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GEAR UP

  
 

The Claflin University GEAR UP Program has Seven Major Components, which have all been successfully implemented. These seven major components are briefly discussed.
• Parental Involvement and Empowerment
• After School Tutoring
• Tutors in the Schools
• Counselors in the Schools
• Saturday Academy
• Summer Enrichment Institute
• Mentorship Component

TUTORING / COUNSELING PROGRAMS COMPONENTS

1. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT
Parent Seminars are held each quarter focusing on the goals and objectives of CUGU. At these seminars, parent round table sessions are offered on a variety of topics and issues that affect parents of the target group. Samples of parenting session’s topics include “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Parents” “College Is Possible”, “Alcohol and Drug Abuse: How to talk to your Child” and “How to Get Money for College”. In order to better accommodate parents, these Parent Seminars are alternately held on the Claflin University campus and each of the participating schools. A fourteen member Parent Advisory Board spearheads the activities of this component.

2. AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING
CUGU provides trained university students as tutors to the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades After School Programs at Clark Middle School, Howard Middle School, and O-W High School. CUGU also assumes the cost of the teaching staff for these After School Programs. During the 2003-04 school year over 520 students were served in the After School/Homework Centers at the target schools.

3. TUTORS IN THE SCHOOL
In addition to providing service to the After School Programs, tutors are assigned to work with each of the participating schools during the school day. These tutors assist the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grade teachers and students on a floating tutor model. Specific activities that are provided include individual and small group academic assistance, mentoring, and small group presentations.

4. COUNCELORS IN THE SCHOOL
CUGU employs two guidance counselors who are assigned to each of the participating schools three days per week. These counselors work exclusively for sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grade students under the direction and supervision of the schools’ guidance counselors. Specific services provided include small group counseling, career exploration activities, and character education activities.

5. SATURDAY ACADEMY
Two Saturday Academy sessions are held each month. These sessions offer classes in English/Language Arts, Test-taking and Learning Strategies, Mathematics and Science, Computer Education, Career Exploration, African-American History, Algebra, Geometry, and Character Education. Currently, two hundred and thirty (230) students from the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grades of the participating schools are enrolled in the Saturday Academy. Whenever possible, classes are thematically integrated in order to foster retention and transfer of skills.

6. SUMMER ENRICHMENT INSTITUTE
A five-week Summer Enrichment Institute is held each summer on the Claflin campus. On the average, approximately two hundred fifty (250) students participate in the afternoon Institute that offers classes in English/Language Arts, Fine Arts (Dance and Music), Physical Fitness and Martial Arts, Learning Strategies, Math and Science, African-American History, Character Education, and other appropriate courses.

7. MENTORSHIP COMPONENT
GEAR UP provides mentorship opportunities throughout the academic year by offering group activities where GEAR UP scholars can interact with University students, staff, volunteers, and other adults. One example is the annual SHADOW DAY Experience held each year during the month of February – National Shadow Month. Saturday Academy scholars participate in the daylong activity that matches them with a University student during the morning and a Faculty/Staff member in the afternoon. Mentor and mentee evaluations have rated the SHADOW DAY Experience with an overall rating of good. Several University groups have adopted the GEAR UP Program including the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the International Students’ Association, the Alice C. Tisdale Honors College and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

This year , GEAR UP established two innovative mentoring programs at each of the target middle schools entitled Team Mentoring through School Based Character Clubs. Team Mentoring is a type of mentoring where several adults work with small groups of young people, in which the adult to youth ratio is not greater than 1:4. The mentoring team at each of the Character Clubs target schools is comprised of the school counselor, the GEAR UP school site coordinator, a club facilitator, GEAR UP counselors, and two consultants from the Visionary Leaders’ Institute.

The Character Clubs
The Gentlemen’s Club and The G.I.R.L.S. Club (Girls Involved in Reaching Life Success) were created to serve as a lifeline for young ladies and young men who often “fall through the cracks” These young persons, specifically African American, need to know that there are options available for their futures: that they do not have to be ruled by the rhythm of the streets. The objective is to help at-risk females and males transition into young ladies and gentlemen who are productive and successful in all of their endeavors. The school counselors in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and GEAR UP staff select thirty (30) boys and thirty girls in grades 6-8 at the two GEAR UP target middle schools. The students have been identified as “at risk” based on their poor academic performance, excessive discipline referrals, and poor attendance and /or other factors.

The Claflin University GEAR UP Program serves the following populations.
• The entire 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Clark Middle School (817 students)
• The entire 6th , 7th ,and 8th grades at Howard Middle School (620 students)
• The 9th and 10th grades at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School (1220 students)
A new cohort group (incoming 6th graders) is added to the Claflin University GEAR UP Program each year of the grant while continuing to serve the present participants. The 2003-04 school year is the final year of this five year grant cycle and over 2657 students have been served from 1999-2000 to 2003-2004.
• Parents, teachers, school counselors, Orangeburg Consolidated Five School District and the Orangeburg community at large.

Services provided by Claflin University GEAR UP
To Students – Opportunities to participate in field trips, career fairs, campus activities, summer programs, community service, and cultural activities; Tutoring and mentoring provided by caring adults and professionals; Early awareness activities and information; Assistance with academic preparations; Career and post secondary exploration and planning.
To Parents – Ongoing information, support, and strategies aimed to increase parent involvement in preparing students for college; Opportunities to participate in CUGU events; Assistance with college and financial aid planning and the application process.
To School District – Services and resources to support and to enhance academic and career development opportunities; Curriculum and teaching materials; Professional development opportunities for teachers and staff; Curriculum and teaching materials; Professional development opportunities for teachers and staff.