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GEAR UP
GEAR UP
Humboldt
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) at Cal Poly Humboldt empowers students, families, and educators to support strong academic skills and college and career readiness.
Welcome to Cal Poly Humboldt's GEAR UP!
GEAR UP serves more than 600 students across Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties through high-impact tutoring, college visits, career exploration, and family engagement activities. GEAR UP provides community focused opportunities and professional development for educators.
Cal Poly Humboldt GEAR UP is dedicated to providing tutoring, mentoring, and college awareness and readiness through online and in-person activities that help students gain the confidence to take the next steps toward higher education, particularly for first generation college students.
About the GEAR UP Program
The program is designed to promote rigorous educational activities to low-income, first-generation students. Goals of the GEAR UP program include:
Increasing high school graduation rates
Increasing A-G eligibility rates
Increasing the number of students enrolling in and staying in post-secondary education
Program activities will offer a variety of events to build a college going culture through career exploration opportunities, tutoring, advising, and career and college workshops.
Schools We Serve
Activities are designed to strengthen connections where families are active participants engaging in financial literacy, scholarship opportunities, and college readiness workshops. College campus tours promote student connectedness to higher education and academic confidence. High-impact tutoring and career exploration help students connect with their postsecondary goals and build academic confidence.
Program supports offered through Cal Poly Humboldt began with students who were in 6th and 7th grade during the 2025/2026 school year and will continue to serve this cohort until their high school graduation, classes of 2031 and 2032. Student support is offered with partner programs at:
Meet Our Team
Administrative Staff
GearUp Advisors
GEAR UP Stories
Students participating in GearUp activities have opportunities to learn more about higher education and to visit our local college campus.
