Partners

Oregon GEAR UP works with a variety of organizations to support efforts to create a college-going culture in schools and communities. These partnerships do not necessarily reflect an endorsement of the views and policies of our partner organizations or institutions. In addition to working closely with Oregon's community colleges and 4-year universities, we collaborate with the following regional and national partners:

Partner	Information
	Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone (ASPIRE) provides mentoring and resources to help students access education and training beyond high school, helps high schools build a sustainable community of volunteer mentors, and educates students and families about the scholarship application process and other options for paying for postsecondary education. ASPIRE and GEAR UP collaborated to create a group mentoring curriculum for middle school students.
	ECMC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC), a national guaranty agency that insures student loans for college. ECMC produces the Opportunities Booklet for Oregon students, sponsors College Nights in Oregon, and manages The College Place, a college access center that provides individual help with college applications and financial aid.
	Metis Associates is a research and consulting firm committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. Metis Associates provides the external evaluation of the Oregon GEAR UP program as well as resources and professional development opportunities for educators.
	National Council for Community & Education Partnerships (NCCEP) is the U.S. Department of Education-designated technical assistance and training provider for the state and partnership grantees who receive GEAR UP federal funds. NCCEP sponsors two national conferences each year.
	Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) administers a variety of state, federal, and privately funded student financial aid programs for the benefit of Oregonians attending institutions of postsecondary education.
	Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA) partners with GEAR UP to provide financial aid information and assistance through our statewide initiative, Oregon Goes To College.
	Oregon College Savings Plan provides accounts that students can make to help follow their dream, from community college to trade school, to apprenticeships, and so much more. GEAR UP students have the opportunity to open accounts, raise funds and learn about saving for education after high school
	Oregon State University’s Office of Precollege Programs has collaborated on a variety of summer programs and educational opportunities for GEAR UP students, including Beaver Hangouts, a virtual mentoring program that pairs OSU college students with a class. Oregon State Unversity's Open Campus provides culturally relevant programming for 8-12th grade students and their parents with the Juntos program.
	Oregon State Treasury helps Oregonians save money for college and career training costs through the Oregon College Savings Plan. They have committed funds to seed accounts for GEAR UP students and provide additional financial incentives for students who complete key college readiness milestones.
	Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC) is an education association of those who work with students as they make the transition from high school to post-secondary education. They offer professional development, host college fairs and provide free membership for public high schools in the region.
	Seeds Training lead the popular Student Leadership Retreat held each summer for GEAR UP students. Their high impact training programs engage youth in confidence-building and problem-solving exercises that can be applied to their daily lives.
	Southern Oregon University Youth Programs offers a variety of summer programs for youth. GEAR UP has offered scholarships to students to attend diverse programs such as Camp M.D.
	The Alliance is a coalition of Oregon's independent colleges and universities. They provide programming for GEAR UP students and educators.
	The Ford Family Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation based in Roseburg, Oregon that believes in "successful citizens and vital rural communities," and is therefore committed to improving post-secondary education awareness, preparation, and enrollment for rural students. They supported the ten GEAR UP communities in the 2011-2017 cohort.