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$4M-plus in federal funding supports App State GEAR UP

Appalachian GEAR UP serves approximately 15,000 Western North Carolina students from 11 school districts.

GEAR UP college preparation activities
Academic and professional development
  • Student workshops.
  • Summer programming.
  • Tutoring and homework assistance.
  • Academic enrichment.
  • Professional development and training.
Advising, counseling and mentoring
  • Counseling, advising, academic planning and career counseling.
  • Financial aid counseling and advising.
  • Parent services, workshops and family advising.
  • Comprehensive mentoring.
On-site learning experiences
  • College visits.
  • Educational field trips.
  • College student shadowing.
  • Job site visits and job shadowing.
About GEAR UP

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school. We work in partnership with 11 school districts to provide college preparation activities to 15,000 middle and high school students and parents.

Learn more
Edited by Lauren Hempen
Posted Nov. 22, 2019 at 1:20 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has provided more than $4 million in continued support for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) at Appalachian State University — programs that impact approximately 15,000 students from 11 Western North Carolina school districts.

Appalachian GEAR UP is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school.

Dr. James Beeler, director of GEAR UP, received $4,184,721 in additional ED funding for the 2019–20 academic year, or year six of the seven-year grant cycle. Additionally, Appalachian has provided a $2,748,295 matching funds commitment for this project.

“GEAR UP aims to improve college-going mindsets, high school graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment rates through a wide range of research-grounded services to students, families and teachers,” Beeler explained.

The impact of the program spreads across Western North Carolina, reaching high school students in Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Clay, Graham, Madison, Rutherford, Swain, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties.

Appalachian GEAR UP serves approximately 15,000 Western North Carolina students from 11 school districts.

The GEAR UP team recently collaborated with Appalachian’s Office of Admissions and the 11 GEAR UP districts to create the GEAR UP Guarantee, which offers guaranteed admission to Appalachian for seniors at GEAR UP high schools who meet these three criteria:

  • Apply for admission to Appalachian by Nov. 1 to be considered for all scholarships and early admission.
  • Have a minimum weighted GPA of 3.50 and meet specific academic prerequisites as required by the University of North Carolina System.
  • Successfully complete a criminal background check and conduct review.

“GEAR UP strives to create capacity in the districts that changes mindsets around college access and college readiness in a sustainable way,” Beeler said. “The goal is that the impact of Appalachian GEAR UP will be felt in the districts even after the grant has ended.”

Appalachian GEAR UP is part of the university’s College Access Partnerships, a unit of the Division of Enrollment Management. For more information about GEAR UP, visit gearup.appstate.edu.

GEAR UP college preparation activities
Academic and professional development
  • Student workshops.
  • Summer programming.
  • Tutoring and homework assistance.
  • Academic enrichment.
  • Professional development and training.
Advising, counseling and mentoring
  • Counseling, advising, academic planning and career counseling.
  • Financial aid counseling and advising.
  • Parent services, workshops and family advising.
  • Comprehensive mentoring.
On-site learning experiences
  • College visits.
  • Educational field trips.
  • College student shadowing.
  • Job site visits and job shadowing.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

About GEAR UP

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school. We work in partnership with 11 school districts to provide college preparation activities to 15,000 middle and high school students and parents.

Learn more
Appalachian guarantees admission to qualifying high school seniors in 11 NC GEAR UP school districts
Appalachian guarantees admission to qualifying high school seniors in 11 NC GEAR UP school districts
Oct. 17, 2019

Through the GEAR UP Guarantee program, current seniors in 11 Western North Carolina high school districts who meet specific academic requirements and submit an application by Friday, Nov. 1, are guaranteed admission to Appalachian.

Read the story

About College Access Partnerships

College Access Partnerships (CAP) is housed in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University and comprises programs in college access and educator professional learning, including Appalachian GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), Upward Bound, Appalachian College Advising Corps, Empowering Teacher Learning, Young Eisner Scholars (YES), GREAT STEM and On Ramp Appalachia. These programs aim to prepare students throughout Western North Carolina to engage in postsecondary learning that provides opportunities for careers in their home region and beyond. For more information, visit gocollege.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

GEAR UP college preparation activities
Academic and professional development
  • Student workshops.
  • Summer programming.
  • Tutoring and homework assistance.
  • Academic enrichment.
  • Professional development and training.
Advising, counseling and mentoring
  • Counseling, advising, academic planning and career counseling.
  • Financial aid counseling and advising.
  • Parent services, workshops and family advising.
  • Comprehensive mentoring.
On-site learning experiences
  • College visits.
  • Educational field trips.
  • College student shadowing.
  • Job site visits and job shadowing.
About GEAR UP

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school. We work in partnership with 11 school districts to provide college preparation activities to 15,000 middle and high school students and parents.

Learn more
Appalachian guarantees admission to qualifying high school seniors in 11 NC GEAR UP school districts
Appalachian guarantees admission to qualifying high school seniors in 11 NC GEAR UP school districts
Oct. 17, 2019

Through the GEAR UP Guarantee program, current seniors in 11 Western North Carolina high school districts who meet specific academic requirements and submit an application by Friday, Nov. 1, are guaranteed admission to Appalachian.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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