UW college readiness program wins $28 million federal grant
UW college readiness program wins $28 million federal grant
LARAMIE (WNE) — A University of Wyoming program that helps eligible students complete high school prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education was awarded a seven-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
The award of $28 million to GEAR UP Wyoming (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) — housed in UW’s office of Student Educational Opportunity — will fund statewide activities through 2031, according to a news release.
The award process was a highly selective, discretionary grant competition in which only eight programs were funded nationally.
GEAR UP, UW’s largest federal grant, has been continuously funded since 2005 and will continue to provide college access and academic preparation services and scholarship support to income-eligible students in grades 7-12 throughout Wyoming, as well as college freshmen attending UW and Wyoming’s community colleges.
The program partners with staff located at Wyoming’s community colleges to provide services to 2,000 middle and high school participants each year.
GEAR UP also partners with the Wyoming Department of Education to implement statewide college access initiatives and to provide professional development to teachers and staff working in schools served by the program, the release states.
GEAR UP staff members conduct academic enrichment; coordinate individual and group tutoring; provide college entrance exam preparation and financial aid/ scholarship application assistance; and host workshops to familiarize parents with college admissions and financial aid processes.
According to data from the 2021-22 academic year, 98% of GEAR UP Wyoming participants graduated from high school, compared to a 69% graduation rate for nonparticipating eligible students.
For more information about GEAR UP Wyoming, visit online at uwyo.edu/gearup or email gearupwy@uwyo.edu. Interested persons also may reach GEAR UP Wyoming by calling 307-766-6189 or visiting Room 330 of Knight Hall on the UW campus.
This story was published on September 4, 2024.