The Nickel and the Nails

The Nickel and the Nails are fitting symbols for the Extended Opportunity Program and Services. Everyone's heard the phrase "not having two nickels to rub together," and so it is, either financially or in terms of educational opportunity, for students served by EOPS. But why a nickel and nail? As the story goes, a young man in the deep South was walking down a dirt road on the way to visit his lady friend, dejected by the fact that the nickel in his pocket was all he had to his name. But as he walked, he noticed two old horseshoe nails, twisted together into a knot, by the side of the road. He picked them up and put them in his pocket, thereby quickly gaining a little pride and dignity by having "something to jingle."

EOPS works to foster that same sense of pride and dignity, increasing students' self-esteem and motivation by making education more accessible, and educational success more possible.

What is EOPS?

Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) was established in 1969 as a social reform program of the California Community Colleges. The program's initiating legislation, Senate Bill 164 (Alquist), encouraged the state's community colleges to develop programs and services to meet the unique educational needs of "students handicapped by language, social, and economic disadvantages;" programs and services "over, above, and in addition to" the regular educational programs of the college. It is governed by Article 8 of the California Education Code specifically Chapter 2.5 of Division 8, Part VI of Title 5 of the State of California Education Code.

The purpose of these services was to promote the growth and development of students as individuals and their successful participation in college life. Our program began in 1969-70, the same year as the CSU system's EOP and the Cal Grant B financial aid program. It originally was an extension of the college's Financial Aid Office and has grown from serving 60-70 students in 1974-75 to over 1000 students today.

The mission of our program today is essentially the same since the creation of EOPS.