The Central Access Success and Academics (CASA) unit supports Central’s strategic goal of increasing access to higher education and ensuring student success. CASA serves as a hub for many first-generation college initiatives, serving middle, high school, and college students along the k-12 to college continuum. Our programs reflect Central’s commitment to expanding access to higher education for first-generation, underserved, and underrepresented students.
Central Access, Success & Academic Programs (CASA)
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The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
CARE Scholarship Program
TRiO Programs
First-Generation Students
🍎 The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
The Educational Opportunity Program is designed for students who have the potential to perform college-level work but do not meet all the admissions criteria.
Students must complete a five-week summer academic program to become full-time matriculated students during the fall semester.
📖 CARE Scholarship Program
Central’s Academic Readiness & Engagement (CARE) Program provides students who have experienced foster care & adoption with resources and support throughout their academic career at Central.
Students who qualify for this program have access to tutoring, support services, academic advising, career exploration assistance, peer mentoring opportunities, and workshops.
📚️ TRiO Programs
TRiO programs are federally funded, academic and social support programs designed to help increase post-secondary enrollment, retention, and graduation of low-income, first-generation college students, and/or individuals with disabilities.
Central is home to three TRiO Programs:
- TRiO Educational Talent Search (ETS),
- TRiO Student Support Services (SSS),
- TRiO Student Support Services – Teacher Preparation (SSS-Teacher Prep)
🔰 First-Generation Students
First-gen Student Institutional Definition: Neither parent or guardian earned a four-year college degree.
Central's First-Generation initiatives are supported by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost in collaboration with academic and student support services. First-gen students, who make up 53% of our student population.
We are dedicated to addressing challenges through a strength-based perspective that recognizes this population’s contributions to a vibrant community.
