As reported by the Sun Journal, the University of Maine at Farmington is once again participating in (GEAR UP) a federally funded program to prepare interested middle and high school students for post-secondary education and to address the teacher shortage in Maine.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $4.06 million annually over seven years to the University of Maine System for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP, and Maine RISE program. The award was announced Sept. 26 by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden.
GEAR UP Maine is run by the University of Maine at Farmington and the nonprofit Syntiro, with 53 school partners in Franklin, Oxford, Kennebec, Somerset, Aroostook, Hancock and Washington counties.
“Ultimately, we want all students to be well prepared and have equity in their experiences so that when they consider post-secondary education, they are well prepared and can be successful once they actually arrive on a college campus,” Katherine Yardley, associate provost and dean of education at UMF, said.
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