GEAR UP Overview
National GEAR UP
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federally funded college access grant program, and was authorized by Title IV of the 1998 Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965. The purpose of GEAR UP is to increase the number of low-income and first generation students who are prepared to enroll in and succeed in college.
To meet this goal, the legislation enables GEAR UP to provide:
- Financial assistance, academic support, additional counseling, mentoring, outreach, and supportive services to secondary school students to reduce the risk of students dropping out of school or the need for remedial education at the postsecondary level.
- Information to students and their families about the advantages of postsecondary education and information about college financing options.
The U.S. Department of Education provides six or seven year GEAR UP grants to states and partnerships to provide college access services at high-poverty middle and high schools. Partnerships consisting of one or more local education agencies and one or more higher education institutions and community organizations may apply for GEAR UP partnership grants. The governor of each state may designate only one agency to apply for and administer a GEAR UP state grant.
USU STARS! GEAR UP is a grant administered by Utah State University and utilizes a cohort or whole-grade model, meaning that services are provided to all students in the participating grade level, rather than a selected group of students. This grant will provide college access and success services to all cohort students starting in the 7th grade and will continue to provide services through their first year of post-secondary education.
USU STARS! GEAR UP
GEAR UP programs are federally funded programs through the U.S. Department of Education. In 2012 Utah State University was awarded funding for our first GEAR UP grant, to serve students across Utah for the next seven years. Since then, the university has applied for, and been awarded additional grants - Grant 2 in 2015, and Grants 3 and 4 awarded in 2017 and 2018 respectively - each devoted to college access and success services.
USU STARS! GEAR UP works with Local Education Agencies (LEA) across the state in order to accomplish these goals. Through the LEAs, USU STARS! GEAR UP provides students with direct services, including mentoring, tutoring, college visits, and financial aid counseling. Each of the USU STARS! grants serves over 3,000 students, starting in 7th grade and providing resources and support to those same students through their first year of higher education.
Mission
- USU STARS! GEAR UP aspires to expand the college bound culture in Utah. It is our mission to leverage local communities' assets to enhance students' academic achievement and college readiness in preparation for realizing their education and career goals.
National GEAR UP Goals
- Increase the academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education for GEAR UP students
- Increase the rates of high school graduation and enrollment in postsecondary education for GEAR UP students.
- Increase GEAR UP students' and their families' knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing.
USU STARS! GEAR UP Objectives
- Provide Financial Aid information for postsecondary education to students and parents.
- Encourage student enrollment in rigorous and challenging curricula to reduce remedial coursework at the postsecondary level.
- Improve the number of students who obtain a high school diploma and enroll in postsecondary education.
Participating Schools
View site coordinator contact details for each of our participating schools.
Grant 3 (graduating classes of 2023, 2024*, and 2025**)
Grant Four (graduating class of 2024)
Grant Two (graduating classes of 2021 and 2022*)
- American Preparatory Academy WVCII*
- Clearfield High School
- Cottonwood High School
- Gunnison Valley High School*
- Innovations High School*
- Logan High School*
- Manti High School*
- North Sanpete High School
- Uintah River High School
Grant One (ended July 2020)
- American Preparatory Academy WVCII
- Clearfield High School
- Dual Immersion Academy
- Eagle View Elementary School
- Ephraim Middle School
- Gunnison Valley High School
- Gunnison Valley Middle School
- Innovations High School
- Logan High School
- Manti High School
- Mount Logan Middle School
- North Davis Junior High School
- North Sanpete High School
- North Sanpete Middle School
- Uintah High School
- Uintah Middle School
- Wendover High School
- West Wendover High School
- West Wendover Middle School
Partnerships
Utah State University established STARS! (Science, Technology, Arithmetic, Reading, Students) GEAR UP collaborative connections with academic, community, and business partners. The partnerships are the foundation of the work that we do to increase high school graduation rates, and create a pipeline of academically-prepared students enrolling and succeeding in college.
The USU STARS! GEAR UP project partners with departments, colleges and universities, local organizations and nationally renowned educational companies to help build an educational pipeline for students to realize their college dreams. By building a supporting network made up of schools, parents, businesses, and community organizations, we are committed to empowering all GEAR UP students for success. Partnerships developed since grant implementation in 2012 include:
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USU Partnerships
Center for the School of the Future
The Center for the School of the Future collaborates with the USU STARS! GEAR UP program as part of its mission focused on learning outcome-oriented systems in support of public district and charter schools.
