DIVISON OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS
GEAR UP KEY FACT SHEET
2017
MISSION STATEMENT
TheGEAR UP mission is to increase the number of low-income students thatare prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.The program provides academic enrichment, tutoring, counseling, college tours, and recreation and performing arts activities. GEAR UP identifies low income-students as those attending schools whereby at least 50% of its student population receive free or reduced-pricedlunch. The GEAR UP goals and objectives are aligned with the University’s mission to serve an urban, low-income, first generation and culturally diverse population.
PROGRAM STAFF
There are six full time staff and 82 part time staff. The number of part time staff represents a cumulative total of employees hired during the fiscal year (fall, spring and summer). The program offers part time employment opportunities for NJCU college students. They serve as mentors and tutors for the participants. The job opportunities offered help NJCU students gain invaluable work and professional experience particularly, education majors. The instructors hired are certified teachers from the target schools. These relationships help foster GEAR UP goals and objectives. The tables below illustrate the distribution of grant funds for each position.
Full Time Program Staff
Funding SourcesTITLE / GEAR UP / College Bound / Institution
Director / 100%
Program Coordinator / 100%
Program Assistant / 100%
Counselor / 100%
Counselor / 15% / 85% / Fringe Benefits – 100%
Principle Clerk / 65% / 35%
Part Time Program Staff
Funding SourcesTITLE / GEAR UP / College Bound / Institution
1 Curriculum Specialist / 100%
39 Instructors / 12/100%; 14/50% GU / 4/100%; 14/50%; 6/50% CB / 3/100%; 6/50% Ins
35 Mentors / 3/100%; 1/50% GU;1/33% GU / 8/100% CB; 1/50% CB; 1/ 33%CB / 22/100%; 1/50%; 1/ 33% Ins.
5 Office Assistants / 4/100% GU; 1/50% / 1/50% CB
1 Counselor / 35% / 65%
1 Bus Driver / 100%
TOTAL PROGRAM BUDGET $882,473
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
The program serves approximately 250 participants annually in grades six through twelve. Participants are recruited from the following target schools: seven middle schools – PS# 14, PS# 15 PS# 23, PS# 24, PS# 38, MS# 40 and Martin Center for the Arts and three high schools - Lincoln, Henry Snyder and University Academy Charter High Schools. The bar graph below illustrates the number of students participating in each school.
CONSTITUENTS SERVED
The program provides servicesat each of the target schools in the district. Academic counseling, tutoring and recruitment are conducted at the target schools and the university. Academic classes, standardized test preparation, performing arts and recreational activities are held on campus 20 Saturdays during the academic year and six weeks in the summer. Additionally, students participate in activities off campus at the Liberty Science Center, Jenkinson’s Aquarium and the Urban League of Hudson County.
IMPACT
Pre-College has served the community and NJCU since 1989 serving over 3,500 students. The loss of the program would adversely impact the lives of participants, parents, schools, teachers, college studentsand the University in various ways. Participants would no longer receive additional academic enrichment, exposure to career fairs, visits to colleges and universities, assistance with the college application and financial aid form and participation in social and cultural activities. Our participants would also lose the benefit of having college students as role models.
Parents would lose the benefit of an advocate for their children and workshops on employment matters, the college application process and parenting and communicationskills, especially during their child’s teenage years.
The target schools would lose additional support for their students as the program provides tutoring and offers professional development credits for teachers. In addition, teachers wouldloseemployment opportunities.
The college students would lose employment opportunities at a time when jobs are difficult to obtain. They would also lose the experience of working with our participants and serving as role models and tutors. The program has also supplemented education major’s student teaching experiences.
Furthermore, the program would be a loss to the University. GEAR UP’s target high schools are feeder schools for the university. Program counselors serve as NJCUrecruiters as they are in the high schools regularly promoting program services and the university. Since 1994 one hundred fifteen (115) Pre-College students have attended the university.
GEAR UP SUCCESSES
•99% of students were promoted to the next grade
•98% of seniors graduate from high school
•97% enroll in college within six months of graduation
•8th grade students outperformed target school peers on each section of the NJ-ASK 8 exam and surpassed program targets on each section
•11th grade students outperformed target school peers on each section of the high school proficiency assessment (HSPA) and surpassed the program targets on each section
•96.8% of 7th and 8th grade students enrolled in pre-algebra passed the course
•88% of 9th grade students enrolled in algebra passed the course
•96.7% of 10th and 11th grade students enrolled in chemistry passed the course
Source: NJ GEAR UP State Project
PARTNERSHIPS
The ten Jersey City target schools, guidance counselors, teachers and administrators, Jersey City Board of Education, NJ State GEAR UP Project, New Jersey City University (NJCU) -Opportunity Scholarship Program, undergraduate Admissions Office, Peers Educating Peers (PEP), Urban League, Delta Academy, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Jersey City Police Department- Gang Awareness Unit, other GEAR UP programs in the state and the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.