The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) provides resources and a support system for students in academic and financial need.
St. Bonaventure University’s Arthur O. Eve HEOP Program (HEOP) is a comprehensive program, jointly sponsored with the state of New York, to assist in providing access for all New Yorkers to the state’s private colleges and universities.
This
program is designed for students who have the potential and interest in furthering their education but due to certain life circumstances, financial and educational, higher education may not have initially been an option.
Our HEOP staff works
to make sure that each student’s individual needs — academic, personal and financial — are met through counseling, tutoring and a comprehensive financial aid package.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a resident of New York state for at least one year prior to enrollment in HEOP.
- Must be a high school graduate or have passed a New York State General Educational Development (GED) test.
- Meet academic and economic guidelines.
Academic Guidelines
A student's academic profile, including high school grades, college board scores and academic history should indicate that he/she would not be admissible under St. Bonaventure University's regular admissions standards, but demonstrate the student's potential
for success at the university level.
Economic Guidelines
A student must meet the Financial Guidelines established by the New York State Education Department, with appropriate support documentation.
Financial requirements for first-time students
Economic guidelines can be reviewed by downloading our 2024-2025 HEOP Financial Eligibility Guidelines.
The economic guidelines mandated by the State Education Department of New York are set up according to the number of people in the household. Adjustments are made for families with two workers, one-parent families, and families with unusual and
extenuating circumstances. Students must be New York state residents and meet other eligibility guidelines. Please contact the HEOP office at 1-800-462-5050 or HEOP@sbu.edu for further information.
Students and families must be able to
provide extensive documentation of their income including, but not limited to, copies of: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); parents’ and student's 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ, and W-2 forms; Social Services Documentation; Social Security
form 1099; and verification of child support. All must be signed by appropriate persons and include the total amount of income received in the prior-prior year.
The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities.
HEOP Application Process
Complete St. Bonaventure University's admission application; be sure you check the appropriate HEOP box on the second page. Apply Now.
- Submit at least two letters of recommendation, preferably from your guidance counselor and English teacher.
- Submit an official high school transcript or copy of GED scores.
- Submit SAT or ACT test scores.
- Submit a brief essay highlighting the major events which have influenced your education and the reasons for desiring a college education (1-2 pages).
All requested information must be forwarded to:
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box D
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure, New York 14778
Phone: (800) 462-5050 or (716) 375-2400
Additional Information Required
- A signed copy of the Free Application for Student Federal Aid Form (FAFSA).
- Documentation of income for the previous calendar year (signed copy of 1040 income tax form and proof of Social Services, Social Security, Veterans, Unemployment and/or Disability benefits)
Additional information must be forwarded to:
Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure, New York 14778
Phone: (800) 462-5050 or (716) 375-2402
Required Financial Documentation
As documentation is completed, mail or fax a copy directly to the HEOP office, have the student keep a copy, and mail the original to the appropriate destination.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form (FAFSA)
- Tuition Assistance Program Form (TAP)
- Resident Alien Card (Green Card)
- Signed copies of Parents' Prior Year 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ forms and W-2 forms or signed non-filing statement
- Signed copies of Student's Prior Year 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ forms and W-2 forms or signed non-filing statement
- Documentation from Department of Social Services indicating the total funding received in the prior calendar year (this must include all recipients names and Social Security numbers)
- Foster care letter from appropriate agency confirming status and specifying the total amount of income received in the prior calendar year through Social Services or other agencies/programs
- Verification of child support including amount received and each child's name and Social Security number
- Statement of Unemployment
- Statement of Workman's Compensation
- Form 1099 from Social Security Administration indicating the total funding received in the prior calendar year (this must include all recipients' names and Social Security numbers)
Transfer Students
Transfer students must submit official college transcript(s) and a transfer application which verifies EOP, HEOP, or SEEK participation at a previous institution.
Pre-freshman Summer Challenge
A four-week residential program is required for all entering HEOP students providing an academic and social orientation to life at St. Bonaventure University. It is designed to integrate the various
aspects of college life and to promote personal growth and educational achievement. This sound academic program has an emphasis on strengthening reading, writing, math and study skills. The curriculum includes trips that foster team building and communication,
seminars on social adjustment and professional development, and a variety of leadership workshops. This program continues into the academic year with biweekly seminars focusing on academic and personal development.
Counseling
Academic, financial, personal, and career counseling are provided to assist students with the obstacles that they may encounter through their tenure at St. Bonaventure University.
Tutoring
Professional and peer tutoring, an integral part of our program, is used on an individual or group basis to assist students with their academic subjects and behaviors that lead to high levels of success and achievement.
Financial Aid
Financial assistance is an important component of the support services offered. Because each student's needs differ, St. Bonaventure University develops an aid package combining state, federal, and institutional grants
and loans.
For more information, contact:
Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure, New York 14778
Phone: (716) 375-2402 or (800) 462-5050
Senior Priscilla Contreras finds her place at Bona’s
Sep 11, 2020
By Susan Anderson
“It was destiny.”
That’s how Priscilla Contreras describes becoming a student at St. Bonaventure University.
First paired with Bona’s through a combination of hard work and the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program, the senior journalism major from the Bronx now considers St. Bonaventure home.
“I’ve made friends here throughout the years who are no longer just friends,” she said. “They are family to me.”
For Contreras, it feels like “just yesterday” that she arrived as an undeclared major with no connection to campus. Now she proudly claims two majors — journalism and English — and holds an “honorary office” in the hallway on the second floor of the Jandoli School of Communication’s Murphy Building.
Her adviser, Dr. Denny Wilkins, professor of journalism, posted the sign that reads “The Office of Priscilla” in recognition of the many hours she spends studying there.
“He did that during my sophomore year when I was taking JMC 201 and 202. Those were hard classes for me and he’s a tough grader,” Contreras said. “I would walk into his office, ask for help, and then go back to my little office until I got it right. Those two classes made me a better writer.”
Wilkins also gives her and his other advisees “a word to live by” each semester, she said, with the expectation that they each share what it was like living with the word.
Composure. Peace. Poise. Purpose. Imagine. These are the words Contreras has lived with for the past few semesters. Of them, peace has been the most powerful for her. “I was going through a rough time when he gave the word to me. It reminded me to slow down, to have peace at mind and peace at heart,” she said. “It meant so much to me.”
Wilkins has appreciated watching Contreras come into her own.
“Priscilla is a young, talented, hard-working student who fully understands what it means to be a Bonnie. There is no one she will not help. There is no one she will not find common ground with,” Wilkins shared via email. “I enjoyed having her in my classes (and as my advisee), and I’ll be sad when graduation takes her away from us.”
Focused and driven, Contreras has been involved in numerous activities. She serves as photo editor for the student-run newspaper, the BonaVenture, maintains a blog, has hosted a weekly show for the campus radio station, The Buzz, and has written for HerCampus.com.
But what she is most proud of is her work with the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), which she joined her freshman year. She is currently running for vice president and previously served as a senator representative with the Student Government Association and as secretary.
“It’s good to get back to your culture and your roots,” she said, noting that the organization was especially helpful to her during her first year at Bona’s. “This is a mainly white institution and sometimes it could feel overwhelming.”
Her mother is Dominican, her father Salvadoran, Contreras said, and she grew up in a neighborhood that is predominantly Hispanic. Being a member of LASO made the transition to life on campus easier and has since allowed her to bring awareness to others about the Latino community.
A lover of the written word, and especially of reporting, her goal is to one day work for ESPN, either as a producer or a reporter. Whatever the future holds, Contreras is determined to keep evolving.
Her motto is simple and to the point: “Don’t be afraid of change and keep on making connections.”