May, 2013: EOC's Grand Opening of New Home in Downtown

The University at Buffalo's Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) dedicates and opens its new home at 555 Ellicott Street (downtown) on Friday, June 14th at 10am. This new 68,000 square foot state-of-the-art building "renews the State University of New York's commitment to serve underprepared students more extensively and produce life-long learners who are self-directed, empowered and committed to excellence" according to UB President Satish K. Tripathi's office. Come! Help welcome EOC to its new home as it enters its 40th year of serving our community through Tuition-Free innovative academic and vocational training programs leading to gainful employment.  

If you're in the area, stop by and take a look at the new home of EOC. Be sure to checkout the progress made on our new facility opening in 2013. Click Here  (It may take a few moments for all the photographs to load for viewing)

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May, 2013: Need To Practice For Your GED? Consider EOC's GED/GAP

The GED/GAP Program offers day and evening classes to individuals that need assistance in preparing for the NYS GED exam. By attending our ONE-day GAP session, students will:

• Find out the GED exam passing requirements
• Take the official GED practice test
• Identify their academic strengths and weaknesses
• Get referred to GED preparation classes, if needed
• Position themselves to be scheduled for the State GED exam within 4 weeks, if you are ready

By January 2014, the NYS Education Department will replace the current GED exam with one that is more academically demanding, requiring higher levels of preparation in order to pass the test, computer-based and will be a timed test. Take a positive step and 'close the gap' in finding out if you are prepared to pass the GED exam. Look into GED/GAP.

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May, 2013: The following are available upcoming Allied Health training and preparatory opportunties at EOC for the Fall 2013-Spring 2014 academic year.

Registered Medical Assistant Program

     Graduates qualify to sit for the Registered Medical Assistant Exam.

• Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep health care delivery settings running smoothly.
• Medical Assistants schedule appointments, maintain patient charts, submit insurance claims, maintain office finances, and manage medical records. Accredited by the American Medical Technologists (AMT).
• Program runs September 2013 – May 2014 and is a day program Monday through Friday.

Certified Dental Assisting Program

• Dental Assistants provide patient treatment and care, maintain records and take patient x-rays.
• Dental Assistants set up the treatment area and support the dental services team.
• Approved by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
• Program runs September 2013 - May 2014 and is a day program Monday through Friday.

Medical Billing and Coding Program

Become a Billing Specialist, Health Information Technician or Insurance Clerk!
Graduates will:

• Be able to apply intermediate to advanced coding concepts.
• Process insurance claims using industry-standard billing software.
• Recognize and understand anatomy and medical terminology.
• Program is planned for September 2013 based on available funding. This is a 15-week evening program.

Medical Clinical Lab Technician Program

Graduates qualify to become a Nationally Certified Phlebotomist!

• Lab Technicians collect/register, process and distribute lab specimens.
• Lab Technicians collect data, chart patient information and file.
• Program planned for September 2013 based on available funding. This is a 15-week evening program.

Electronic Health Records Program

• Learn how to convert existing charts to an electronic health record within a physician’s office or hospital, HIPAA, the role of personal health records and handling them securely.
• This is a 15-week evening program. Starts September 2013 based upon available funding.

Certified Nurse Assistant Review Classes

EOC is a NYS Certified Nursing Assistant Regional Testing Site.

• For candidates who have held a CNA, but their certification has expired.
• Classes offered Thursdays and Fridays - effective January 2013. 

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April, 2013: EOC Dental Assistant Recognized in Inside Dental Assisting Magazine

Inside Dental Assisting (IDA) magazine published a March/April issue of their Internet-based electronic magazine and acknowledged Dental Assistants Recognition Week, a week of activities that occurred in different cities nationwide.  IDA’s Upfront article highlighted the participation of University at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center Certified Dental Assisting students who visited Albany, NY recently. The article acknowledged Buffalo EOC students conducting a “Give Kids A Smile Day” event they sponsored where they provided dental treatment for more than 800 children.

See the entire article at  http://editiondigital.net/publication/?i=150982&p=8

Keep Smiling EOC Students!... You’ve Earned It!  

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April, 2013: Free College and Financial Aid Application Assistance

The EOC encourages college-interested individuals in our community to consider postsecondary studies at any one of the area’s great educational institutions. Many in the area are considering college this Fall or next Spring and need a little assistance with the college application and financial aid application process. EOC’s College Connections office can provide the assistance needed to make the college-going process a little easier to navigate. For assistance, contact EOC at 849-6727 x157 to leave your contact information for staff to follow up with you.

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April, 2013: Tuition-Free Microsoft Computer Training in the Community

EOC is offering two upcoming Tuition-Free Microsoft computer training Bootcamps at their ATTAIN Lab, located at 175 Oakmont Street. A Microsoft Outlook Bootcamp will run on Monday through Wednesdays starting April 8th and end on April 5th. The second Bootcamp will run on Monday through Thursdays starting April 29th and end on May 16th. The class hours for both Bootcamps will be 9:00am-11:55am. To register, contact the ATTAIN Lab at 837-7954.

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March, 2013: FREE Kindergarten-8th Grade Children's Books!

EOC has entered into a partnership with national book publisher, McGraw Hill, to make thousands of K-8th grade children's books available for FREE to benefit Buffalo-area students. These books can be used to: build an afterschool resource library or summer camp program, homeschool children, start or build a library of academic materials at a church or neighborhood community center. Be creative! Use your imagination!

EOC has mathematics, science, vocabulary and reading books. We have support guides for struggling readers, teacher and reference manuals, lesson and unit assessment materials. There are also materials available in Spanish. In addition, we have materials available in cassette tape and CD format.

All of these books and materials are brand new and they are comparable to those used in our local school district.

Schedule a time to come in and browse these wonderful books and educational materials by contacting Paul Cragg at 849-6727 x.157 and Latricia Chisholm at x.163

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March, 2013: Charles is 'In Charge' of His College Success Story

Charles B. attended GED classes at EOC back in the 1980's. He recalled that his teacher at EOC really took an interest in him and helped him tremendously as he prepared to get ready to later take his state exam. To his delight, Charles passed his exam.

Fast forward. In the Fall of 2012, Charles remembered that EOC also helped students apply for college and also helped them with the financial aid application process. He then sought out EOC's College Connections office to obtain help applying to the University at Buffalo, which he had always wanted to attend so that he could study biology. Charles wants someday to begin a career in Human Biology.

After working diligently with College Connections staff, chasing down his high school transcripts, submitting a college application, preparing a college entrance essay and a host of other related errands - it finally happened. Charles has been accepted into UB's Biological Sciences program and will begin classes this summer. When asked how he felt when he received his acceptance letter, Charles said "exuberant" and "I was almost in tears. Now, I'm on my way to a successful journey". Now, Charles is definitely 'in charge' of the college success story that he will write through his own life experiences at UB. Way to go Charles!

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March, 2013: 'How Do I Get A Copy of My GED?'

Our Admissions Office gets asked this question a lot and we know that it would be helpful to many to know how to obtain a copy of their GED. Just visit the following New York State Department of Education web address below, print off the request form and mail it in with your fee payment.  
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/ged/documents/attch-h.pdf

Contact EOC at 849-6727, visit us on the web at eoc.buffalo.edu or drop in at our 465 Washington St location to inquire about any of our programs. See you soon!

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January, 2013: Do You Twitter? EOC now has an official  Twitter account! Everyone who has a Twitter account can now follow EOC for tweets (updates). Search for:  BuffaloEOC. Tell everyone!

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