EOPS Student Support

EOPS Dept. programs provide students individualized academic, personal, career, and transfer counseling. Students are required to make three contacts each fall and spring semester. Students enrolled in summer must make at least one contact. They must meet with a counselor from their program or within the department for their contacts. Contacts for the fall and spring semesters must be made at least 4-5 weeks apart. Contacts made two weeks before the term count as contacts for the main term.

Active EOPS, CARE, and CalWORKs students qualify for priority registration under Education Code §66025.91 and §66025.92. NextUp and Guardian Scholars students may also qualify as foster youth under §66025.9, but that statute only covers students whose dependency was established or continued on or after their 16th birthday and who are under 25, a narrower window than program eligibility itself. Student parents supporting a child under 18 qualify under §66025.81(b), regardless of program.

To activate priority registration, students must complete matriculation (orientation, assessment, and a Student Education Plan) and remain in good academic standing. Priority registration ends once a student has completed 100 degree-applicable units or already holds a bachelor's degree.

Only EOPS, CARE, and NextUp currently participate in the Book Voucher Program. CalWORKs students should work with the CalWORKs program to submit county-required ancillary requests and documentation for book and supply assistance. Guardian Scholars and Monarch Scholars are encouraged to seek support through Basic Needs resources.

NOTE: Before the Fall semester begins, students must attend an Information Session to be eligible for a Book Voucher.

Summer Term: Summer Book Vouchers are contingent upon funding and are by request.

Saddleback College provides free caps and gowns for its students, regardless of program participation.

Parking Permits are currently free for CCPG eligible students by selecting this designation during the payment process.

All EOPS/CARE & NextUp students seeking to transfer to a UC and/or CSU will be provided with admissions application fee waivers for up to 4 UCs and 4 CSUs.

CARE is an extension of the EOPS program. CARE serves as an educational support/assistance program for single head-of-household parents who are participants of the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids Program (CalWORKs)/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

EOPS/CARE & NextUp students are allowed extended tutoring for many of the subjects offered at Saddleback College, including but not limited to English, ESL, Math, and Sciences. Register for Tutoring 300.

As part of the EOPS Dept. programs, our students are primary candidates for many scholarships. Our counselors work with students to assist and guide them in searching for and applying for scholarships available to them.

Scholastically, EOPS/CARE & NextUp students excel. EOPS/CARE & NextUp students who wish to partake in the Alpha Gamma Sigma and/or Phi Theta Kappa honors societies will get their fee membership reimbursed.

Bus passes may be available to eligible EOPS/CARE & NextUp students. Bus passes are distributed on a needs basis; Students are to follow up with an EOPS/CARE & NextUp Counselor.

The EOPS Dept. partners with the Associated Student Government (ASG) throughout the year on events and giveaways for EOPS, CARE, CalWORKs, NextUp, Guardian Scholars, and Monarch Scholar Counseling students. We also welcome student feedback on events you'd like to see us pursue with ASG, so let a counselor or program staff know what would be meaningful to you and your family.