STAR Project

Upcoming Events

National GEAR UP Day
September 30, 2010

Texas GEAR UP State Conference
Corpus Christi, TX
November 9-10, 2010

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GEAR UP Project Spotlight

Tyler GEAR UP Project
The University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TX
Tyler GEAR UP sends students to summer camps at Sky Ranch, where they learn leadership and goal-setting skills.

STAR Project

Partnerships

The Texas state GEAR UP grant works with the following partners:

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) TAMUCC houses the Pre-College Outreach Center through the College of Education. The College of Education provides expertise in instruction, community connections, and learning theory that help to create and maintain strong mentoring relationships with our partner districts.
- Faculty Fellows Faculty Fellows are key GEAR UP/STAR liaisons between higher education and public schools. One TAMUCC professor pairs with each of the six partner school districts. The Fellow makes regular visits to his or her partner district, conducting workshops, mentoring middle and high school students, and meeting with parents and teachers.
- Student Ambassadors These current TAMUCC students serve as mentors and role models in the partner districts. Faculty Fellows and Student Ambassadors enter schools not as instructors but as collaborators. Together, they help make the college experience a tangible goal for middle and high school students.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) TAMUK also provides Faculty Fellows to work with the six STAR districts. Housed in the College of Education, the Faculty Fellows initiative provides professors from across the university campus to provide instructional and content support to teachers in participating middle and high schools. The Fellows at TAMUK work with the sister project at TAMUCC to ensure that services are maximized.
College Board The College Board provides professional development opportunities to all STAR districts in an effort to build vertical teams of teachers and to create resources for students enrolled in advanced academic programs. The POC and the College Board work with middle and high school faculties to plan, develop, and improve Advance Placement (AP) course offerings. The College Board also partners with the STAR Project to offer CollegeEd training for counselors and materials for every cohort student.
Fathers Active in Communities & Education (FACE) The FACE program, directed by Mr. Alphonso Rincón, equips parents with information about the importance of their support in their student's academic career. It also promotes intervention and support for academics from local businesses.
National Hispanic Institute (NHI) The National Hispanic Institute builds relationships with businesses and communities and empowers students to grow within and serve their communities. The NHI helps provide students with college campus tours, mentoring, and advanced academic opportunities (including student leadership academies, such as the Best of the Best, Young Leaders Conference, Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session and College World Series). It also encourages family and community support through a variety of activities.
Texas Center for Educational Research (TCER) As the project's external evaluator, TCER examines the impact of GEAR UP on teaching and learning in the six STAR districts. Evaluations for Year One are currently available at http://www.tcer.org/research/star/index.aspx.