Thank you so much!! Debbie Gilmer | President Syntiro 11 South Road Readfield, ME 04355 Cell phone: (207) 852-0992 Office: (207) 685-3171 www.syntiro.org [log in to unmask] *"What we do matters. Really, deeply matters. But how we do it matters even more." Dave Hingsburger* On Fri, Oct 8, 2021 at 8:10 AM Sam Prosser <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Good morning Debbie, > I have drafted a letter to send to the Maine senators and am working on > that with Mary. I will be in touch before I send anything out! > Sam > > On Thu, Oct 7, 2021 at 1:51 PM Debbie Gilmer <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> Colleagues, >> >> We are most grateful for your support! Our community is small, but >> mighty! Should you be so inclined, it would be great if you contacted our >> delegation about the impact of the loss of GEAR UP in Maine. >> >> What we know at the moment is that the competition was questionable, at >> best. Eleven state grants were supposed to be funded according to the RFP. >> Only four were (WV, VA, PA and OH). Our scores put us well within the >> funding range (we were #6). The GU legislation requires 33% of the awards >> go to states, 33% to partnerships and 33% are at the discretion of the >> Secretary. State awards represented less than 20% of the funding awarded. >> >> It wasn't just the state competition that was amiss. There were close to >> 200 partnership applications and 52 of them had perfect scores! The >> tie-breaker that was used is questionable at best (they ran the FRL figures >> and, evidently, selected those with the highest rates). 27 partnership >> grants were funded. Imagine a perfect score and no funding! >> >> That's what we know at the moment and we are learning more (much >> distressing) each day. Again, thank you for your support. If you have any >> thoughts of what we might or should be pursuing, please reach out to me ( >> [log in to unmask] or 852-0992). >> >> I have attached the project's abstract for your information. >> >> With much respect and gratitude, >> >> Debbie >> >> Debbie Gilmer | President >> Syntiro >> 11 South Road Readfield, ME 04355 >> Cell phone: (207) 852-0992 >> Office: (207) 685-3171 >> www.syntiro.org >> [log in to unmask] >> >> *"What we do matters. Really, deeply matters. But how we do it matters >> even more." Dave Hingsburger* >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 7, 2021 at 10:19 AM Mary Sinclair <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >>> Your work is valuable and makes a difference, and you are some of the >>> best people to work with. We will keep our fingers crossed for changes and >>> help in any way we can! >>> >>> >>> *Mary Sinclair* >>> Student Services Coordinator, Upward Bound >>> <http://www2.umf.maine.edu/upwardbound/> >>> University of Maine at Farmington >>> 252 Main Street, Farmington, ME 04938 >>> 207.778.7429 (w) 207.712.2930 (c) >>> Toll Free: 1.888.237.1667 >>> pronouns: she/her >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 7, 2021 at 9:48 AM Rusty Brown <[log in to unmask]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Mary et al., >>>> So very sorry to hear this news, please let us know what we can do to >>>> support your effort. >>>> Sincerely, >>>> Rusty >>>> >>>> Rusty R. Brown >>>> Academic Coordinator >>>> TRiO Upward Bound Programs >>>> University of Maine >>>> 301 Chadbourne Hall >>>> Office:207-581-3714 >>>> Fax: 581-2710 >>>> [log in to unmask] >>>> >>>> * Due to the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic, UMaine faculty and staff >>>> may be working from remote locations. We will monitor phone messages daily >>>> and respond to urgent inquiries as soon as possible. We recommend using >>>> email to communicate with the college during this time."* >>>> >>>> "All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal >>>> opportunity to develop our talent" >>>> John F. Kennedy >>>> >>>> >>>> On Thu, Oct 7, 2021 at 9:03 AM Mary Freeman <[log in to unmask]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> *The University of Maine Farmington and Syntiro are extremely >>>>>> disappointed to share that we have learned that our "GEAR UP Maine RISE" >>>>>> application was not selected for funding. There appears to be a number of >>>>>> inconsistencies from past competitions that we and other states have >>>>>> questions about. We will continue to engage the US Department of Education >>>>>> to better understand their review of our proposal and exhaust all avenues >>>>>> of appeal. We will let you know if we need your assistance during this >>>>>> process.* >>>>>> >>>>>> *We remain committed to the critically important GEAR UP mission and >>>>>> will work to seek alternative strategies to address the overwhelming needs >>>>>> in Maine's economically challenged rural areas. * >>>>>> >>>>>> *A no cost extension for the 2014-2021 GEAR UP program was previously >>>>>> approved by US ED through 9/24/2022 and our work on the Supplemental Award >>>>>> to study the Class of 2020 for five years will both continue. * >>>>>> >>>>>> *For more information please contact Laurie Gardner, UMF >>>>>> ([log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>) or Debbie Gilmer, Syntiro >>>>>> ([log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>).* >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Mary Freeman | GEAR UP Scholar Coach Manager >>>>> 11 South Road Readfield, ME 04355 >>>>> >>>>> p: 207.446.2340 <207.685.3171> >>>>> www.syntiro.org >>>>> www.gearupme.org >>>>> *www.gearupmeportal.org <http://www.gearupmeportal.org/>* >>>>> @gumainescholars >>>>> [log in to unmask] >>>>> >>>> > > -- > Samantha Prosser > TRIO Upward Bound Coordinator > Maine Educational Opportunity Association (MEEOA) President > > University of Southern Maine > 37 College Ave > Gorham, ME 04038 > Phone: 207-780-5828 > Fax: 207-228-8259 > Website: https://usm.maine.edu/upward-bound-veterans-high-school-students > > https://www.meeoa.org/ > > Pronouns: she, her, hers > This message and its contents are confidential. If you received this > message in error, do not use or rely upon it. Instead, please inform the > sender and then delete it. Thank you. > >