Op-Ed | A six-decade legacy of access and opportunity | amNewYork

"If I wasn't a SEEK student, I don't know what my college experience would be. I work at SEEK, I met my friends through the summer program—I don't think I would have the foundation I do without it. This demonstrates how SEEK provides not just academic support but also social connections and professional opportunities that fundamentally shape students' educational trajectories and personal development."

"This year marks the 60th anniversary of SEEK, the nation's first state-funded academic opportunity initiative. The program traces its origins to the Civil Rights Movement, when student activists worked with community leaders to push for greater equity and access in higher education for Black and Hispanic students and others from underserved communities."

"Legislative leaders, including Assembly Members Percy Sutton and Shirley Chisholm, heeded this call and moved to get SEEK signed into state law in 1966. Since then, the program and its community college counterpart College Discovery (CD) have helped upwards of 100,000 students to access and complete a college degree."

SEEK is a pioneering state-funded program established in 1966 during the Civil Rights Movement to increase higher education access for Black, Hispanic, and underserved students. The program provides comprehensive support including tailored tutoring, financial assistance, peer mentoring, personalized counseling, and career guidance. Students like Natasha Dhanraj credit SEEK with transforming their college experience, enabling them to become engaged scholars and mentors themselves. The program and its community college counterpart, College Discovery, have collectively served over 100,000 students in achieving college degrees. SEEK's 60th anniversary highlights its enduring impact on educational equity and opportunity.

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