GYA virtual summit

12:00 – 1:00 PM:  GYA MEMBER MEETING

• Introducing this year’s Gap Year Scholarship winner
• Updates on GYA’s 2024-2026 strategic plan
• Board of Directors news/updates
• Committee news/updates

1:00 – 2:30 PM:  BREAKOUT SESSIONS

• Climate Action in the Gap Year Field
  • The Gap Year Association has identified CLIMATE ACTION as one of its strategic priorities for 2024-2026. Join GYA Board Member and Sustainability Committee Co-Chair Ryan Allen for an overview of the Sustainability Committee’s current goals and projects, and a conversation contextualizing climate action within the gap year field and adjacent industries. The discussion will include an introduction to GYA’s Climate Action Plan, as well as the recently developed Climate Action Plan template for gap year program providers interested in developing their own plans.

• Roundtable Discussion: Economic Considerations for Today’s Gap Year Students
  • Join GYA Board Member and Standards & Accreditation Committee Co-Chair Jason Sarouhan and and GYA’s Associate Director Mel Buzzard for a conversation about how current economic realities—including the cost of higher education, inflation, and income inequality—are affecting how today’s students are thinking about their next steps in life. Join the discussion with your fellow GYA members to share your thoughts on how students are approaching gap year planning in today’s economy.

2:30 – 4:00 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

• The Basics of Earning College Credit & Using 529 Plans for a Gap Year Experience

  • Join GYA’s Executive Director, Keri McWilliams, for a discussion about college credit in the gap year space. This conversation will explore the how-to’s and for-whom’s of GYA’s college credit program, including an overview of the major factors and implications that counselors, program providers, and students should consider when contemplating whether a student should enroll. The conversation will also address considerations for utilizing 529 plans for those students who have access to such funding.  

• Roundtable Discussion: Exploring Gap Year Research Needs

  • The Gap Year Association has identified RESEARCH as one of its strategic priorities for 2024-2026. Join GYA Board & Research Committee members, Rae Nelson and Dr. Ritza Santiago, for an overview of GYA’s research goals–and how you can be involved! As we strive to position GYA as a leader in gap year research, we want to hear from the GYA community: How have you used GYA’s research in the past? What kinds of data would you like to see emerge from future research efforts? Join the conversation to brainstorm ideas with fellow members and offer your perspective on how you’d like to see gap year research expand in the future.