* participation in campus cultural events.
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Enacted in 1998, GEAR UP funds partnerships among high-poverty middle and high schools, colleges and universities, community organizations and businesses to work with entire grade levels of students. The Binghamton partnership is one of five funded in New York State by the federal government.
A steering committee composed of the school principal, teachers, a parent and SOE faculty and staff advises the program.
Mission Statement
Helping Low-Income Students Prepare to Succeed in College
Many of America's talented young people end their formal education at high school because the opportunity to progress to college is not apparent to them due to a number of factors:
* low expectations
* low motivation
* lack of appropriate curriculum, instruction and support
* lack of information that clearly explains what educational options and opportunities are available
Goal
The goal of GEAR UP is to enable more young Americans to stay in school, study hard and take the right courses to succeed in college. Specifically, it enables low-income communities and states to provide educational opportunities for low-income students, students who would be first-generation college students and students who speak English as a second language. Through GEAR UP, the U.S. Department of Education addresses the challenge to help these students become prepared academically and financially to enter into and succeed in college.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does GEAR UP operate?
Why is this program necessary?
What must the program do?
What strategies does the program use?
What is necessary to achieve GEAR UP’s goals?
What role do parents play?
What sets GEAR UP apart from other programs?
What specifically does GEAR UP do?
Tell me about the partners and their roles in the program.
What kinds of activities are GEAR UP students involved in?
What are some ways that GEAR UP works with students?
What specifically does a mentor do?
What specifically does a tutor do?
What are the requirements to be a mentor or tutor?
How do I apply to become a mentor or tutor?
Who does the program support in our area and whom can I contact for more information?
How does GEAR UP operate?
Federal grants are awarded under this initiative to support local partnerships and state efforts to develop or expand programs that provide the opportunities, support and information low-income students, first generation college students and students who speak English as a second language need to have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, take challenging college-prep courses in high school and succeed in college.
GEAR UP partnerships are designed to understand and address the needs of their disadvantaged communities and implement effective reform to ensure that all students are prepared to succeed in college. The partnerships must sustain long-term reform that meets the academic and college preparation needs of an entire group of students, rather than the more traditional programs that only assist selected students.
Why is this program necessary?
Students from low-income families have low rates of academic success and low levels of academic attainment relative to their more advantaged peers. Put simply, poverty has the most negative impact where it is the most concentrated. If we are to meet the challenge of helping more low-income students prepare for college, we must concentrate on those neighborhood schools within communities of high financial need.
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What must the program do?
To help more low-income students succeed, the first thing we must do is look within schools and to their communities to identify what must be changed and improved so that every student can achieve academically and be prepared to succeed in college.
What strategies does the program use?
Figuring out what the needs and gaps in services are is only a start. Figuring out how to address those needs is at the heart of meeting the challenge. For example, although taking algebra by the eighth or ninth grade is a gateway to additional mathematics college preparatory courses, only 15 percent of low-income students enroll in algebra by the eighth grade. This is despite the fact that low-income students who take algebra and geometry are almost three times more likely to attend college and graduate than those who do not. Therefore, getting low-income students to take algebra by the eighth or ninth grade is a worthy goal.
What is necessary to achieve GEAR UP’s goals?
* curricular changes
* upgraded teacher professional development
* smaller classes with more targeted instruction
* one-on-one tutoring
* saturday academies
* summer Institutes
All of the above and more will be required.
What role do parents play?
The parents of these students may have no clear idea of how one prepares for college or of what financial assistance is available. Yet, this kind of knowledge is vital if parents are to serve as effective academic mentors for their children. Clearly, this need must be met because it impacts expectations and aspirations that low-income parents have for their children.
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What sets GEAR UP apart from other programs?
Commitment! We have known for some time that programs linking college awareness and preparation can be successful. Students who participate in high-quality college awareness programs and strengthen their academic preparation attend college at a higher rate than those who do not.
GEAR UP reflects the call by hundreds of college presidents and scores of community organizations for a new national ethic that all colleges should partner with low-income, middle-grade schools in order to help prepare the children of our nation for college
GEAR UP provides for a long-term early intervention that enables students and families to learn about and plan for college over a period of years.
GEAR UP uses a different approach that involves students and families, K-12 schools, colleges and community-based groups to reach a larger population of at-risk students.
What specifically does GEAR UP do?
GEAR UP provides college awareness services, including mentoring and tutoring, academic course counseling and financial aid information; it also strengthens the instruction and course offerings in participating middle and high schools. These services are provided during and outside the school day.
Tell me about the partners and their roles in the program.
