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Fairmont State GEAR UP Partnership Grant Overview

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Grant Partners

 2005 GEAR UP PARTNERSHIP GRANT ABSTRACT 

            West Virginia is at-risk and faces great obstacles in promoting its youth to aspire to higher education: high poverty and low college-going rates.  Research shows the direct correlation that exists between poverty and lack of college attainment. It also shows that children are less likely to attend college if their parents have not attended college.   WV has all of the components that make us eligible for a GEAR UP grant: poverty, an uneducated adult population, at-risk youth, low educational goals, low expectations, low participation in college preparatory courses, and ultimately, low college-going rates....  A cycle that is not broken easily.

            Over 6,600 students, in 14 counties (nearly 1/3^rd of the state), in 56 middle & high schools will receive GEAR UP services.  An enthusiastic group of partners are submitting this dynamic plan to address the needs of our at-risk student population.  A thoughtful and experienced Project Plan has been designed to take into consideration the depth, breadth, and scope of this energetic project.   Activities have been designed to meet the goals and objectives of GEAR UP.    These include but are not limited to: After-School and Weekend Programs, Tutoring, Mentoring,  Counseling, College Fairs and Tours, Financial Aid workshops, computer projects, motivational activities including a GEARING UP FOR COLLEGE poster contest, a variety of summer camps and enrichment programs, educational field trips, leadership and learning style training, comprehensive teacher training activities, parent involvement and Literacy/Academic Readiness Programs, 21^st Century Scholar presentations, technology literacy, curriculum review and academic rigor incentives, comprehensive coordination with State and local agencies to ensure the efficient use of resources, and an innovative scholarship program.

                Through a strong management plan, skilled leaders, and rigorous internal and external evaluation processes, our intended outcomes are to institutionalize the values of GEAR UP so that at the end of the funding cycle, college-going rates are increased, student self-esteem and motivation are improved, academic skill-levels are higher and our school environments have embraced the concept of student success whereby all students are encouraged to reach for higher education goals....making college attainment an institutionalized reality that is the norm, not the exception as it has been for generations.

AWARD NUMBERS AND OTHER INFORMATION

• Grant Award Number (PR #) P334A050006
• Award Year:  September 1, 2005
• Code of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 84.334A
• Funded for $31,761,600 over 6 years (2005-2011)
• Type of Grant:  Partnership

HOW COUNTIES WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE

The 14 counties in this grant are those counties in the direct service area of Fairmont State University. (The grant application also included Tucker County, a former county served by Fairmont State). Schools were eligible per Federal guidelines if at least 50% of the school with a 7^th grade met the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program Criteria as required.

GEAR UP MODEL

The FSU GEAR UP Partnership Grant is a cohort model in that the 6^th and 7^th grade cohort in 2005 is followed through their senior year in high school.

FSU GEAR UP WEB SITE

The Fairmont State University GEAR UP program maintains a comprehensive web site to provide electronic information, resources, forms, references, and support to staff, site coordinators, liaisons, FACE coordinators, superintendents, fiscal officers, principals, teachers, support staff, students, parents/guardians, partners, and the community.    The FSU GEAR UP web site is: www.fairmontstate.edu/gearup . 

FSU GEAR UP GRANT GOALS

GOAL 1:          To significantly increase the academic preparation & performance for post-secondary education for GEAR UP students. (GPRA)

GOAL 2:         To significantly increase the number of high-poverty, at-risk students who are prepared to enter and succeed in an institution of higher education. (GPRA)

GOAL 3:         To significantly increase students' and parents' knowledge of higher education options, preparation, and financing. (GPRA)

GOAL 4:         To ensure that quality education and support services are provided to cohort students by providing on-going staff development and training for teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, tutors, mentors, and volunteers.

GOAL 5:         To significantly increase the students' skill level of use of computers, the Internet, and other technological advancements that will be needed to succeed in college.

GOAL 6:         To significantly improve students' self-esteem and self-confidence and to acknowledge accomplishments and service by providing recognition to students, parents, partners, tutors, mentors, teachers, support staff, and volunteers.

GOAL 7:         To ensure the effective and efficient use of resources through collaboration and cooperation of diverse partnerships that  are committed to GEAR UP goals.

GOAL 8:         To ensure program integrity, budget/match accountability, and strong management through reliable evaluations, using best practices and national models already established.

FSU GEAR UP is comprised of a Director, Assistant Director, Budget Specialist, Office Manager, Data/Research Specialist, Parent Coordinator, 2 Counselors, along with hourly support and student workers.   A Site Coordinator, Liaison, and FACE Coordinator are hired hourly on contract at each school site to provide GEAR UP leadership and oversight at their respective schools.

FSU GEAR UP PARTNERS

PARTNERSHIP GRANT REQUIREMENTS

Partnership grants are comprised of local education agencies representing schools, institutions of higher education, and community organizations.  Fairmont State GEAR UP is allowed to add new partners as the relationship develops.  The grantee must report all partners and their status in the Annual Performance Report.

 FSU GEAR UP COUNTY & SCHOOL PARTNERS

FSU GEAR UP UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE PARTNERS

OTHER FSU GEAR UP GRANT PARTNERS

Governer's Office	WV State Department of Education
WV Higher Education Policy Commission	WV Community & Technical Colleges
WV Department of Education & the Arts	WV Colleges and Universities
WV State GEAR UP Grant	WV Independent Colleges & Universities
Center for Parent Leadership	Challenger Learning Center
Clay Center	College Summit
Fresh Start Mentoring Services	Lamar Advertising
Heaster-Hart	Hile Printing and Graphics
Hi-Y Leadership Camp	NASA Ames IV and V
National White Collar Crime Center	RESA VII
Rising Books	Spinning Bees
Sports World	Stonewall Resort
SunDogs	Valley Worlds of Fun
WV Clearinghouse	WV High Tech Consortium
Vista Promotions	Prickett's Fort