NYGEAR UP - Technical Workshop Highlights

Thank you to all who were able to attend this year's NYGEAR UP Technical Workshop. The information shared and the networking that took place are the main reasons why NYGEAR UP has been successful in its GEAR UP grant administration.

I would like to extend to a special thanks to Jonell Sanchez, Director of Academic Outreach and Program Development and Carol Kercheval, Higher Education Assessment Manager, both of the College Board, for presenting ACCUPLACER, a widely used postsecondary placement tool that, if used earlier in the academic lives of our students, might prove useful in reducing remediation. Based on the mission of GEAR UP, our roles are not just to graduate students from high school, but to increase their ability to succeed in college. As Carol and Jonell presented, ACCUPLACER can be used as early as 11th grade.

The evaluation form for the ACCUPLACER session conducted last week at the NYGEAR UP Technical Workshop is available for your completion. Please take the time to complete and return it to the NYGEAR UP mailbox (nygearup@hesc.org). Jonell and Carol were in high-demand last week and were unable to stay and network with all of us; however, they would love to hear from you and your evaluation form will help them better understand your interests.

Thank you to Mark Smith and Owen Koo from Higher Education Services Corporation's Audit, Quality, and Assurance Office for presenting the top ten audit issues. It generated a rousing conversation that produced many questions such as:

• Can baby-sitting cost be charged to GEAR UP?

Owen's response: "In the Early Outcomes of the GEAR UP Program report issued by ED in August 2008; in one sentence, it does mention some sites provided child care in order to attract participation of activities by parents. Unfortunately, it does not say whether these sites charged the cost to GEAR UP or claimed as match."

James Davis' response: "We have approved child care cost at GEAR UP events focused on parents. Request of that nature would require prior approval. The cost can be allowable as either."

• How does a grantee calculate Fair Market Value?

James Davis' response: "I am not surprised that they have a difficult time justifying fair market value. In most cases, grantees are required to value in-kind contributions of facilities and equipment using depreciation or use allowance rather than fair market value. Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted formula for either.

And as other fiscal and program challenges are encountered, I will attempt to provide information to the GEAR UP community via the web site. This may be the most appropriate real-time and historical method, we can use to share information and resources."

It was a great pleasure to host a session featuring, Measurement Incorporated (MI). Dr. Sara Silver, Sarah Arnold, and Louis Burdi were on-hand to provide guidance and assurance on meeting the goals of the grant. Many attendees found this session to be most helpful when completing their database entries for the NYGEAR UP grant.

The evaluation team presented on the new reporting features for the database (still under construction), which will allow subgrantees to view GEAR UP participation hours associated with promotion or retention, GEAR UP participation associated with different GPA's, and a view of the previous year's APR (2008-09). These extra features are an opportunity for each sub-grantee to conduct real-time program assessment to meet goals and objectives.

Measurement Inc. staff, like ACCUPLACER, would like feedback from you on their presentation. Please take the time to complete the evaluation form and let HESC and Measurement Inc. know how they can be of better assistance to you.

On behalf of the NYGEAR UP and GEAR UP families, I would like to extend a personal thank you to Higher Education Services Corporation's Acting President, Elsa Magee for accepting the invitation to address us at our closing on Thursday, September 24, 2009. She reminded us that grants involving college readiness and access will have a large impact for years to come and that we, as a group, are poised to make great things happen locally, regionally, and nationally. Her words provided encouragement and enlightenment to our group and reassured us that we endure for a purpose.

To all of the GEAR UP grantees, I am humbled by your support and commitment to the families of New York. I understand that you are inordinately busy at your respective sites as you engage your local partnerships and institutions for another year of GEAR UP; but I thank you for stopping by the Century House for training and networking.