Penn State EOC Prepares For Take Off In Second Year

The 1996 U.S. Bureau of Census report might not make for exciting reading, but Diane Athanas has read it, and some parts of it made her sad. In that report, Athanas found that 871,000 Philadelphians do not have a bachelor’s degree.

"That constitutes 85% of the population, age 25 and over," she said. "It’s very surprising, and it’s on the increase – that’s the real sad part."

But it also encourages Athanas to want to continue to expand her efforts — and her successes — at the Penn State Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) in West Philadelphia. Now completing its first year of service at the West Philadelphia office, the Penn State EOC has helped more than 500 eligible people to improve their employment opportunities by augmenting their education.

"Our job is to help people enter and find funding for college or vocational school or to complete high school requirements, she said. "I think we’ve done very well in our start-up year. We’ve made a lot of connections in the community and throughout the neighborhoods.

"Once they leave high school, adults don’t have guidance counselors. That’s the gap we try to fill. The need is enormous for this type of career planning in Philadelphia," she said. "Since one of the key elements in Penn State’s mission statement is ‘service,’ I’m pleased that the EOC is doing its part in this community."

Arthur Lee Davis, a June 1999 graduate of West Philadelphia High School who hopes one day to own his own computer business, is one of the EOC’s satisfied customers. Davis missed taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) during his last school year, so he said he was forced to wait until January to take the college entrance exam. PSEOC counselor Milika Singleton helped him fill out the forms to take the SAT, and apply for student loans.

"Our job is to help people enter and find funding for college... or to complete high school requirements"

"She helped me out a lot. She’s a real nice lady," said Davis, who plans to apply to Connecticut College.

Athanas stressed that the Penn State EOC helps only with educational services, and not job placement. However, the type of career sought goes a long way in determining the educational path that might be suggested, she said.

Participants must be 19 years of age or older, and considered low income as determined by federal guidelines (under $25,050 for family of four), and/or be a first-generation college student, according to the U.S. Dept. of Education, which provided the grant for the free program.

But beyond the numbers, program participants must have something that can’t be readily measured — a fair amount of determination.

"People come to us because they need a change. They are looking for better employment. They are working adults with families. They want to finish something they started," said Athanas. "Most have at least part-time employment. They may have gone to community college and dropped out for family reasons. Some were not able to retain a job without a bachelor’s degree."

The center serves all of Philadelphia County, and Athanas said there are plenty of people out there who need assistance from PSEOC — enough to keep two full-time counselors, and two part-time recruiters/counselors busy for a long time. The staff anticipates doubling the number of people it will serve during its second year, including those who attend financial aid workshops at the West Philly YMCA, pre-GED programs in the Northeast, or other programs in the city.

The office also provides to its clients free web access so they can conduct computer searches for scholarships and jobs, or complete admissions forms on-line at the Center’s four computers.

EOC provides its services in cooperation with numerous social service agencies throughout Philadelphia County, including the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Community Services, the National School and Community Corps, and other community organizations.

The center, located on the second floor of the Center for Human Advancement at 4601 Market Street, in Philadelphia, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and by appointment on evenings and weekends.

The Penn State Educational Opportunity Center can be contacted by phone at 215-471-2240.

This story by David Jwanier, manager of public information for the Philadelphia campuses, first appeared in the Penn State issue of the Philadelphia Tribune this spring.