Get Ahead, Get Started
If you are a student, parent, guardian or educator, you can increase college and career readiness with GEAR UP CT, a federally-funded grant program that helps empower local communities to inspire students to think beyond what they see today.
GEAR UP CT provides the tools, resources and programs to help low-income students starting as early as 7th grade in East Hartford, Meriden and Waterbury increase their success in education.
Click Here
to start your journey...
STUDENTS & PARENTSWhat is GEAR UP CT?
“The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)" initiative is one of the largest and most effective programs focused on increasing the college and career readiness of low-income students in communities nationwide. GEAR UP is a highly competitive grant program that helps empower local partnerships comprised of K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, state agencies, and community organizations to achieve three strategic goals.
These goals are:
- Increase postsecondary expectations and readiness of students.
- Improve high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates.
- Increase student and family knowledge of postsecondary options, preparation, and financial aid.
Services include but not limited to:
- Tutoring / Mentoring
- College Awareness / Virtual Tours
- Testing Preparation
- Summer Programming
- Career Planning / Workshops
- College Planning
- Financial Aid Workshops
GEAR UP builds capacity within communities to ensure that underserved students have the opportunity, skills, and knowledge to successfully pursue the education and training that will enable them to achieve their career and life goals. Our committed GEAR UP teams along with partner colleges and school districts will work towards a future where all students are empowered and equipped with the education and training needed to succeed in a diverse and global society.
Get The News
National GEAR UP Week Platt High School Event with Lt. Governor Bysiewicz
As National GEAR UP week comes to a close, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz attended Platt High School to speak to GU students on college and career readiness as well as being prepared in high school. She encouraged students to have fun in school while seeking support from their local GU programs to learn more on what’s ahead as a young adult. Morning remarks on GEAR UP were Superintendent Benigni, Dr. Steven Minkler - CEO Middlesex Community College, Principal Corsetti, State Representative’s Santiago and Quinn, and Board of Education President Kosienski. Lt. Governor Bysiewicz sat with students in a roundtable discussion and asked students about their classes, future career interests, and how their overall experience of being back to school. Students were eager to engage in discussion and then had an opportunity to speak with the Lt. Governor one-on-one.
GU CT would like to thank the administration and staff at Platt High School for welcoming state leadership and making the morning an engaging event as National GEAR UP week comes to a close.
September 24, 2021
CSCU in the news!
Sept. 16, 2021
CSCU News
Click on the link below to view the segment.
WTNH-TV8: ‘GEAR UP’ program prepares students in underserved communities for college
