FSU’s GEAR UP Funded for Six Years with $5,963,825 

It was just last year when Dr. Dorothy Holmes, Executive Director of Special Programs and Mrs. Teresa Thompson-Pinckney, Director of GEAR UP, received the fateful news that one of the five federally funded programs housed at Fayetteville State University had lost its funding for the following grant cycle. 

“In the spring of 2006, we submitted a grant proposal for a new GEAR UP program to the U.S. Department of Education, and we were later informed that our grant proposal was not successful. The cut-off score was 97.33, and Fayetteville State University (FSU) earned a 97. Of course, we were disappointed because we had come so close to being awarded a new GEAR UP grant,” stated Dr. Holmes. 

Dr. Holmes says the next step was to phase out the program which was serving 1200  students attending Luther “Nick” Jeralds Middle school and E.E. Smith High School. Unfortunately, closing its doors would require making the difficult announcement that there would be a significant downsize in staff.  She says, “We had approximately thirty-five people on the GEAR UP staff including part-time employees, as well as 120 volunteers. The amount in the budget at that point was just enough to extend the program for another year, keeping a few staff members. We applied for and received a one-year no-cost extension, which enabled us to close out the program using no additional funds.  Mrs. Pinckney remained as director with one secretary and one professional tutor.” 

During this period, Mrs. Thompson-Pinckney carried on the best she could with very limited resources. She explained, “We continued to provide support and we tracked the GEAR UP high school seniors attending E.E. Smith High. Dr. Carrol Arnold, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at FSU (Honors Program), sent us about 75 honor students to help with the program, and we had office support as well.  The volunteers were the backbone during our last year of operation.  I give them accolades for what they did.” 

Although there was no real assurance, somewhere in the back of their minds there always lived the hope of reviving GEAR UP. After the school year winded down and the summer was at its peak, Dr. Holmes and Mrs. Thompson-Pinckney never imagined a pleasant surprise was forthcoming. Dr. Holmes recalled, “I got a call from the GEAR UP team leader in Washington, DC at the U.S. Department of Education that GEAR UP funds had become available; she was recommending to the U.S. Secretary of Education that FSU be awarded a new GEAR UP grant. I’ll never forget the date.  July 9th was the deadline for submitting our revised budget and other documents to our team leader.  Mrs. Thompson-Pinckney was leaving for a two-week vacation, and I was on my way to a week-long conference.  We had to contact our GEAR UP community partners with hopes that they would agree to another six-year commitment. We had about eight business days to get it all done, and we made the deadline.” 

Overall, the funding process took about five weeks, but it was well worth the anticipation. Dr. Holmes remembered, “I spoke with the GEAR UP team leader on Monday, August 6th and she informed me by telephone that FSU had been approved for a new six-year grant. I thought to myself, ‘This is fantastic.’  It was a very exciting moment for us.”  

Based on the final grant award notification, which arrived August 16, 2007, FSU’s GEAR UP program will be funded for six years with a total of $5,963,825.GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is  designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.  In 2000, GEAR UP was established at FSU and operated for six years with awards totaling $4,160,000.  Over the last six years, GEAR UP and its partners provided academic support services to high-poverty middle and high schools. Cohorts of students were served beginning at the 6th and 7th grades, and they were tracked throughout high school. 

As a partnership program, it is required that GEAR UP work with one or more local education agencies or school district, one or more degree-granting institutions of higher education, and at least two other entities such as community-based organizations, businesses, faith-based organizations, college student organizations, state agencies, family organizations or parent groups.  

According to Dr. Holmes, “We have community partners that support the efforts of  GEAR UP. Our partners for this new grant will include FSU (which serves as the fiscal agent), Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (SR-AHEC), Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, and AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination).” 

“Furthermore, a partnership grant is a matching grant. In other words, we have to match our grant award dollar for dollar through in-kind contributions.  For example, FSU provides the honors students and faculty members who volunteer as well as the office space and facilities. Most of the match comes from the tutoring and mentoring that the honors students are providing.  Also, with the help of Mr. Keith Coleman, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity has donated cash contributions designated for GEAR UP scholarships,” Dr. Holmes added. 

Both Dr. Holmes and Mrs. Thompson-Pinckney agree that GEAR UP is not only about partnering with the community.  Eventually, the program will have a lasting impact on Cumberland County.  Mrs. Thompson-Pinckney expressed, “GEAR UP potentially has an economic impact on the community because we provide students with services that will assist them with graduation from high school and admission into college.  Ultimately, we are looking at productive citizens.  A lot of these students are from low-income households and will be first generation college students.  Currently, students that fit this profile are underrepresented in post-secondary institutions.  We feel like GEAR UP has been successful in accomplishing our goals.” 

In fact, 65 percent of students from the first GEAR UP cohort (2000-2001) enrolled in college upon graduating from high school in 2006. These success stories are certainly a source of inspiration for Mrs. Thompson-Pinckney, for her passion derives from her personal testimony.  She revealed, “I am someone who has benefited from a program like GEAR UP, so it makes me feel good to see other students get the same opportunity.  I am a product of the Educational Talent Search Program, so I am a TRIO alumna.” 

Dr. Holmes shares in the delight, “Receiving this grant was like a dream come true. I have been working with low-income and potential first generation college students for almost twenty years, and I have witnessed the need for these programs. We steer and guide students in the right direction. We also work with the parents because that is an important aspect. If we can get the parents to understand the impact of a college education, they can pass this information on to their children.” 

For this dynamic duo, the spreading of the good news is just the beginning. A long but fulfilling journey is yet to come as preparations are presently being made for the next six years.  “We are going to implement the same services that were provided in the first grant, but those services will be extended. The schools we will service include middle schools such as Luther “Nick” Jerald’s, Anne Chesnutt, and Westover.  The partnership will then continue to provide services to all students through high school graduation.  We will provide professional tutors for students during the school day, after school and for our Saturday Academy.  School teachers from target schools will attend professional development workshops, and parents of GEAR UP students will attend workshops and participate in college tours with their children.  The students will be engaged in cultural and educational activities, and they will be able to attend college residential summer camps.  This grant will start GEAR UP services with sixth and seventh graders with the intent of presenting college options and financial aid for college to students at a very early age,” explained Dr. Holmes. 

As outlined in the proposal, GEAR UP will serve 1,366 6th and 7th grade students in Cumberland County. In years two, three, and four, an additional 6th grade cohort will come aboard, bringing the total students served to approximately 3,373 by the fourth year.  GEAR UP will continue to provide services and track all students as they move through high school and enroll in college. Without a doubt, this effort will take a team of staff members, volunteers, partners, and donors. 

“We want people to understand that these programs do work, and we are successful. Therefore, we are grateful to those who agreed to be partners. Without them, we could not meet GEAR UP’s objectives. We thank FSU for hosting the program and the FSU family for supporting GEAR UP,” concluded Dr. Holmes. 

For additional information on GEAR UP, please call (910) 672-1034.