What is the Consortium?
The Consortium for Pre-College Education in Greater Newark is a collaboration between Newark Public Schools (NPS), and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Funded by the New Jersey Higher Education since 1986, the Consortium provides educational programs and college-bound activities for over five hundred students in sixth through twelfth grade. Participants are predominantly low-income, Black and/or Latino, and the first of their generation to aspire and attend college. Consortium programs focus on pre-college preparation and are designed to aid students and their parent(s)/guardian every step of the way from initial program enrollment to college admission and beyond. Academic instruction is offered by the program in mathematics (pre-algebra through calculus), science (general through chemistry), English, computer literacy, and technology (general through pre-engineering). These academic classes are complemented with education on strategy development for effective goal setting, study skills, time management and mentoring activities. In over twenty-five years of operation, over one thousand program participants have graduated from high school and pursued post secondary education.
New Jersey Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs/College Bound (GEAR UP/CB) 6th-12th grades
NJIT Consortium GEAR UP/CB offers educational support and assistance to middle and high school students to help them prepare for and enroll in a college or university. Students participate in a six-week summer program and/or a twenty-week academic year program of Saturday instruction, field trips and college tours, and other support services. Participants are also offered in-school and after school tutoring during the school year at designated GEAR UP target schools.
Upward Bound for English Language Learners (UBELL) 9th-12th grades
This Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is designed to address the needs of low-income and first-generation college students. The types of services offered include a twenty-week academic year and a six-week summer residential component. Special emphasis is placed upon assisting students achieve English competence while providing academic instruction in mathematics, science, communication skills, computer applications and Spanish.
Summer Engineering Program
This Institute introduces students in grades 7th - 9th to the basic concepts underlying chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering and its applications through classroom instruction, laboratory and field activities. Students perform experiments in robotics, physics, chemistry, biology and learn computer programming. Student qualification is based on superior performance in the areas of mathematics and science.
The Summer Engineering Program aims at improving the math and science skills of participating students as well as to introduce them to college and careers in the fields of engineering, technology and science.
Path to Excellence
Path to Excellence is an extension of the NJIT Consortium GEAR UP/CB program’s tutorial services. Our goal is to impart foundational skill sets that translate into desirable attributes of a college student. Students that are selected will not participate in summer Consortium classes and tutoring sessions. Instead, students will remain in a class of about 10 students and work on course work specific to their needs. The smaller classroom size of the program allows students to receive personalized help. Students also learn the importance of note taking, planning and organization. in addition to tailored lessons based on common academic weaknesses Path to Excellence also offers courses such as Dealing with Test Anxiety and Mastering Studying Skills.