Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, more commonly known as GEAR UP, is a federally-funded program that help students (and their families) figure out what they want to do with their lives and how they will get there. Our goal is to enhance and expand the college-bound culture in Granite School District. We want students to know that education after high school is achievable, accessible, and affordable.
What Do We Do?
Granite School District has partnered with Utah State University’s Science, Technology, Arithmetic, Reading Students (USU STARS!) to be able to implement the GEAR UP program in schools where at least half of all students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. From 2018-2024, the following school participated in this grant:
- Cottonwood HS
- Cyprus HS
- Granger HS
- Hunter HS
- Kearns HS
- Taylorsville HS
The program is cohort-based which means that we worked with the entire grade band of the graduating class of 2024 at our participating schools, starting in 7th grade, through high school. We are currently supporting GEAR UP students in their first post-secondary year.
How Do We Help?
USU STARS! GEAR UP in Granite School District helps schools help their students. Tutoring, mentoring, after-school and summer programs help students improve school success. Career exploration, field trips, and college visits open up new possibilities. Academic planning events and financial workshops involve families. We also provide teachers with instructional support and training.
Gear Up Level Up
GEAR UP site coordinators will now continue to support 3,000 Granite alumni in their first post-secondary year and help with:
- Finding their Tribe
- Mastering the basics of adult life
- Helping them be self-advocates
- Finding a part time job
- College Connections
- Charting their path
- Managing their finances
We hold monthly events at the University of Utah, SLCC, and in the community to connect and support alumni in their adult lives.
Resources
GEAR UP for College (USU STARS!)