UPDATE 1/29/2025: Well, shortly after we published the Digest, the OMB reversed course and rescinded the pause described below. Onward!

Like the proverbial bull in a China shop, the Trump administration has upended decades of standards, norms, and precedents. In the last several days, we’ve seen the U.S. Department of Education (ED) tout its efforts to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the agency, and then we saw the entire landscape shake with the administration putting a…

Each spring, NCCEP hosts two Learning Labs for GEAR UP professionals to gain knowledge, skills, and connection. Learning Labs are small cohort learning experiences that combine virtual sessions with asynchronous online courses. Applications are due by February 28.

• College Success Learning Lab. Are you currently or will you be supporting college students and offering one-on-one advising? If so, join NCCEP and Bottom Line! Over eleven weeks, you will: gain ready-to-use resources and…

FAFSA Completion Week of Action

Mark your calendars for January 13–17! Join Federal Student Aid in boosting FAFSA completion rates during the FAFSA Completion Week of Action. 

Here are some ideas to get involved:

• Host FAFSA Completion Pizza Parties.
• Organize virtual webinars to guide students through the process.
• Offer 1:1 office hours for personalized assistance.
• Create competitions between 12th-grade classes to encourage participation. 

Share your activities by tagging NCCEP on so…

Come ready to participate! Discussion Labs are an opportunity to share, learn, and problem-solve together. 

During this Discussion Lab, we will explore how to incorporate financial literacy topics into GEAR UP family programming across age groups. Come ready to share your ideas, what you’ve tried, and learn from others.

Join NCCEP’s Family Engagement Advisory Committee for this conversation-based meeting.

Click here to register today!

As the year comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible GEAR UP community and all that we’ve accomplished together in 2024. Your dedication, passion, and commitment to making a difference inspire us every day. 

May your holiday season be filled with joy, peace, and the warmth of connection. Here’s to a bright and impactful 2025—together, we’ll continue planting seeds for a brighter future!

Like many of you, we have concerns about how the incoming administration’s broad position on immigration may influence a student’s or family’s willingness to complete the FAFSA. As of today, we simply do not know how the next administration will proceed or how data privacy policies may or may not change. We expect that the U.S. Department of Education will issue commentary shortly, but for now, see a summary of the current data privacy protections from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher…

If you ever have the chance to visit the NCCEP office, you’ll notice that our walls are covered with amazing photographs of GEAR UP alumni, students, and educators. These images are a testament to the magic that happens when possibility, opportunity, and preparation collide. The transformational effect that GEAR UP can have on young people drives everything we do at NCCEP and these faces are a daily reminder of why we do it.

Emotions are high right now. Many are elated by the election results,…

2025 National GEAR UP Academy

Registration for the 2025 National GEAR UP Academy is now open! Taking place February 3 – 6, this event is packed with informative and engaging content for any GEAR UP professional.

You’ll hear inspiring keynotes, have team time to debrief what you’re learning, and be able to attend classes on topics that GEAR UP professionals need to succeed, ranging from grant administration to student support. With a blend of expert speakers, peer presenters, and…

Come ready to participate! Discussion Labs are an opportunity to share, learn, and problem-solve together. 

GEAR UP’s mission is to increase postsecondary attendance, so it’s critical to collect, understand, and share college enrollment data. Learn how College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC) member GEAR UP Tennessee uses the National Student Clearinghouse to dissect and disseminate information about who and where students are going to college. Come ready to have a…