***ANC***
MANY FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS of color WANT TO FINISH THEIR FOUR YEARS OF
COLLEGE WITHOUT SUFFERING HURDLES.
ON SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS, THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT ARE CHANGING
THE LIVES OF MANY LOW-INCOME STUDENTS BY BRIDGING THE EDUCATION GAP FROM
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND IT ALL STARTS IN THE BASEMENT IN THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICE. [:23]
***AICHA SACKO***
MARIA LOPEZ WAS A STUDENT SUCCESS SERVICE ADVISOR AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY FOR
13 YEARS.
BUT, BEFORE WORKING FOR THEM, SHE WAS A STUDENT IN THE PROGRAM. [:13]
(SOT 1)
If it was not for SSS I would not have completed my degree at Syracuse university. [0:06]
MARIA GREW UP IN THE BRONX WITH HER MOTHER, SISTERS,BROTHER IN LAW, NEPHEW
AND NIECES.
HER MOTHER WAS THE PRIMARY INCOME EARNER FOR THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD.
WHEN MARIA WAS ACCEPTED INTO SYRACUSE, SHE HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH FINANCIAL
AID BILL. [:21]
(SOT 2)
I came to college with the support of my mother but not knowing how the balance will get paid. [0:06]
AFTER HER FIRST SEMESTER IN COLLEGE, MARIA GOT A DEVASTATING MESSAGE FROM HER
FAMILY. [:05]
(SOT 3)
I received a message from my sister stating that we were pretty much at the point of eviction, and it
wasn’t clear how I was going to be able to go back to school in the fall. [0:15]
MARIA MET A STUDENT FROM THE SSS PROGRAM AND SHE SHARED WITH HER ABOUT HER
FINANCIAL BURDENS.
THAT STUDENT TOLD HER TO SPEAK WITH DIRECTOR OF S-S-S BOB WILSON. [:10]
(SOT 4)
I was like who is this bob [0:02]
SOT 5:
You remember Maria right?… “very well, yes yes” [:05]
(SOT 6)
Maria had significant strengths and talents. [:03]
BOB SAID SHE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO
SPACE AVAILABLE.
BUT, THAT DID NOT STOP Maria FROM MEETING WITH HIM REGULARLY AND BEING
PERSISTENT
ONE DAY, MARIA GETS AN UNEXPECTED MESSAGE.[:19]
(SOT 7)
I received an email from bob to come and see him| and he told me that I was accepted into the program
and that my 5000 dollar balance was turning into a 67 dollar refund. [:15]
(PAUSE)
SOT 8
I cried, which my family was relieved to know that I was pretty much going to be financially secured [:08]
(SOT 9)
she was on top of the list when there was a space available. And we were very happy to enroll her into
the program. [:07]
MARIA SAYS IT IS DIFFICULT FOR LOW INCOME FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS TO GET TO
COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY OFTEN DON’T COME FROM AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGE
THEM TO APPLY TO COLLEGE. [:11]
(SOT 10)
The simple answer to that is there is no equity in the beginning. [:04]
CRAIG TUCKER IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM.
THE SSS AND HEOP PROGRAM IS LOCATED IN THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES. THEY ARE
WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL.
CRAIG ALSO AGREED WITH MARIA. [:19]
(SOT 11)
That’s huge; that’s a big barrier… but that’s the beauty of HEOP. I say HEOP more-so because we get to
look at those issues. [:10]
CRAIG, MARIA, AND BOB ALL SAID THE SAME THING.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES FINACIAL AID, CAREER COUNSELING, AND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICE ALL ACROSS COLLEGE CAMPUSES, BUT THE ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT THE SAME FOR
EVERYONE. [:10]
HEOP AND SSS IS BRINGING EVERYTHING INTO ONE, SO THAT FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS
AND LOW INCOME CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEPARATE EXPERIENCES.
[:09]
(SOT 12)
But our students, giving them the opportunity to come here, access to this place, with their support, helps
them build the foundation that they can stand strong on. [:10]
MARIA IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMS IN THE OFFICE OF
MULTICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT.
SHE OVERSEE THE OUR TIME HAS COME PROGRAM. IT’S A SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT
CREATES COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS. [:17]
(SOT 13)
It really is, I think, a wonderful wonderful story. 9:28 [:04]
AICHA SACKO, N-C-C NEW
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Maria Lopez was on the verge of dropping out of Syracuse university until she heard of a program called Student Support Service.
Lopez’s family was facing financial hardships causing her family to be on the verge of eviction. Her mother was the primary income earner for the whole house.
It was unclear how Lopez was going to attend college.
With persistence and consistent communication, this program turned her $5000 balance into a $67 refund.
“If it was not for SSS, I would not have completed my degree at Syracuse University,” Lopez said.
SSS is a first-come-first-serve program that provides financial assistance, tutoring, and counseling for first-generation students, low-income students, and students with a disability.
Bob Wilson, the director of SSS and Lopez’s advisor, said she had significant talents and strengths.
“She was on top of the list when there was a space available,” Wilson said. “And we were very happy to enroll her into the program.”
After Lopez graduated college, she became an SSS advisor for students who were in the same predicament as her.
Lopez said one of the main problems of attaining higher education for low-income and first-generation students is the lack of support through the K-12 model.
She said when students do not have support from their families, college counselors, and teachers it can be a hurdle to get to college.
“What I try to do is be relatable to them. To let them know that I understand this is a challenging experience and validate what they’re going through,” Lopez said. “But, also I’m inevitable about making sure that they have solutions to the challenges they have.”
Craig Tucker, the director of the Higher Education Opportunity program, said both higher education programs are important because they are bridging connections together to let students be successful, regardless of their separate experiences.
“Giving them the opportunity to come here, access to this place, with their support, helps them build the foundation that they can stand strong on,” Tucker said.
The HEOP and SSS programs are in the Office of Student Services.
The counseling model that both programs use is getting involved in the student experience to understand their overall needs.
There are similar support services that exist across college campuses like academic counseling, financial aid services, and career services. HEOP and SSS bring all those initiatives together for low-income and first-generation students.
Lopez is now working in an administrative position after being an SSS advisor for 13 years. She is the assistant director of scholarship programs in the multicultural advancement office.
She oversees the Our Time Has Come program at Syracuse University. It is a scholarship program that provides support for underrepresented students.
Wilson said Lopez has a nice circular story because she came from a low-income- first-generation family and then enrolled in the program that was designed to be supportive for her, to eventually work for the same program that saved her college degree.
Now, Lopez continues to be an influence through the administration.
“It really is, I think, a wonderful, wonderful story,” Wilson said.