College of Education and Human Services
USU STARS! GEAR UP is housed in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University. The college itself provides teaching, service, and research in a variety of disciplines to improve teaching and learning wherever it takes place.
College of Engineering
USU STARS! GEAR UP is luckly to have a robust partnership with the College of Engineering at Utah State University. The college provides summer camp opportunities for grants 2 and 3 of the program. In addition to the hands-on experience students receive, chaperones are provided essential professional development that will make them more impactful in the classroom.
College of Science
The College of Science at Utah State University partners with USU STARS! GEAR UP to put on the Biology in Life summer experience. Students learn about careers within the wide field of biology, while getting hands-on lab experience with CRISPR technology.
Academic Success Center
The Academic Success Center, housed in USU's Academic & Instructional Services, has helped USU STARS! GEAR UP provide a great learning experience for students during its annual Transition Camp. The folks from the Academic Success Center share tips and tools to make sure students are prepared for the rigors of high school.
School of Teacher Education & Leadership
The USU STARS! GEAR UP program is housed in the School of Teacher Education & Leadership at Utah State University. Their support and resources help to make the grant possible.
University Extension
USU Extention provides student engagement activities to serve USU GEAR UP students. Whether by providing a career experience in Salt Lake City, or a summer workshop in Sanpete County - these folks help to meet our students in their own communities.
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Community Partnerships
UCET | Utah Coalition for Educational Technology
UCET promotes the cooperative development and effective use of information technology in Utah's schools. They also provide training to teachers throughout the state - USU GEAR UP teachers among them.
UCTE | Utah Council of Teachers of English
UCTE provides English Language Arts teachers from high schools and junior high schools, including USU GEAR UP schools, in the state of Utah with opportunities to improve teaching.
UCTM | Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics
UCTM is a professional organization of educators, individually and collectively dedicated to the improvement of classroom instruction in mathematics at all levels. They also provide valuable professional development for teachers at USU GEAR UP schools.
Utah Governor's Office of Energy Development
The Utah Governor's Office of Energy Development is the sponsor for the Mountain West Grand Prix which USU GEAR UP students participate in annually.
UtSTA | Utah Science Teachers Association
UtSTA's main goal is bettering science education in the State of Utah. They regularly provide information, support, hands-on events, professional development, and more to Utah science teachers and their students.
Utah Space Grant Consortium
Associates of the Utah Space Grant Consortium regularly put on the GEAR UP Science Day providing professional development and hands on tools for science teachers.
Utah System of Higher Education
The Utah System of Higher Education regularly provides professional development to teachers in USU GEAR UP schools.
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Business Partnerships
AVID | Advancement Via Individual Determination
A number of GEAR UP schools have implemented AVID curriciulum. The nonprofit aims to help schools shift to a more equitable, student-centered approach.
FOCUS Training
FOCUS Training is an interactive leadership development company that has been helping people achieve excellence through understanding and action for nearly 30 years. They have partnered with GEAR UP for a number of camps and events.
GreenpowerUSA
GreenpowerUSA's goal is to advance education in the subjects of sustainable engineering and technology to young people. GEAR UP partner's with them annually for the Mountain West Grand Prix event for students.
MasteryPrep
Schools partner with MasteryPrep to provide ACT training and bootcamps for students.
RGI Corporation
RGI provides USU GEAR UP grants with support in grant writing and grant evaluation.
Shmoop
GEAR UP schools utilize Shmoop for free access for educational and social skill training. Shmoop also provides ACT prep, AP class tutoring, and career exploration opportunities.
SignalVine
SignalVine is a platform used by USU GEAR UP to communicate widely with students in the program.
Siemens
Siemens provides students participating in the annual Mountain West Grand Prix with cutting edge software as they design and build their electric cars.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments has worked with USU GEAR UP to provide teachers with professional development and tools that aid them in their classrooms.
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is a great resource for GEAR UP students by providing online tutoring support and social/emotional awareness training as they transition to college.
Virtual Job Shadow
Virtual Job Shadow provided Grant One students with an online platform with hundreds of engaging videos to help students explore various career options.
Xcaliber Inc.
Xcaliber provides database software used by USU GEAR UP to track goals and objectives.
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Previous Partnerships
- Access & Diversity Center
- Center for Intersectional Gender Studies & Research
- College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
- Electric Vehicle Roadway & Research Facility (EVR)
- Hill Air Force Base
- Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences
- iTutor
- Northrup Grumman
- Paradigm Shift
- Space Dynamics Laboratory
- StepUp Utah
- Student Affairs
- United Way
- Ute Indian Tribe Education Department
