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…

FSA Virtual Federal Financial Aid Bootcamp 

Federal Student Aid (FSA) invites students, families, and college and career professionals to a one-day Federal Financial Aid Virtual Bootcamp. 

Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Session Times and Titles:

• 1 pm ET - Getting Started with StudentAid.gov
• 3 pm ET – Ways to Pay for College
• 6 pm ET – Facts and Myths of Financial Aid

 The day’s agenda includes:

• An introduction to how to create a StudentAid.gov account for first-time Free Application…

Federal Student Aid released new resources to help students, families, and professionals prepare for the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle. The new tools include:

• 2025-26 Federal Student Aid Estimator: Estimates how much federal aid the student may be eligible to receive.
• “Who Counts as a Parent?” Tool: Helps parents and students determine dependency status and which parent(s) should participate in completing the FAFSA form. 

For more information and answers to common questions, visit FAFSA Help. 

The Consortium for College Opportunity is excited to share details of the upcoming Virtual Workshop Series for advisors, high school students, and families.  Please send workshop information to your students!

This six-workshop series, led by admissions representatives from Consortium member colleges, will empower students, families, and educators interested in learning more about selective colleges. The schedule of sessions is below, including registration links for the next three events.  

Ex…