Central receives $400,000 GEAR Up Grant

Central has received a $400,000 grant through GEAR UP Connecticut to help participating students successfully navigate their second year of college.

GEAR UP — Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs — is a federally funded initiative that aims to boost college and career readiness among pre-college students.  At Central, the funding is supporting a broad range of academic, career, and student-success initiatives. Students can receive individualized success coaching, academic support, tutoring referrals, career advising, and help navigating campus resources. Grant funds also can help eligible students purchase textbooks and other course materials and enroll in summer or winter courses to stay on track toward degree completion. 

The grant is also creating new opportunities for Central students to build connections and prepare for life after college. The GEAR UP Navigator Program will train student leaders to serve as peer mentors and help fellow participants connect with campus resources. Career programming will give students opportunities to engage with employers, professionals, and alumni through networking events, career panels, internship exploration, and career-readiness workshops. 

In addition, the Central GEAR UP team is utilizing creative communication strategies to connect with students where they are most engaged. A coordinated social media campaign will highlight student success stories, campus resources, career tips, scholarship opportunities, student spotlights, and upcoming events. 

“Student success depends on having the right support at the right time,” said Central Interim President Kimberly T. Kostelis. “This funding will help Central provide students with the academic guidance, personal connections, and career preparation they need to navigate their second year with confidence and keep moving toward graduation.”

About GEAR UP

GEAR UP is a competitive grant program that helps establish local partnerships comprised of K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, state agencies, and community organizations to increase postsecondary expectations and readiness of students; improve high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates; and provide students and families with the knowledge they need to consider their postsecondary options and how to prepare for college life.  

GEAR UP Connecticut is a $25.8 million initiative administered by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System Office. The original seven-year program followed approximately 2,300 students from East Hartford, Meriden, and Waterbury from seventh grade through their first year of postsecondary education. Students and families received academic support, tutoring, college and career advising, financial-aid guidance, and other services designed to strengthen their transition to college and career pathways. 

Following the conclusion of the original grant period in August 2026, the U.S. Department of Education approved a one-year extension to continue supporting students through their second year of college. As part of that extension, Central and Connecticut’s three other public universities received subrecipient funding to support GEAR Up participants’ persistence, academic progress, career preparation, and connections to campus resources.