Gear up: the future STARS program

West Chester University of Pennsylvania received a $1.47 million Project Grant award from the Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP, CFDA 84.334) on October 1, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 30, 2026. This award supports GEAR UP's core mission to provide academic support, counseling, mentoring, financial aid information, and related services to low-income secondary school students, including students with disabilities, to improve high school completion rates and postsecondary readiness.

The funding enables West Chester University to deliver comprehensive student support services designed to reduce dropout risk, minimize the need for remedial postsecondary education, and prepare eligible students for successful college enrollment. GEAR UP services typically include financial assistance information, academic tutoring and support, college preparation counseling, mentoring, outreach activities, and supportive services tailored to underrepresented student populations. As a Partnership Grant recipient under the GEAR UP program structure, West Chester University collaborates with local educational agencies and other institutional partners to extend these services across its service region in Pennsylvania.