We have a diverse range of well over 30 college and community partners in Des Moines and around the state of Iowa. Because of their efforts, we have been able to provide students with:
- College visits for students and their families
- Volunteers and tutors
- Pledges for scholarships and financial aid for GEAR UP students attending specific colleges
- Career counseling, job shadowing, leadership conferences, and workshops
- Event hosting and sponsorship
- Professional development opportunities for teachers of GEAR UP students in Des Moines Public Schools
We would like to thank our partners (listed below)! If you would like to join us in helping GEAR UP students successfully graduate from high school and advance to postsecondary education, please let us know.
AIB College of Business – Des Moines, IA
AIB College of Business supports the GEAR UP program by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus, by allowing GEAR UP staff access to facilities for GEAR UP events, by providing volunteers/tutors/mentors to work with students, and by providing collaborative learning opportunities for students and teachers.
Buena Vista University – Storm Lake, IA
BVU supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend BVU.
Central College – Pella, IA
Central College supports the GEAR UP program by providing college student mentors/tutors to work with students, by hosting students on campus for a summer Leadership Conference experience, by offering professional development opportunities for teachers, and by providing grant aid to GEAR UP students who may attend Central College after high school graduation.
Coe College – Cedar Rapids, IA
Coe College supports the GEAR UP program by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus.
Des Moines Area Community College – Des Moines, IA
DMACC supports the GEAR UP program by providing staff to work with the GEAR UP students on college planning, by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus, furthering the development of leadership skills, assistance for students with the completion of career and placement assessment surveys, invitations to career activities and expos, and summer activities for GEAR UP students.
Des Moines University – Des Moines, IA
Des Moines University supports the GEAR UP program by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus, particularly in the medical simulation center, and by providing student volunteers to GEAR UP.
Dordt College – Sioux Center, IA
Dordt College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Dordt.
Drake University – Des Moines, IA
Drake University supports the GEAR UP program by providing college students as mentors/tutors for the GEAR UP students. Drake hosts students and families on campus for tours and presentations on college life, careers and financial aid. Additionally, Drake offers financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Drake.
Graceland University – Lamoni, IA
Graceland University supports the GEAR UP program by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus.
Grand View University – Des Moines, IA
Grand View College supports the GEAR UP program by providing family night activities on campus in conjunction with athletic or other college events. Grand View invites GEAR UP students to attend workshops, conferences, a parent night, and a scholarship dinner on campus, as well as hosting students and families for a campus visit. Grand View College hosts a Multicultural Leadership Conference on their campus for GEAR UP students each summer. Grand View students also volunteer to provide tutoring/mentoring to GEAR UP students.
Grinnell College – Grinnell, IA
Grinnell College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Grinnell.
Iowa State University – Ames, IA
ISU supports the GEAR UP program by providing presentations and materials to GEAR UP students and families about college entrance requirements and financial aid. ISU also hosts students and families on campus for college visits, hosts GEAR UP family events, provides career information and counseling to students and connects GEAR UP students with various workshops, conferences and activities hosted on campus during the academic year and through the summer. ISU also provides up to 10 MVP Scholarships for GEAR UP students.
Loras College – Dubuque, IA
Loras College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Loras.
Luther College – Decorah, IA
Luther College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Luther.
Mercy College of Health Sciences – Des Moines, IA
Mercy College of Health Sciences supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus.
Northwestern College – Orange City, IA
Northwestern College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Northwestern,
Simpson College – Indianola, IA
Simpson College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Simpson.
St. Luke's College – Sioux City, IA
St. Luke's College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend St. Luke's.
University of Iowa – Iowa City, IA
The University of Iowa supports the GEAR UP program by providing campus visit opportunities for students and families. Campus visits are organized around student career interests and students are given opportunities to visit with professors in specific academic areas and experience labs on the university campus. The University of Iowa also offers professional development opportunities for students.
University of Northern Iowa – Cedar Falls, IA
The University of Northern Iowa supports the GEAR UP program by providing campus visit opportunities for students and families.
Waldorf College – Forest City, IA
Waldorf College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Waldorf.
Wartburg College – Waverly, IA
Wartburg College supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend Wartburg.
William Penn University – Oskaloosa, IA
William Penn University supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for students and parents to visit campus and through financial aid opportunities for high-achieving GEAR UP students who choose to attend WPU.
Community Partners
Central Iowa Area Health Education Center
Central Iowa Area Health Education Center supports the GEAR UP program by providing learning activities to nurture an interest in science and medicine. Activities include guest discussions , field trips to Des Moines University and Broadlawns Hospital, and job shadowing opportunities.
