Sul Ross State University

News Release for June 20, 2008

SUL ROSS PROGRAM "GEARS UP" AREA STUDENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

by Jason Hennington, News Writer

Although college remains a few years in the distance, 130 area high school students continued to "Gear Up" for higher education at Sul Ross State University. The week-long program was held June 9-13.

Gear Up, a U.S. Department of Education grant program, helps students get a jump on the higher education process while still in junior high. Participating students entered the program as seventh graders in the fall of 2005, and stay involved through a summer college bridge program following high school graduation in 2011.

"Our main goal is help these students pursue their education after high school," said Sul Ross Gear Up director Aster Trevino. "We want them to go to college, not just have a high school diploma."

There are 130 students from 14 schools involved in the program from nine Texas counties bordering Mexico. Participating schools include: Alpine, Balmorhea, Fort Stockton, Grand Falls, Imperial, Marathon, Marfa, Pecos, Presidio, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Terlingua, Valentine and Van Horn.

Staff members, teachers, and mentors are from various locations as well. A number of Sul Ross students and students from other universities serve as mentors, while teachers from each school district also participate. They are housed in the Lobo Village residential complex during the program.

Gear Up has a Quantum Learning workshop for both students and teachers, to help schools get ready for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test (TAKS). For students, Quantum Learning teachers were brought in to hold workshops that use games and fun activities to teach effective techniques and study habits.

Quantum Learning for teachers is a workshop on methods for building a strong foundation, a positive atmosphere of rapport and respect, and a supportive environment. These workshops also train teachers on improving presentation skills, designing engaging lessons and identifying all types of learners. Teachers learn strategies for effective classroom management, accelerating learning, making content more meaningful, and supporting standards based curriculum.

"Gear Up provides everything from tutoring to tools for teaching," said Lali Rivera, Gear Up coordinator.

Gear Up has provided supplies for teachers and students including Texas Instrument calculators, writing utensils, and notebook paper throughout the participating schools.

Dr. Shirley Cook, Ph.D., Professional Development Consultant, was brought to Sul Ross as a part of the Gear Up Quantum Learning program. Cook has designed, developed, written, and edited course materials for the classroom, correspondence study, teleconference, video productions, and professional seminars. Her research has also produced specialized programs for alternative schools, summer programs, and tutorials.

Along with workshops and classes, Gear Up offers field trips to students. The students are split into groups and alternate field trips accordingly.

"Fifty went to Prude Ranch while 50 went to Fort Stockton to go bowling," Trevino said. "The rest stayed here for activities and then went to the Rangra Theatre. There are so many we had to split them into groups."

With only 130 students, Gear Up is only held one week this summer, prior to being two weeks in 2007 and three weeks in 2006.

"The older they get the harder it is to keep them interested," Trevino said. "Next year our students will be sophomores."

Students who attended the camp were housed in the Lobo Villages, and had access to facilities on campus, including the Graves Pierce Recreation Center and swimming pool. Various departments lent assistance. Upward Bound loaned their van for transportation. Melissa Harmon-Jeffs, former Campus Activities coordinator, helped with ice breakers the first day of camp. John Shore, assistant director of Residential Living, helped with housing and getting students checked into their rooms.

"We would like to thank everyone on campus for making this camp go smoothly," Trevino said."We have really enjoyed camp."

For more information on Gear Up, call (432) 837-8024.

MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND CHOSEN FOR NEW DISASTER PLAN PILOT PROGRAM

Sul Ross State University's Museum of the Big Bend is one of 15 museums nationwide chosen for an Historical Preservation pilot program to develop a disaster plan.

Five museums each in Ohio, Mississippi and Texas were selected for the Heritage Preservation's pilot Risk Evaluation and Planning Program. The institutions will be conducting risk evaluations and developing emergency plans with the assistance of a team of experts in the next few months.

"Due to the number of natural disasters, part of the accreditation process for museums is to have a disaster plan," said Larry Francell, Museum of the Big Bend director.

"The pinnacle for museums belonging to the American Association of Museums is to be accredited, but it is a very long and complicated process," he said. "We are pleased to be a part of this pilot program that will assist in the process."

In 2005, the Heritage Health Index, a survey of conditions of collections at museums and libraries nationwide, revealed that 80 percent of collecting institutions do not have an emergency plan that includes collections, with staff trained to carry it out. Recent tornadoes and floods demonstrate the importance of an ongoing commitment to preparing for emergencies. By identifying incentives to help institutions with valuable collections -- but with limited resources to plan for emergencies -- the Risk Evaluation and Planning Program aims to increase the number of cultural institutions that are prepared to deal with disaster.

The Risk Evaluation and Planning Program supports an on-site visit by two professionals -- one in preservation and one in local emergency response -- to evaluate risks, suggest ways to mitigate hazards and provide guidance to institution staff in developing an emergency plan. The Risk Evaluation and Planning Program is supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, a federal agency. "During my museum career, I have been through a fire, a flood and a tornado," said Francell. "This is a valuable program for us to be involved in. I am glad the AAM is looking at this plan as a need and I am pleased that the Museum of the Big Bend will be a part of this pilot program."

Other Texas museums selected for the pilot program are: Amarillo Museum of Art; El Paso Museum of Archaeology; Museum of Printing History, Houston: and Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, West Columbia.

For more information, contact Francell, (432) 837-8145 or francell@sulross.edu.