Located at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) offers free advising and information to those who want to enter or continue college and who do not already have a four-year degree.
Desiree Decker of Jasper, TN, will soon graduate with a degree in Social Work and credits the EOC for her success. Decker says, “I did need resources to go to school because I certainly didn’t have any money to go to school. I thought it had to be possible and the EOC showed me it was.”
Cynthia Long, Director of the EOC, says her own nontraditional college career makes her well suited for her job. Long says, “I love this work because I’m an example of the person we’re trying to reach.”
The EOC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and serves residents of Hamilton, Marion, Sequatchie, Bledsoe and Grundy counties. The EOC is located at 739 McCallie Avenue on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The telephone number to set up an appointment is (423) 425-1702.