UTICA-ROME GEAR UP Grant Summary

Mohawk Valley Community College received an $856,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP, CFDA 84.334) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award supports comprehensive college preparation services designed to assist low-income students in the Utica-Rome region with obtaining secondary school diplomas and preparing for postsecondary education.

Under this grant, MVCC will deliver educational support services including academic counseling, financial aid guidance, mentoring, tutoring, and scholarship assistance to eligible disadvantaged student populations. These services are designed to increase high school graduation rates, improve college readiness, and enhance postsecondary enrollment and success outcomes. The award is structured as a component of GEAR UP's broader six- to seven-year grant framework, which supports partnerships between degree-granting institutions of higher education and local educational agencies to serve students from low-income backgrounds, including those with disabilities.