EOP History

Celebrating Over 50 Years of EOP at CSUB

An image of the old Bakersfield roadside welcome sign indicating that Bakersfield is a progressive community

As a reaction to the Civil Rights movement and student activism in the late 1960s, the Educational Opportunity Program was created in 1969. Since construction began in 1965 and the first classes were taught in 1970, it can be argued that CSUB and EOP grew together out of the same movement — an expansion of educational opportunities for all the people of the Southern San Joaquin Valley. In 2019, we celebrated 50 years of EOP in the State of California. Please check out our video recap on YouTube.

The first step in establishing EOP at what was then called "CSB" or Cal State Bakersfield was to hire a Director. The first director, track coach Charlie Craig, remembers when the buildings were still being constructed on campus. "The guys would hit the nails in the studs and water would spray out, the 2x4s were so new." Please check out our video featuring EOP trailblazers from across the state.

Steve Walsh served as Director of EOP from 2011 to 2025, guiding the program through the pandemic and innovation.  In 2025, Natasha Harris assumed leadership, continuing the tradition of excellence, growth, and advancing the mission of EOP.


Image showing the first three EOP Directors at CSU Bakersfield
A photograph of the first Summer Bridge class of 1985 at CSU Bakersfield

In 1985, CSUB established its own Summer Bridge Program after pilot summer programs in 1984 hosted on a handful of other CSU campuses. The goals back then were the same as today — to give historically-disadvantaged, high-potential, low-income, marginalized high school graduates a comprehensive orientation to the University before the fall term begins. This photo is the first cohort of Summer Bridgers from 1985, and the tradition has continued for the past 40 years.

Many of the lessons learned in Summer Bridge in the 1980s are still applicable today. In this photo, students in 1989 were asked the obstacles they anticipate facing in college. The list includes a lack of money, a lack of support, new priorities, bad grades, lack of transportation, and indecisiveness. Unfortunately, little has changed for first-generation students in the past 40 years, and the need for EOP and Summer Bridge is as great as ever.

A black and white photo of a 1989 Summer Bridge class discussing college challenges
Image of young women participating in Summer Bridge with their Residential Assistant

Summer Bridge 2024, in the 54th year of EOP, will be the 40th Summer Bridge at CSUB. As we say in EOP: "Often imitated, never replicated." Summer Bridge will continue to be the primary vehicle for granting access to EOP students and preparing them for the rigors of University study. For another 50 years, if necessary, as long as injustice and educational disparities plague our most vulnerable populations.