GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded initiative designed to deliver college-positive programming for middle and high school students. With a mission to increase the number of students confidently prepared to pursue post-secondary education, GEAR UP has been active since 1998 and is administered and funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The program operates in most states across the U.S., offering a robust framework to support student success.
In Michigan, GEAR UP is hosted at all public universities as part of the King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Initiative. At Michigan Technological University, the program partners with eight local schools to serve the graduating class of 2026 through services such as tutoring, mentoring, campus tours, and parent workshops. Additionally, Michigan Tech offers scholarships each summer for GEAR UP students to participate in its renowned Summer Youth Programs. The Michigan Tech GEAR UP cohort includes over 350 students.
GEAR UP aims to empower students to confidently pursue their educational and career goals, whether that path leads to a university, community college, trade certification, or advanced degree. Now in Year Seven of Michigan Tech’s GEAR UP program, many participants have graduated and transitioned to higher education. Michigan Tech continues to support all students on campus who participated in any of the 15 GEAR UP programs statewide.
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