County College of Morris’ EOF Program Recognized as a “2022 Examples of Excelencia” in Education Finalist
A Leader in Intentionally and Effectively Serving Latino Students
Excelencia in Education, the only national effort to identify and promote evidence-based practices that help accelerate Latino student success in higher education, named County College of Morris (CCM) and its Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program as a finalist to the 2022 Examples of Excelencia in Education. The finalists are standout programs that share an aligned narrative around their goals, practices and evidence that show their intentionality and success in serving Latino students.
“This is such a huge accomplishment for the EOF program at CCM,” says Dr. J. Pamela Marcenaro, Assistant Vice President – Enrollment Management at CCM, “raising its profile to a national level.”
The EOF Program at CCM is a state-supported, comprehensive academic and financial support program that provides bilingual first-generation, low-income predominantly Latino students with the necessary tools to succeed.
“This includes providing a comprehensive holistic support system with pathways that begin from the college search process, as well as admissions and financial aid applications, through their years at CCM, to celebrating graduation and beyond,” says Marcenaro.
The college’s EOF services have grown to include recruitment, a summer bridge/college readiness program, parent orientations, individual academic/social counseling, pre-advisement, academic planning, transfer assistance, workshops, professional mentorship, online academic support and scholarships.
“At CCM,” says Marcenaro, “we strive towards transforming our EOF students into scholars, coupling that with high retention and transfer rates, including graduation rates within three years.”
Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia is building a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s need for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leadership. This Latino-led organization has steadily grown to become an authority in this field with a reputation as a national transformative leader and innovator in higher education by informing, organizing and compelling action. In 2019, Excelencia launched the Seal of Excelencia, an independent national certification for institutions intentionally serving Latino students while serving all. The 2022 Examples of Excelencia will be formally recognized at the Celebración de Excelencia in Washington D.C. this Fall.
To learn more, visit our EOF Program page.
