Overview

In 1998, a national initiative was proposed:  every college should partner with at least one middle school in a low-income community to help raise expectations and ensure that students are well prepared for college.  The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (P.L. 105-244) launched this initiative as GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), a new national effort to encourage more young people to have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and go to college.

To accomplish this initiative the federal GEAR UP program provides two types of competitive grants:   State Grants and Partnership Grants which support early college preparation and awareness activities at the local and state levels.

The State of New York received a state GEAR UP initial planning grant from the U.S. Department of Education for September 1, 1999 through August 31, 2000.   It also received approval for a continuation grant for each of the subsequent four years, pending continued Congressional appropriations.  As much as half of the continuation grant monies will be awarded competitively through a sub-grant process entitled NY GEAR UP College for Me.

Purpose

The purpose of the NYGEAR UP College for Me sub-grants is to create the aspiration for higher education among 4,000 at-risk eighth grade students in New York State; provide them the academic support, tutoring, financial aid information services, mentoring, guidance, incentives, skills, and knowledge that will directly and indirectly aid them in aspiring to higher education, gaining admission to college, and succeeding once they are there, through graduation.

Who is served

The goal is to serve 4,000 eight eighth grade student beginning in September 2000, and to follow this cohort through subsequent grades over the lifetime of the project and beyond.

What we do

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is the lead agency for NYGEAR UP.  HESC is responsible for coordinating the NYGEAR UP Partnerships and the College for Me subgrants.   The New York State Education Department serves as a partner in this effort with HESC, along with the State University of New York, the City University of New York, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Association of Proprietary Colleges.

Programs and Services

The NYGEAR UP College for Me projects will establish coalitions among schools, universities, businesses, non-profit institutions, organizations, and/or other agencies to deliver information, guidance, mentoring, enrichment programs, and services to the target students.