Who is Eligible to Participate in EOC?

The rules governing eligibility for our program are dictated by a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Eligibility for EOC services is determined by the following criteria:

CITIZENSHIP	Must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident Alien
AGE	Must be at least 19 years old
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE	Must reside in one of these counties: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Rusk, Sawyer, Trempealeau, and Washburn
INCOME STATUS	Must be considered low income, as determined by the U.S. Dept. of Education; based on taxable income and household size (Click here to see the guidelines we use)
FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STATUS	"First generation college" status means that the parent/guardian with whom you resided before your 18th birthday, had not earned a 4-year college (Bachelor) degree, or higher.
VETERAN STATUS	Veterans, regardless of age, are eligible for services, provided they satisfy the other eligibility requirements.
EDUCATIONAL STATUS	Adults must not have earned a Bachelor's degree
NEED	Overall established need for EOC services

Primary Target Groups

Although we provide free services to all eligible individuals, we do have a target population:

Individuals who are both low-income and "first generation" college adults (individuals whose birth or adoptive parents do not have a four-year bachelor's degree)
Displaced workers
Underemployed and unemployed workers
U. S. Veterans

Who says a college kid has to be a kid?

You are becoming a role model for your family, friends, or fellow employees. What you're experiencing and learning, both in content and survivorship skills, is worthy of respect...and you'll get it. The tone you set by prioritizing your time and study responsibilities will become a model for others to follow.

College is the time to struggle to learn a formula or a concept…it’s supposed to be hard. That’s how you learn to think, to problem-solve. Your boss probably won’t be as lenient or as helpful as your professors.

If I end up never being a biologist, I still wouldn’t trade my life in college. I learned so much about who I am…what makes me succeed and what makes me fail. It was an exploration of me…

The best gift you can give yourself or your family is an education. When you receive your diploma, most everyone will agree the sacrifices made by you and your family were worth the effort.

You can’t turn back the clock, but you can make up for lost time.

You are seeking a degree because you have decided that this is what you need to do to have the best life possible for you and your family. You are eager to learn, and that means you will be willing to do the work, as for assistance, and stretch your limits.

As you go further in your academic career, your life experiences will serve you well.