PREP FOR PEPS

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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School
PREP FOR PEPS Thursday, August 18, 2005 Anchor
Centre West Phoenix 10 a.m. 4
p.m. ---------------------------------------------
--- WELCOME
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

WHAT IS GEAR UP?

• U.S. Department of Education grant program
• National initiative created in 1999, growing
  quickly
• Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
  Undergraduate Programs

Welcome PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August 18, 2005
3
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

WHAT IS GEAR UP?
MISSION To significantly increase the number of
economically disadvantaged students who are
prepared to succeed beyond high school.
Welcome PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August 18, 2005
4
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY GEAR UP

• In 2000, NAU
• was awarded two six-year GEAR UP grants
• began working in partnership with 11 schools
  (named in original grants) to provide services to
  nearly 4,000 7th graders
• range of schools/sites statewide
• cohort approach

Welcome PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August 18, 2005
5
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY GEAR UP
2005-06
SITES SENIORS

• Pinon HS 120
• Partnership Project BBBS n/a
• Coconino HS 309
• Kingman HS 450
• Alhambra HS 110
• Cordova MS n/a
• Mesa and Westwood HS 1,270
• Yuma HS 232
• ASDB 14
• Nogales and Patagonia HS 94

Welcome PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August 18, 2005
6
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School
PREP FOR PEPS ------------------------------------
------------ INTRODUCTIONS
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School
PREP FOR PEPS ------------------------------------
------------ YEAR 6 VISION
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PLANNING WHAT IS PEPS?

• POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PLANNING SESSIONS (PEPS)
• One-on-one initial meeting with every graduating
  GEAR UP senior statewide to provide adult
  guidance and support in deciding upon, and acting
  to accomplish, an after-graduation goal
• Implementation of follow-up procedures with each
  student according to his or her plan
• Collection use of data, for both counseling
  assistance and GEAR UP scholarship administration

Year 6 Vision PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August 18,
2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PLANNING PEPS OBJECTIVES

• Definitively resolve each students postsecondary
  goal
• Establish a clear plan of action for attaining
  the goal
• Monitor postsecondary plan progress
• Initiate follow up actions and intervene as
  necessary to promote student success

Year 6 Vision PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August 18,
2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PLANNING THE PEPS TEAM

• To successfully meet PEPS objectives requires
  commitment to a Team approach that assumes
• School Principal awareness and support
• Sharing of resources and expertise
• Careful attention to data collection

Year 6 Vision PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August 18,
2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School
PREP FOR PEPS -----------------------------------
------------- AGENDA REVIEW
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School
PREP FOR PEPS -----------------------------------
------------- PEPS AND THE GEAR UP SCHOLARSHIP
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

PEPS AT A GLANCE

• POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PLANNING SESSIONS (PEPS)
• One-on-one sessions follow-up with every
  graduating GEAR UP senior statewide
• Emphasis on postsecondary planning, financial
  literacy, completion of FAFSA
• Collection use of data, for both counseling
  assistance and scholarship administration
  https//gearup.nau.edu/Login.asp - PEPS button

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

GU SCHOLARSHIP PARTICULARS IN REVIEW

• 4 years _at_ 4,050 per year 16,200, good at any
  accredited college in the U.S. (? if max. Pell
  Grant ?)
• Considerations
• Enrolled in GU by 3/30/03, actively
  participating
• High school graduate under 22 years old
• Academic record (GPA, Class Rank, ACT, SAT)
• U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
• No significant legal infractions
• Demonstrated leadership/involvement

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

GU SCHOLARSHIP PARTICULARS IN REVIEW

• Priority to Pell eligible (must complete a FAFSA
  and receive a valid SAR)
• Application process begins/ends with meeting with
  Site Coordinator
• Year 5 cycle required completed application form
  7 attachments
• Year 6 cycle will use streamlined process

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
16
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PROCESS AND PACKAGING

• YEAR 5 CYCLE IN REVIEW
• Of approx. 100 graduates, 21 applied, 13 received
  and accepted awards
• Process a) students met with site coordinators
  for postsecondary planning and to receive
  application for GU scholarship, b) scholarship
  application materials submitted by site
  coordinators to central GU office for scoring of
  objective criteria
• AZ Community Foundation ctee reviewed and scored
  applicant materials for subjective criteria

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
17
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PROCESS AND PACKAGING

• We learned what worked for 100 students, will
  not work for thousands
• NEED streamline application process in order to
  maximize scholarship consideration
• RESULT Year 6 application is simply SAR high
  school resumé electronically gathered PEPS
  info.
• Fewer paper hurdles for students

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
18
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PROCESS AND PACKAGING

