The Bronx

GEAR UP
Network
GEARING UP
for Success
Committed to Excellence in Education
www.thebronxinstitute.org

GEAR UPs Mission

What is GEAR UP?
GEAR UP is a nationwide initiative designed to prepare low-income
students to enter and succeed in college. GEAR UP is the largest federal college
access initiative. Since 1999, GEAR UP has enabled more than 12 million
students, coast to coast, to succeed in higher education.

What is The Bronx GEAR UP Network?

As a project of The Bronx Institute at Lehman College, The Bronx GEAR UP
Network supports thousands of students and their families on the pathway to
college and beyond. The program provides extensive academic advisement,
enrichment, and other support services, giving students the tools to excel
academically throughout the college-going process.

Why College Pays Off

According to the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, people with a fouryear college degree make 98 percent more per hour than people without a
degree. In 2013, the Institute of Education Sciences reported that the average
salary for young adults with a bachelor's degree was $48,500, compared with
$30,000 for those with just a high school diploma and $23,900 for those with
no high school diploma.
The Bronx GEAR UP Network offers students a clear path to succeed
academically and enroll, persist, andeventuallygraduate from college, with
a heavy emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM) education, one of the fastest growing career fields in the country.

The Bronx GEAR UP Network

grants students a unique opportunity to learn and thrive among
a select group of likeminded
peers, building the skills needed
to succeed in college and beyond.
This is achieved by:
1. Increasing middle school students academic performance
and preparing them for
success in high school
2. Increasing high school students academic performance
and preparing them for graduation and college enrollment
3. Supporting GEAR UP students
persistence in college after
graduating from high school
4. Increasing engagement and
educating students and families about college and the college-going process as a
whole

What GEAR UP Offers

As a member of the GEAR UP family, you will have access to a wide range of services and activities, including:
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Advisement: Academic College Readiness Coaches
offer mentoring services to students at each school,
and during afterschool and Saturday sessions.
Skill-Building Workshops: Students participate in
interactive workshops designed to help develop
leadership, time-management, confidence, teamwork,
and other non-cognitive skills.
College/Career Planning: The Bronx Institutes College
Access Coaches help all students navigate the
college-going process, covering everything from writing
personal statements, to campus visits, to planning
for financial aid, and more.

STEM: Students are given unique opportunities to

explore the STEM fields with The Bronx Institutes
partners, including The Bronx Zoo, The New York
Botanical Garden, the American Museum of Natural
History, and BronxNet.

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT

Advanced Coursework: Students are exposed to

college-level coursework, preparing them for the rigors
of college.

Saturday and Summer Classes: During the school year,

students take advanced classes on the Lehman College
campus every Saturday. Over the summer, students
participate in the Summer Institute, pursuing tracks in
STEM or Humanities, according to their interests.

Other Initiatives: Students engage in educational fieldtrips, the Read-to-Succeed book distribution program, the
Lehman Art Gallery, and much more.

Family and Parental Engagement

The Bronx GEAR UP Network is heavily invested in engaging with parents and families, offering school-based
workshops on college-planning, scholarships, financial aid, graduation requirements, and timelines and tips for
getting the most out of high school.