when funding permits. To be eligible students must meet the requirements of the EOPS Mutual Responsibility Contract, including three counseling contacts with an EOPS Counselor.

EOPS keeps basic school supplies on hand for students in need. Notebooks, pens, pencils, binders, blue books, and scantrons are available at the front desk.

EOPS End-of-Term Grants may be offered in semesters when funding permits. To be eligible for this grant, students must meet the requirements of the EOPS Mutual Responsibility Contract, including three counseling contacts.

EOPS students are eligible for up to four UC/CSU application fee waivers. Private school applications and additional waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis. Meet with your counselor before you are ready to begin the application process.

Cap and gowns are provided for students who participate in the WVC Graduation, Transfer and Certificate ceremony. Inform your counselor you plan to participate in the ceremony.

We honor our students who have met their WVC education goals at an evening celebration. This is a special night in May where students and their families are celebrated for goal attainment, including degree awarded, transfer requirements completed, and certificates earned.

Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE)

CARE banner

Open the door to opportunities with CARE

CARE is a program designed to help single-parent students succeed in college. Because we realize that attending college and being a single-parent can pose many challenges, we will help you to achieve your educational goals.

CARE Eligibility

  • Receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Be a single-parent, head-of-household, as determined by social services

CARE Benefits

  • CARE Grants
  • Academic, Career and Personal Counseling
  • Referrals to on and off campus resources
  • Transportation Assistance

EOPS/CARE Staff

Bickie Choy

Bickie Choy

EOPS
EOPS Counselor

(408) 741-2422
bickie.choy@westvalley.edu
Student Services Center 207H

Rosa Coronado

Rosa Coronado

EOPS
Program Specialist

(408) 741-2687
rosa.coronado@westvalley.edu
Student Services Center

Amy Gutierrez

Amy Gutierrez

EOPS
NextUp and EOPS Counselor

(408) 741-2529
amy.gutierrez@westvalley.edu
Student Services Center

Virginia Marquez

Virginia Marquez

EOPS/CARE
EOPS/CARE/NextUp and CalWORKs Director

(408) 741–2593
virginia.marquez@westvalley.edu
Student Services Center 207

Marta Mora-Evans

Marta Mora-Evans

CalWORKS Program
CalWORKs and EOPS Counselor

(408) 741-4007
marta.mora-evans@westvalley.edu
Student Services Center 207E

Tania Pichardo

Tania Pichardo

EOPS
Office Coordinator

(408) 741-2503
tania.pichardo@westvalley.edu
Student Services Center

EOPS Counselors available for 30-60 minute appointments during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Call (408) 741-2023 or stop by the EOPS office to schedule.

Forms

EOPS is no longer accepting applications for Fall 2023.

Steps To Apply for Extended Opportunity Program and Services

  1. Complete and submit the online application.
  2. Provide copies of transcripts for all other colleges previously attended. Unofficial transcripts are accepted.

DACA Resources

Important Dates for Fall 2023

Fall 2023 Semester: August 26 -December16

Date Event
Saturday, August 26 First day of classes
Sunday, September 10 Last day to ADD a semester-length class
Sunday, September 10 Last day to DROP a semester-length class without a “W” and with a refund
Saturday, September 23 Deadline to Petition for AA-T/AS-T Degrees for Spring 2024 Transfer
Saturday, September 23 Deadline to Petition for Fall 2023 graduation
Friday, November 17 Last day to DROP a semester-length class with a “W”
Last day of instruction before finals Last day to submit Pass/No Pass grading option for a semester-length class
Monday, December 11 – Saturday, December 16 Final Exams

Holiday Closures

Date Event
August 25 All College Day
September 4 Labor Day
November 10–11 Veteran’s Day Holiday
November 23–26 Thanksgiving Holiday
December 18–31 December Holiday
January 1 New Year’s Day Holiday
3 Contact Dates – Fall 2023 Semester
Date Contact
Thursday, September 28 1. Create/Review Education Plan
Thursday, October 26 2. Mid-Semester Progress Meeting
Thursday, December 7 3. Schedule Planning & Review for Next Semester

Office Hours

Location: Student Services Center 207
Day Hours
Monday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Closed on all campus holidays.
Contact Information
Last Updated 2/8/24