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GEAR UP IV Creating a Vision

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

 

The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program is a federal discretionary grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. The program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

 

The mission of the GEAR UP program is to significantly increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. 

 

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Workshop
Counseling
Tutoring
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college
  • Improving the academic performance

Grad Final
During the 2016-2017 school year, there were 8397 GEAR UP high school seniors, of which 96 percent (8059) graduated from participating school districts

Diploma Type

Graduates were: 43% graduated with the State of Texas Distinguished Achievement Diploma Program, 40% graduated with Texas Recommended High School Diploma Program, 7% graduated with Minimum High School Diploma Program and lastly, 8% graduated under the new Foundation High School Program.

As further evidence of improving student academic performance, the college student survey indicates:

 

Keep out with college
  • Ninety-six percent (96%) of the college students reported that they were able to keep up with their college coursework.
Preparing for test

  • Ninety-two percent (92%) indicated that they were prepared when taking tests in their college courses.
GU Activities helps

  • Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the students in college reported that the GEAR UP activities for first-year college students helped prepare them to be more successful in college.
 
Math&Eng
  • The large majority of the students now in college, reported that participating in the GEAR UP tutoring for Math and English during or just prior to their current first year at college was “helpful/very helpful" and contributed to their success in college (Math: 85%, English: 86%).

 

Post-secondary Enrollment

Map of Colleges

 

GEAR UP IV

CREATING A VISION FOR THE WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES

 

The GEAR UP IV Creating A Vision project is a partnership grant between Texas A&M International University and 19 school districts throughout the southern part of Texas covering approximately 14,792 square miles.

8000 STUDENTS
20 SCHOOL DISTRICTS
35 MIDDLE SCHOOL / JUNIOR  HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES  (YR. 1 -2)     
31  HIGH SCHOOL / EARLY COLLEGE HS CAMPUSES (YR. 3 - 6)
38+ Institutions of Higher Education (YR. 7)
The grant is third largest in the nation and is designed to provide low-income students with the skills, motivation, and preparation needed to successfully pursue a postsecondary education and be successful in the postsecondary education setting. The focus of the project is to provide direct services to students through four strands: academic, assessment, college readiness and parental involvement. Each campus site has a College Access Team (Site Coordinator and College Access Coach) that provides direct services to students.
 

THE G4 VISION

Graduate from High School!

Go to College!

Graduate from College!

Get a Career!

 

 

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PREP-Rally Kick-Off to College

 

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Robotics Competition Essay Contest 2015 Essay Contest 2016

 

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School District Partners

Alice ISD
Ben Bolt - Palito Blanco ISD
Benavides ISD
Carrizo Springs ISD
Cotulla ISD
Crystal City ISD
Dilley ISD
Eagle Pass ISD
Freer ISD
Jim Hogg County ISD
La Joya ISD
La Pryor ISD
Laredo ISD
Orange Grove ISD
Pearsall ISD
Premont ISD
San Diego ISD
TAMIU ISD
United ISD
Webb CISD
 
 
  

Institutions of  Higher Education

Texas A&M International University
Laredo Community College
TAMUCC
TAMUK
Del Mar College
Coastal Bend College
University of Houston
University of Houston - Victoria
UTSA
UT
TAMU
TXST
Southwest Texas Junior College
South Texas College
UTRGV
TSTC
Other In-State and Out-of-State universities
 

PROJECT LEADERSHIP

 

Employee Name Title Email Telephone Number
Ms. Scheiby Fisher Executive Director sfisher@tamiu.edu (956) 326-2720
Ms. Ana M. Gonzalez Director, GEAR UP ana.gonzalez@tamiu.edu (956) 326-3165
Mr. Efrain Sanchez Regional Director esanchez@tamiu.edu (956) 326-3061
Ms. Angelica Gomez Site Coordinator agomez@tamiu.edu (956) 326-3169
Ms. Carmen Aquino Site Coordinator maria.aquino@tamiu.edu (956) 326-3167
Ms. Luz Contreras Administrative Associate lcontreras@tamiu.edu (956) 326-2766
Ms. Evelyn Gomez Administrative Associate evelyn.gomez@tamiu.edu (956) 326-3065
Department of Education
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education