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I’ve always said the NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference feels like a family reunion, but this year’s event—Living the Mission: Celebrating 25 Years of GEAR UP—was extra special. It was a joyous gathering of familiar faces where nostalgia filled the air. Whether catching up with old friends or making new ones, […]
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One of my most enjoyable Thanksgiving pastimes is meticulously crafting the perfect dinner plate. Interestingly, I’ve realized that balancing my Thanksgiving plate mirrors the delicate act of navigating the complexities of everyday life—both tend to be quite full. It’s a sentiment shared by many; our plates, whether laden with turkey […]
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Is there a statistical support group or a special place where evaluators unwind after navigating the complex territory of non-significant results? I’m emotionally drained after experiencing the thrill of research and the excitement of discovery, followed by the highly awkward encounter with a dreaded p-value that refuses to dance to […]
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Surveys are a popular research tool for gathering valuable insights and data from individuals on various topics. The two standard survey methods are anonymous and confidential surveys. While both methods aim to protect respondent privacy, they have differences that can influence data quality, respondent honesty, and overall survey effectiveness. This […]
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With student success on the line, GEAR UP grants constantly strive for growth and improvement. Evaluating the grant effectiveness of strategies, processes, and objectives is crucial for obtaining goals for retreat participants. While evaluations are typically done in the office, there’s a growing trend towards evaluation retreats – dedicated blocks […]
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This week marks the first week of Spring, and the buzz of renewal is in the air. Spring is the official name of the season, but GEAR UP members may call this time of year’ APR season.’ It also indicates a renewal, moving from the close examination of last year’s […]
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The Prove Team at NCCEP hosted the first Research Symposium during the 2023 Capacity Building Workshop which provided a space to highlight qualitative and quantitative evaluation studies specific to GEAR UP goals, objectives, services, and outcomes. Xcalibur participated in the Research Symposium and presented with GEAR UP Georgia during the […]
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When we think about postsecondary options for students, we immediately think about education options like public or private universities or colleges, community colleges, career/technical schools, vocational/trade schools, centers for continuing education, campus transition programs, and apprenticeship programs. As a result, our postsecondary programming and planning often focus exclusively on these […]
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The #WhyApply campaign celebrates the college application season by sharing supportive and motivating messages on social media about the importance of college and why students should apply. Whether applying to a certificate program, two-year college, or four-year university, celebrating this critical and necessary step on the journey to postsecondary education […]
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Certain words and phrases elicit intense positive or negative emotions. These are called trigger words, which can usually be grouped into related categories; culture, government, media, pop culture, social debate, and other (pertaining to localities). With the announcement of Biden’s Loan Forgiveness Program, “college” now falls within each category. The […]