GEAR UP Grant Administration | GEAR UP Utah

We Are

The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) initiative is one of the largest and most effective programs focused on increasing the college and career readiness of low-income students in communities nationwide. GEAR UP Utah serves select schools in the Alpine, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Nebo, North Summit, Provo, San Juan, Salt Lake, and Wasatch school districts.

GEAR UP is a highly competitive grant program that helps empower local partnerships comprised of K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, state agencies, and community organizations to achieve three strategic goals:

Increasing the postsecondary expectations and readiness of students.

Improving high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates.

Raising the knowledge of postsecondary options, preparation, and financing among students and families.

GEAR UP Utah is sponsored by Utah Valley University but GEAR UP is a federal program. We also have partner offices at Utah State University at Logan and Price, Weber University, and San Juan Foundation.

Mission

To provide awareness, academic readiness, and opportunities for all GEAR UP Utah students by engaging them early, expanding their capacities, increasing student expectations for successful completion of high school, and supporting students in their pursuit of post-secondary education and future aspirations.

Vision

To provide awareness, academic readiness, and opportunities for all GEAR UP Utah students by engaging them early, expanding their capacities, increasing student expectations for successful completion of high school, and supporting students in their pursuit of post-secondary education and future aspirations.

Values

Integrity
Care
Accountability
Unity
Growth
Inclusion

Grant Objectives

Increase academic performance and preparation for post-secondary education for GEAR UP students.
Increase the rate of high school graduation and enrollment in post- secondary education for GEAR UP students.
Increase GEAR UP students’ and their families’ knowledge of post- secondary education options, preparations, and financing.
Increase GEAR UP students’ success in their first year of attendance at an institution of higher education.

Services

Tutoring & Mentoring
Academic Counseling
College Readiness Preparation
Financial Aid Assistance
First Year in College Support
Parent & Family Support
Financial Literacy Education
Increased Program Evaluation & Data Gathering

Abstract

GEAR UP Utah will implement the proposed activities using the Priority Student Model in a wide area implementation covering a service region of over 21,000 square miles. A total of 16 school districts and 53 schools in 11 counties throughout the state will participate. The majority of these schools and districts participated in the highly successful 2011-2018 Utah’s Statewide GEAR UP Education Program grant sponsored by Utah Valley University. The number of students and the scope of direct student services have been expanded in this state grant proposal, along with an ongoing comprehensive, outcomes-oriented evaluation governing all project processes and interventions.