When the spring semester began, students in the EOPS program were notified that there would be a delay on receiving their meal tickets as time was needed to redesign them. 

By the time the meal tickets were brought back, students were notified via email that there would be several changes from last semester. 

To begin with the design of the tickets or “EOPS Buck” were completely altered, instead of the basic red and white design there is now a sleek mostly white design similar to a dollar bill with a textured surface. The new tickets sport the face of the designer of them Program Coordinator Andrew Murphy.

The biggest change for the tickets was the value going from $10 to $5, this led students to speculate on why the value could have been changed. EOPS quickly cleared up any potential misconceptions by stating “Our budget did not decrease, and the number of students we served increased by almost 35% from the previous year.”

The smaller increments were also asked for by students that wanted to purchase smaller items in the cafeteria, but had to use the $10 meal tickets. Alongside those students also expressed difficulties with going in every month to get more tickets.

Director of EOPS Carissa Craig-Huddleston said she “Hope it’s gonna make it easier for students,” referring to the smaller increments and giving out all EOPS bucks at once.

Craig-Huddleston also stated that the changes would also benefit her when allocating budget.

Aside from the change in design and value, last semester’s practice of picking up four tickets monthly changed to picking up 15 meal tickets at the beginning of the semester. However students that do not pick it up by Feb. 28th will not receive the full amount. In March they will be eligible to receive 10 tickets and after March they will get 5.

The changes seemed to be welcomed by students as one stated, “Gives me more flexibility in managing my meals throughout the semester rather than being limited to a set amount each month.”

Student Guadalupe Gama Gomez shared a similar sentiment, “With my busy class schedule I kept forgetting to pick them up last semester so I liked that the same day I set up my counseling appointment I also received all my meal tickets.”

Los Medanos EOPS program remains adamant in ensuring that students receive adequate service throughout the semester, as they have listened to feedback and changed things in the past to benefit students.