Two Valleys-One Vision

This discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at highpoverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later th... an the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. The Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA/D), located on the main Seattle campus, implements the University of Washingtons diversity initiatives. OMA/Ds mission is to ensure the access and academic success of a diverse student population. As the grant recipient for the GEAR UP Programs, OMA/D administers the program with its main GEAR UP Management Office in the Yakima Valley. GEAR UP is one of many programs OMA/D operates that advances the UWs mission of increasing access for diverse students going to postsecondary education. The University of Washington OMA/D manages two large GEAR UP grants serving students in Eastern Washington and Skagit Valley. The GEAR UP Management Office is located in Toppenish, Washington in the Yakima Valley. This GEAR UP Office, consisting of a Director, Assistant Director and support personnel, provides project oversight, program management, budget oversight, monitoring of contracts, collecting of cost share and evaluating of program performance. GEAR UP staff work closely with an Advisory Committee consisting of representation from all the GEAR UP partners. The two GEAR UP grants, Two Valleys One Vision and Skys the Limit, consist of 14 school districts. Each school district employs a GEAR UP Coordinator responsible for developing and implementing all the local GEAR UP services and activities. The GEAR UP Program also includes essential community partners that provide valuable services to students and parents. These partners range from nonprofit organizations to private businesses. Their services include workshops on college preparation/financial aid, ...Read More