Central Iowa Works
Central Iowa Works supports GEAR UP by providing opportunities for GEAR UP students to connect with a wide variety of businesses and organizations in Iowa for career exploration, job shadowing, and other professional development opportunities.
Des Moines Public Schools
Des Moines Public Schools is the fiscal agent of the GEAR UP grant and provides a vast amount of staff time in many departments to support the GEAR UP program. Money is provided to support GEAR UP events and professional development opportunities. Des Moines Public Schools also provides facilities and office space for all GEAR UP staff.
Employee and Family Resources
EFR supports the GEAR UP program by providing problem assessment services, short-term counseling and referrals to the GEAR UP students and families. The EFR staff is also available to help chaperone fieldtrips and provide training to GEAR UP and school staff.
Heartland Area Education Agency
Heartland AEA provides support to the GEAR UP program by providing an outside evaluator for the GEAR UP grant. Mike Szymczuk serves as the GEAR UP outside evaluator and he provides data and assistance in evaluating the GEAR UP program and completing the GEAR UP Annual Performance Report
Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
The IAICU provides support to the GEAR UP program by providing career and college planning curriculum to the GEAR UP staff and by helping organize grant assistance for GEAR UP students from the private colleges in Iowa if students choose to attend one of these schools.
Iowa College Access Network
The Iowa College Access Network® (ICAN) supports the GEAR UP program by providing presentations to GEAR UP students, families, staff and teachers; by providing materials on college and career planning to all GEAR UP students and families; by offering professional development opportunities to teachers and staff and by hosting the GEAR UP website. ICAN also helps organize GEAR UP family events by providing copying, collating and mailing services, and has created the GEAR UP Des Moines logo to be used on all publications and correspondence.
Iowa College Student Aid Commission
ICSAC supports the GEAR UP program by providing access to IHaveaPlanIowa and training for GEAR UP and school staff in the use of this program. ICSAC also provides presentations and materials to GEAR UP students and families concerning career and college planning.
Iowa Mentoring Partnership
The IMP supports the GEAR UP program by providing guidance, technical assistance, and an infrastructure through their website for the GEAR UP E-Mentoring Program at East High School.
Iowa State University Extension, Polk County
Iowa State supports the GEAR UP program by providing access to Adventure Learning Center Course-teambuilding exercises.
Iowa Workforce Development
Iowa Workforce Development supports GEAR UP by providing career assistance to students through job fairs, resume consultation, and interview tips.
Keepers of the Land
Keepers of the Land supports GEAR UP by providing volunteer opportunities for students.
Mainstream Living
Mainstream Living supports GEAR UP by providing transition services for students with disabilities or IEP’s and career and college planning for students with disabilities.
Science Center of Iowa
The Science Center of Iowa (SCI) supports the GEAR UP program by providing experiential learning for students in curriculum based science activities. SCI hosts a group of GEAR UP students in the fall and during the spring to provide hands-on science programming that directly aligns with the Des Moines Public Schools science curriculum. SCI staff also provide programming at each school site to enhance the classroom instruction, as well as invite teachers to attend professional development at the Science Center. As an in-kind contribution to the GEAR UP program, SCI provides four free SCI passes to each student who attends the GEAR UP Science Center fieldtrip.
United Way of Central Iowa
United Way supports the GEAR UP program by connecting GEAR UP families to community services and programming. Programming for students is provided by the Boys and Girls Club of Iowa, Wilke House, YMCA programs and various other outreach programs funded through United Way.
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education is the main funding source for the GEAR UP Des Moines program. A budget of $1,184,000 is provided by the U.S. Department of Education annually to provide GEAR UP staff in each school, academic support and field trips for students, technology and instructional supplies for classrooms, professional development for teachers, and family engagement activities. The U.S. Department of Education also requires the GEAR UP program to find matching dollars in the amount of $1,184,000 annually from the community partners listed on this page. This match can be in the form of in-kind services or supplies, waiving of fees and discounts on merchandise, or in actual dollars.
Wells Fargo Young Professionals Network
Wells Fargo’s YPN supports the GEAR UP program by recruiting and organizing mentors to participate in the GEAR UP E-Mentoring Program at East High School. Volunteers have been matched with students and communicate with them several times each week through secure, monitored emails in conjunction with the Iowa Mentoring Partnership. Mentors speak with students about the college application process, career guidance, general school issues, and non-school issues as a manner of social support external to school or family life.