This kind of vision calls for commitment on the part of all involved -- educators, parents, students, partners and states. It also calls for a commitment to continue the program beyond the federal support that initiates it, lest it die after the funding runs out. Commitment of this sort requires resources, careful planning, proper implementation, effective partnerships, communication, constant monitoring of progress and dedication to a continuous improvement model.
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What kinds of activities are GEAR UP students involved in?
GEAR UP sponsors a number of activities throughout the year. Special highlights in recent years have included a trip to Syracuse University to see the Binghamton University Bearcats play Syracuse in basketball at the Carrier Dome and attendance at home basketball games at the BU Events Center. Students attended plays presented by the University Theatre Department, met and ice skated with the Broome Community College hockey team, toured various college campuses, constructed and tested spaghetti bridges, explored various cultural activities and engaged in summer service learning projects
What are some ways that GEAR UP works with students?
GEAR UP trains Binghamton University and Broome Community College students to be mentors and tutors to students in the Binghamton City School District. Mentors and tutors also work with students at community agencies and at after-school programs.
Mentors facilitate a student’s educational, social and personal growth through a supportive one-on-one relationship. For lack of a better word, a mentor is a “role model.” Tutors assist with core academic courses, such as algebra, reading or writing.
What specifically does a mentor do?
* commits to work at least two semesters with a student mentee
* serves as social and academic role models
* assists skill building in organizational and study skills
* is a friendly, patient, good listener that sets a good example
* shares experiences and insights about being a college student
* encourages mentees to continue their studies
* benefits from the satisfaction of helping to guide future generations and contribute to their success
What specifically does a tutor do?
* Works with students on academic subjects in supervised school settings in classrooms, study hall and the lunchroom
What are the requirements to be a mentor or tutor?
Mentors and tutors must be at least a second-semester freshman. Mentors and tutors must choose to participate as either an intern or a volunteer.
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Intern Requirements
* make a 50-hour commitment to work with students during the semester (approximately five hours per week);
* attend a one-hour weekly, mandatory seminar, complete assigned readings and other work; and
* upon satisfactory completion of the work in the school and seminar class, interns will earn two credits with a grade.
Volunteer Requirements
* Work at least one hour per week with the students.
Requirements for Both Interns and Volunteers
* Binghamton University and BCC students must attend a one-time orientation program prior to working with the students in the BCSD.
* Binghamton University and BCC students must be in good academic standing and be rated by a professional reference as being appropriate people to mentor and tutor children.
* Binghamton University and BCC students must sign the Expectation Agreement during the first meeting with the school coordinator.
How do I apply to become a mentor or tutor?
Fill out an application form and include references. To download an application, click here. To apply, you may also stop in the Off Campus College office in UUW-204 or call 607-777-4039. Those interested in interning or volunteering should contact the GEAR UP recruiting and training coordinator, Monica Perry, at mperry@binghamton.edu.
Spring 2008 Applications
Intern
Applications
are due February 15, 2008.
Volunteer Applications
are
due February 22, 2008.
All new participants must attend
an Orientation/Training Session.
Training is expected to take
place in January/February.
Pre-registration will be required.
Orientation/
Training
Pre-registration is required for the
training sessions. Sign up in UUW 204D.
Sunday, February 3, 2008 1:00-3:30 UUW
324
Monday, February 4, 2008 5:30-7:30 UUW
324
Sunday, February 17, 2008 1:00-3:30 UUW
324
Monday, February 18, 2008 5:30-7:30 UUW
324
Mentor/Tutor Manual
Gear Up's Mentor/Tutor Manual provides the knowledge and skills needed to insure a satisfying and successful experience. Mentors and tutors should read it thoroughly and consult it often. Although there will always be someone available to help when needed, this manual is the single best resource for information.
Access each section of the Gear Up Mentor/Tutor Manual by clicking on the links below. Bookmarks have been provided within each pdf file. You will have the ability to navigate within each section of the document by enabling the pdf bookmarks.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Getting Started
Mentoring
Sample Activities
Tutoring
Resources and Notes
Who does the program support in our area and whom can I contact for more information?
The GEAR UP Program at Binghamton
University currently supports eighth and ninth graders
in the
Binghamton City School District.
East Middle School
Coordinator: Andre Hankey
167 Frederick Street
Binghamton, NY 13904
768-2861
West Middle School
Coordinator: Ali Phinney
West Middle Avenue
Binghamton, NY 13905
768-3135
Binghamton High School
Coordinator:
Amanda Stanton
98 Oak Street
Corner Oak Street and
Main Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
762-8219
Cell:727-5595
Karen Whalen
Parent & Activities coordinator
Binghamton High School
98 Oak
Street
Corner
Oak Street and Main Street
Binghamton,
NY 13905
762-6068
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