Appalachian GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) provides college-going programming to students and families, academic support in schools, professional development for teachers and administrators, and more in order to improve college access in rural Western North Carolina.
GEAR UP Student Support and Programs
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. Learn more about the services and programming available to GEAR UP students.
A collection of resources to inform, guide, and empower your local GEAR UP program.
Exploring the Global Impact of Innovation Outside Our Own Walls
Approximately one hundred forty educators and advocates united at the Reich College of Education, representing the Appalachian State GEAR UP Partnership Grant’s ten local education agency cohort districts, four institutes of higher education, third-party organizations, and other fellow partners and educators, all came with the mindset of learning from one another. Focused on building necessary connections with fellow innovative thinkers to spark change in the landscape of western North Carolina schools, the Academic Innovation Conference (AIC) calls to action the next step in our state’s approach to public education....
The Coordinator's Guide to Successful GEAR UP College Visits for Middle and High School Students and Families provides resources and planning tips to help design and implement an intentional, informative, inspirational, and interactive campus visit.
Academic Innovation Mini (AIM) Grants are designed to support individual and school passion projects aimed at improving academic performance through innovative classroom experiences that engage, inspire, enhance, and motivate student learning.
The Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) is a national program that engages a diverse and collaborative community of strategic leaders to promote equitable education policy. Participants from Appalachian GEAR UP districts receive funding to cover the cost of participation.