• We learned what worked for 100 students, will
  not work for thousands
• NEED collect information from PEPS meetings
  electronically (rather than rely on
  student-submitted attachments to a paper
  application)
• RESULT new pages in the GEAR UP database - data
  entered by staff at GEAR UP sites during/after
  PEPS meetings
• Captures what the Year 5 application form did (
  more)

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PROCESS AND PACKAGING

• We learned what worked for 100 students, will
  not work for thousands
• NEED retain financial need as the key criterion
  but expand consideration beyond Pell-eligible
• RESULT priority to Pell vs. requirement for Pell
• Every graduating GEAR UP Senior should be
  counseled as part of PEPS to complete the FAFSA
  and submit a SAR high school resumé to their
  Site Coordinator by 3/31/06

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
20
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 PROCESS AND PACKAGING

• We learned what worked for 100 students, will
  not work for thousands
• NEED communicate streamlined application process
  to graduating seniors, emphasize importance of
  PEPS and the FAFSA
• RESULT State Office letter to be issued in
  mid-September a follow-up promoting FAFSA in
  mid-January
• Requires student records in the GEAR UP database
  to be as clean as possible

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
21
Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 CRITICAL MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS

• Money is not a roadblock, there are numerous
  sources of aid available
• GEAR UP Scholarship is part of a financial aid
  package
• Complete the FAFSA! Turn in SAR resumé even if
  you think you arent Pell-eligible or
  academically eligible
• Consider NAU

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

YEAR 6 CRITICAL MESSAGES FOR SITES

• The GEAR UP database is a key tool for
  scholarship assessment
• Key data elements AIMS results postsecondary
  plan GPA class rank ACT/SAT scores schools
  applied to, admitted to, and attending
  scholarships received/accepted GU participation
  hours Pell Grant eligibility EFC citizenship
• If we do not successfully collaborate to capture
  PEPS data, it will likely result in students not
  receiving scholarships who otherwise would

PEPS and the GEAR UP Scholarship PREP for PEPS
Meeting ? August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School
PREP FOR PEPS -----------------------------------
------------- PEPS MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

BACKGROUND

• PEPS in Year 5 Provided verbal instruction,
  guides and checklists for meetings.
• PEPS in Year 6 Formalized expectations, updated
  guides and checklists.

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

PRELIMINARY PLAN IDENTIFICATION

• Coordinators Knowledge of Student Plans Report
• 4 - Year College/ University (Bachelors Degree)
• 2 - Year College/ Certificates (CC, Voc/Career
  Schools/Programs)
• Trade School/Military/Other
• Student is Undecided
• Not Known by Coordinator

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

PRELIMINARY PLAN IDENTIFICATION

• Coordinators Knowledge of Student Plans Report

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

INITIAL INDIVIDUAL STUDENT MEETINGS

• Objectives
• Verify /Update Locating info
• Graduation status
• Assess reason for and viability of plan
• Explore perceived barriers

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

FOLLOW UP

• Vary based on students plans
• May be individual or small group
• May include parents
• May be telephonic

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

FOLLOW UP

• For University-Bound Students, focus on
• Completing application(s) by deadlines
• Doing well on college entrance exams
• Understanding financial aid / completing FAFSA
• Receiving additional support / resources
• Update database within 3-4 days

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

FOLLOW UP

• For Community College Bound Students, focus on
• Understanding financial aid / completing FAFSA
• Taking placement tests
• Completing application / registration
• Receiving other support / resources
• Update database within 3-4 days

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

FOLLOW UP

• For Undecided Students, focus on
• Exploration
• Perceived Barriers
• Visioning
• Update database within 3-4 days

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

DATABASE DOCUMENTATION

• Current / best address telephone number
• Postsecondary plan
• AIMS test results
• GPA Class Rank (following fall of senior year)
• ACT / SAT scores dates
• Schools Applied to / Admitted to / Attending
• Scholarships Received / Accepted
• Date Duration of every PEPS

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

DATABASE PEPS PAGE - 1

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

DATABASE PEPS PAGE - 2
Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

DATABASE PEPS PAGE STATE OFFICE

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

POST GRADUATION VERIFICATION

• By 5/15/06 Plan for verifying students
  August/September (i.e., fall) status
• By 9/14/06 Report students fall status to
  State Office

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

FOCUS ON FINANCIAL AID

• September Site Coordinators Meeting

Minimum Expectations PREP for PEPS Meeting ?
August 18, 2005
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School
PREP FOR PEPS -----------------------------------
------------- SITE PLANS STRATEGIES LEARNING
FROM ONE ANOTHER
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Northern Arizona University ? GEAR UP Preparing
Students to Succeed Beyond High School

LUNCHTIME EXERCISE

• Handouts
• Site Management Plan Form
• PEPS Expectations
• PEPS Guides Checklists
• Strategize implementation of PEPS with your Site
  Team

Plans Strategies PREP for PEPS Meeting ? August
18, 2005