Statewide Initiatives
State Conference
The GEAR UP State Conference is held each year in various locations around the state. Sponsored by the state office, the conference is a collaboration between the state program and local partnership grants that provide local leadership and support for the conference. Presenters and program partners provide presentations that focus attention on successful practices and encourage networking and sharing of program results.
2010 Conference: "Navigating to College Success," Corpus Christi, TX
The 2010 GEAR UP Conference, "Navigating to College Success," will be held November 9-10 in Corpus Christi, Texas at the Omni Bayfront and Marina Hotels.
Working in partnership with the Texas Education Agency's GEAR UP/STAR program and the Pre-College Outreach Office at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the conference will offer professional development sessions focused on college awareness and access topics, including college readiness, college success, and program management. Please join us!
Conference Registration
Online registration is available now.
Hotel Accommodations
Hotel registration for conference attendees is available by calling the Omni Bayfront Hotel at 1.800.THE.OMNI. If booking multiple rooms, please contact Ross Rutherford at 361.886.3556. Single rooms are available for $90 per night; multiple occupancy rooms are available for $139. Both rates include parking fees. Use the "GEAR UP Conference" code for the special conference rate. Reservations must be made by October 17, 2010.
Call for Proposals
Proposals are currently being accepted to present at the "Navigating to College Success" conference. Session proposal forms may be downloaded in PDF (for Acrobat 9 and higher) or Word and must be submitted to conference@texasgearup.com by Friday, October 1, 2010. Presenters will be notified of acceptance by Monday, October 11, 2010. Conference programs from the 2008 and 2009 conferences are available below.
Exhibitors and Sponsors
Partner organizations designed to further the goals of GEAR UP are invited to participate in the conference. Detailed information regarding sponsorship are available in the Exhibitor Packet. Exhibitors are encouraged to present a breakout session regarding implementation strategies and outcomes of products and initiatives in cooperation with staff or educators from a GEAR UP Partnership project. A session proposal form may be submitted in PDF or Word by the exhibitor or by the GEAR UP project. Sales presentations are not permitted.
Additional Information
Additional information is available by contacting Doris Teague, Texas GEAR UP Statewide Initiatives Coordinator, at conference@texasgearup.com, or any of the Texas GEAR UP staff.
2009 Conference: "College for Y'All," Houston, TX
The 2009 GEAR UP Conference, "College for Y'All," was held September 22-23 in Houston, Texas at the J.W. Marriott Galleria.
The College for Y'all Conference was a joint effort between the Texas Education Agency's Texas State GEAR UP Project and Houston area GEAR UP partnership grantees: College for All (Project GRAD Houston/Houston ISD), GEAR UP for Success (Pasadena ISD), San Jacinto North/Galena Park GEAR UP (San Jacinto North), and Spring Woods High School GEAR UP (Spring Branch ISD).
The conference offered professional development sessions focused on college awareness and access topics, including College Readiness, College Access, College Success, and Program Management. Specific sessions were offered for parents, teachers/administrators, counselors, business and university representatives and program directors.
*Click here to download the program from the 2009 College for Y'all Texas GEAR UP Conference.
2008 Conference: "Rally in the Valley," McAllen, TX
The 2008 State Conference was held May 6-7 in McAllen, Texas, and brought almost 800 GEAR UP professionals, educators, and parents together to learn from more than 60 presenters. Co-sponsored by the Region One Education Service Center and The University of Texas-Pan American, the Rally in the Valley conference featured local, state and national presentations.
*Click here to download the program from the 2008 Rally in the Valley Texas State GEAR UP Conference.