Our Impact

About GEAR UP

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP Wyoming was awarded to the University of Wyoming in 2017. In partnership with seven postsecondary partners, the grant provides a suite of services including academic support, college exposure, and FAFSA support to approximately 2,000 students including college freshmen. For more information, visit University of Wyoming's GEAR UP website or the U.S. Department of Education's GEAR UP website.

GEAR UP Enrollment by Grade Level

LCCC GEAR UP enrollment by grade level is displayed in the graph below. The grant served 351 students in SY 2022-23.

Graph of the grade level distribution: 7th = 35, 8th = 43, 9th = 57, 10th = 65, 11th = 67, 12th = 54, college freshmen = 30

GEAR UP Enrollment by Participation Years

Students can enroll in GEAR UP throughout middle and high school (Grades 7-12). LCC Participants in SY 2022-23 had an average of 2.7 years in GEAR UP.

graph of students' participation in years, 1 year = 71, 2 years = 97, 3 years = 92, 4 years = 33, 5 years = 58

GEAR UP Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity

Over half (54%) of LCCC GEAR UP students are White. Hispanic or Latino students comprise 31% of the population. All other demographic groups (Asian, Black, Two or More Races, and American Indian) combine to make up the remaining 15%.

graph of enrollment by race with white = 54%, Hispanic/Latino = 31%, Other 15%

GEAR UP Enrollment by Gender

LCCC GEAR UP serves more female students (55%) than male students (43%). Unknown gender (1.4%) represents students who prefer not to answer or have incomplete data. Future federal reporting will add nonbinary as a gender selection option.

graph of enrollment by gender with female = 55%, male = 43%, and unknown = 1%

*GEAR UP Wyoming is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $3,430,000 annually with an additional $3,430,000 annually provided by in-kind and scholarship contributions.”

GEAR UP Services

Comprehensive program services target academic success and improve the quality and intensity of secondary school courses, mentoring, tutoring, scholarships and financial aid, college and career planning, and parental engagement programs to support college planning and enrollment. Access to academic advisors, peer mentors, counselors, and tutors is critical to supporting the goals of increasing college expectations and readiness, high school graduation, awareness of college financing, postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and success. Services are provided over seven years, increasing in intensity and building upon previous learning.

GEAR UP Participation Hours

LCCC GEAR UP students participated in 2140 hours of college and career readiness activities in SY 2022-23. The average amount of participation in GEAR UP services was 6.1 hours but varied by grade level and service type. Students in the 11th grade had the highest participation average.

graph of participation hours with 7th grade = 4.0, 8th grade = 4.3, 9th grade = 5.2, 10th grade = 7.9, 11th grade = 9.4, 12th grade = 5.6

GEAR UP Feedback

“GEAR UP is one of the best things that I joined because the closer that I get to graduating, the more nervous I get, but GEAR UP has helped me to feel more confident and prepared for the future.”

- LCCC GEAR UP 11th grade student

GEAR UP Services by Activity

GEAR UP students participated in a variety of activities. The graph below represents the three services that had the highest participation. In addition to the services listed, students also participated in College Visits, Mentoring, Educational Field Trips, Summer Programs, ACT Prep, Tutoring and Career Exposure activities.

graph of gear up services by activity with counseling and advising at 93%, student success workshops at 84%, financial aid advising at 70%

GEAR UP Activity Spotlight

LCCC GEAR UP students and families from various middle and high schools participated in a Welcome Back to School event hosted at Laramie County Community College.

Gear Up event on campus in the ANB Bank Leadership Center with students at round tables talking

*Report created by Xcalibur on behalf of GEAR UP Wyoming