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App State receives $35 million federal grant to expand GEAR UP, a college access program serving middle and high school students in western NC

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Courtesy of App State

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a seven-year, $35 million GEAR UP grant to Appalachian State University’s College Access Partnerships in the Reich College of Education, according to a press release.

GEAR UP stands for “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.” The grant is the largest ever received by the university.

A federally-funded, college access program, GEAR UP is designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school, according to the press release.

The GEAR UP investments advance the state’s attainment goal, which aspires for 2 million North Carolinians aged 25 to 44 to receive a high-quality postsecondary credential or degree by 2030.

Through a wide range of services to students, families, and teachers, GEAR UP aims to improve college-going mindsets, high school graduation rates, and postsecondary enrollment rates, says the press release.

App State is one of only 18 institutions nationwide awarded a GEAR UP grant in 2024, and it received the largest award.

The university administers multiple GEAR UP grants, and the most recent grant program, which began on Sept. 1, is known as GEAR UP APEX, which stands for “Advancing Prosperity through Education and eXcellence.”

GEAR UP APEX includes 11 school districts and Cherokee Central School on the Qualla Boundary, partnering with eight North Carolina higher education institutions, all working together to provide college and career services to nearly 14,500 middle and high school students and their families, according to the press release.

Starting in sixth grade, students and their families receive early awareness and academic services that fit their individual needs. GEAR UP serves all students in the target grade levels and follows them through high school graduation and into the first year of college. 

— App State press release

“App State is honored to receive federal grant funding to extend the GEAR UP college access program to even more middle and high school students in our community, affirming our belief that every student, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to pursue higher education,” said App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris. “By investing in their futures, we are investing in the future of our entire region.”

Courtesy of App State

Representing 52 middle and high schools, the 11 school districts and Qualla Boundary in the grant include:

  • Burke
  • Catawba
  • Cherokee Central
  • Clay
  • Graham
  • Jackson
  • Macon
  • Madison
  • McDowell
  • Polk
  • Swain
  • Transylvania

Higher education partners include: 

  • Western Piedmont Community College
  • Isothermal Community College
  • Catawba Valley Community College
  • Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
  • McDowell Technical Community College
  • Blue Ridge Community College
  • University of North Carolina Asheville
  • Southwestern Community College

Additional programmatic and support partners include myFutureNC, Participate Learning, Society for Science, National Postsecondary Strategy Institute, MasteryPrep, The Princeton Review, Leading Edge Learning, American School Counselor Association, Public School Forum of NC, Texas Instruments, Youth Villages, App State’s Mathematics and Science Education Center, Level All, AeroEducate, CoBro Consulting, and App State’s Center for Analytics Research and Education.

Corinne Smith, director of GEAR UP, and Dr. James Beeler, executive director of College Access Partnerships. Courtesy of App State

Corinne Smith is the director of GEAR UP. “We are thrilled to announce this unprecedented award that will allow the university to expand its GEAR UP program, enhancing educational opportunities and creating pathways to success for Western North Carolina students,” said Smith in the press release. “This milestone not only underscores the commitment to academic excellence, but also reinforces our dedication to fostering an environment where every student can thrive.”

The previous largest grant awarded to App State was a separate GEAR UP grant in the amount of $29.8 million. It was awarded in Sept. 2020 and will operate concurrently through Sept. 2027.

“These grants will have a significant and lasting impact on the students of Western North Carolina,” said Dr. James Beeler, executive director of College Access Partnerships. “Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future, ensuring that every student is prepared to succeed beyond high school.”

App State has implemented federal GEAR UP programming nearly every year since 1999. For 25 years, programming supported by the federal grants has provided a comprehensive range of services to low-income and high-need students, families, and schools throughout the western region of the state.