Preparing Students for the Pathway to College
For some Arkansas students, the dream of going to college begins to fade as early as middle school as they begin to question their ability to succeed in college.
The University of Central Arkansas has been selected as the recipient of $30 million in funding as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP).
UCA is the first university in Arkansas to receive the GEAR UP statewide grant, which the university’s College of Education will facilitate for programming to prepare students for the pathway to college.
The GEAR UP Arkansas project is designed to increase academic opportunities and student preparedness for disadvantaged and at-risk students. This program aims to help students achieve a 19 on the ACT, making them eligible for additional scholarships before entering college. The project will target sixth- and seventh-grade students from high-poverty and low-performing districts across the state. The current grant funding involves more than 3,400 students.
The program launched in November 2023. Leaders and superintendents from 11 districts across the state attended the kickoff meeting to discuss what the program entails and how the university plans to work with them to implement an effective GEAR UP Arkansas program. As part of the kickoff activities, representatives from the university visited school districts, talked with students, and laid the groundwork for the GEAR UP program.
“Knowledge is power. We are going to impact both students and their families by helping them grow in the area of college and teaching them how to navigate the pathway to college,” said Charlotte Parham, GEAR UP program coordinator and associate professor at the UCA College of Education. “We hope we increase the number of students that graduate from college in Arkansas.”
The Arkansas Division of Higher Education’s 2021 report shows that 89% of Arkansas students graduate from college which is, above the national average of 87%. However, it is estimated that nearly half of the undergraduates in the state will need remediation classes in college-level subjects.
“We talk a lot about being college ready, but oftentimes we don’t talk about the pathway,” said Parham. “We want to help students, families, and school districts navigate that pathway so that if those students decide to attend college, they will know what it takes to get there. UCA is the lead in that effort.”
As the lead in that effort, the university oversees and implements various programs to assist students, their families, and the school districts participating in GEAR UP. Aspiration, entry, and academic preparation are three areas of college preparedness covered by the program. As many students in these communities don’t consider college as an option, the college aspiration area is designed to change their mindsets by redefining their personal narratives of who they can become. The college entry area focuses on families, preparing them to become allies for their children’s pathway to college by informing them about applications, scholarships and more. The academic preparation area provides students with academic skills that will assist them in entering college and having a successful college experience.
“The focus is preparing students to be successful in higher education,” said Victoria Groves-Scott, dean of the College of Education. “Children will get the opportunity to imagine careers, explore college opportunities, and have more resources to set them on a path toward success. Regardless of the child’s intent to go to college or technical school, GEAR UP will give them a platform to imagine possibilities for the future.”
For the university, working with these families and school districts across the state is vital because it will give UCA a presence within these communities.
“Even if they’re not in our cohort, these schools and families are going to see UCA in their community, and I think that’s going to have a big impact on the university,” said Parham. “We are building and developing partnerships with these sixth- and seventh-grade students. We’re bringing them to campus and building rapport. As a faculty member, I want these students to see themselves at college, and it would be amazing if they could see themselves at UCA.”
“The College of Education is extremely community-focused,” said Groves-Scott. “The large majority of faculty have worked in K-12 schools and are deeply committed to the success of all students. The GEAR UP grant strengthens these connections and will forge new connections with school districts outside our geographic region. The impact will be profound and grow exponentially over the years of the grant.”
Knowledge is power. We are going to impact both students and their families by helping them grow in the area of college and teaching them how to navigate the pathway to college.
Charlotte Parham
GEAR UP Program Coordinator and
Associate Professor at the UCA College of Education