Postsecondary Access & Success

Getting More Thoughtful about Postsecondary Options for Students

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 education options. The truth is,…

November 9, 2022Melissa GattusoPostsecondary Access & Success

#WhyApply

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 is essential. Working in the…

October 3, 2022Melissa GattusoPostsecondary Access & Success

Does Biden’s College Loan Forgiveness Program turn “college” into a trigger word? And what does that mean for college access grants?

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 landmark move to wipe out…

September 26, 2022Melissa GattusoPostsecondary Access & Success

We <3 Data: Xcalibur at the NCCEP CBW 2020

Another NCCEP Capacity Building Workshop (CBW) has come to an end. NCCEP holds the annual CBW in February and this year’s conference was in sunny Orlando, FL. The Xcalibur team was in attendance to talk with grantees, meet new GEAR UP staff and learn tips and tricks to make our work even stronger. Attendees of…

March 4, 2020Allie SheldonPostsecondary Access & Success

Students Who Participate in College Visits Have an Advantage Over Students Who Don’t!

For those of us who work in the college and career access field, it comes as no surprise that students who participate in college visits have an advantage in the admissions process over students who do not participate in college visits. A recent article on InsideHigherEd.com reinforces that, “A student who visits campus, and does so long enough…

January 19, 2018Julie JaramilloPostsecondary Access & SuccessGEAR UP College Visits