(BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, December 15, 2021) — SUNY Empire State College and Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center (Brooklyn EOC), celebrated a partnership agreement offering college degree options to the program’s students, graduates, employees and their family members. Brooklyn EOC’s tuition-free programs provide professional and educational training programs that lay the foundation for lifelong learning, college access, and economic self-sufficiency.

The partnership agreement with SUNY Empire gives Brooklyn EOC participants access to the college’s Corporate and Community Partnership Benefits Program. As part of the agreement, SUNY Empire will waive the orientation fee for incoming students and provide a $100 Better Together scholarship for Brooklyn EOC members who enroll in a degree-seeking program at SUNY Empire State College. 

All programs can be completed entirely online to fit the busy lives of working students. Participants will also benefit from SUNY Empire’s prior learning assessment, which awards college credit for relevant work and life experience, reducing the overall cost and time needed to complete a degree.

Brooklyn EOC participants may also qualify for one of SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs, which provide academic and financial support to underserved students who show promise for college success. SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs serve students at all stages of life and learning, full or part time.

SUNY Empire State College Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea said, "We are honored to support the work Brooklyn EOC does to help members of their community develop crucial educational and workforce skills. Providing access and opportunity is the key to unlocking student potential and building a foundation for lifelong success, and this partnership does just that. We look forward to working with Brooklyn EOC, and we are excited to welcome them to the SUNY Empire community.” 

SUNY Empire State College Senior Director of Opportunity Programs Dana Brown said, “With a significant number of our opportunity program students residing in Brooklyn, I am so pleased to partner with Brooklyn EOC. Having another resource to support our students is vitally important. This provides another opportunity to increase access to higher education and to provide students with the skills and preparation necessary to be academically successful. We look forward to working with Brooklyn EOC to increase supports and opportunities for success for students across the board.”  

SUNY Empire State College Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships Kylie Byrne said, “SUNY Empire is proud to partner with Brooklyn EOC. Our shared goal of supporting underserved adults as they take the next step in their educational journey will guide our work and empower our students.”

Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center Executive Director Jacinth Hanson said, “Brooklyn EOC is pleased to formalize our partnership with SUNY Empire. We encourage our students to commit to lifelong learning to improve their knowledge and earning potential. With its history of serving adult learners, SUNY Empire is a great place for our graduates to further their education. The flexibility in its programming and strong support services make SUNY Empire a great fit for our extended Brooklyn EOC community. We look forward to a very productive partnership as together we prepare and strengthen New York State's workforce.”