The ETSU GEAR UP Partnership is rewriting the story of educational opportunity in rural Appalachia. Through this historic $29 million investment – the second-largest grant in university history – we’re empowering more than 5,000 Northeast Tennessee students to envision, pursue, and succeed in postsecondary education.
Whether your path leads to a four-year degree, trade certification, community college, apprenticeship, or military service, GEAR UP provides the support, resources, and guidance to get you there. We’re serving 5,198 students annually across 46 schools in Carter, Hawkins, Johnson, Kingsport City, Sullivan, and Washington Counties.
This isn’t just a program. It’s a partnership. It’s a promise. With ETSU GEAR UP, you’ll have an entire community invested in your success from 6th grade through college enrollment and beyond.
Impact Highlights
ETSU is one of five colleges nationwide that hosts all federal TRIO programs and GEAR UP—making us a national leader in breaking barriers to higher education.
Our seven-year, $29 million investment serves 5,198 students annually with comprehensive support from middle school through college enrollment.
GEAR UP brings nearly $4 million in partner matching funds, creating an unprecedented support network across education, business, and community sectors.
Students receive tutoring, mentoring, dual enrollment, college visits, career exploration, and financial aid support—all at no cost to families.
About the ETSU GEAR UP Partnership
The ETSU GEAR UP Partnership represents a bold commitment to educational equity in one of America’s most underserved regions. GEAR UP, short for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a federally funded initiative that removes the obstacles preventing talented students from accessing postsecondary education.
Our approach is built on the “Think, Know, Act, Go” framework for Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility, adapting David Conley’s nationally recognized college readiness model for rural Appalachian communities. We meet students where they are in 6th grade and walk alongside them through high school graduation, providing comprehensive support that transforms aspirations into achievement.
What makes ETSU GEAR UP different? We’re not an outside organization with a generic solution. ETSU has served Northeast Tennessee since 1911, operating 10 federal TRIO programs and building deep trust within communities across the region. We understand the unique challenges rural students face from limited college counseling and geographic isolation to economic hardship and natural disasters like Hurricane Helene that devastated our region in 2024.
That is why we’ve assembled a powerful coalition delivering services that matter: individualized academic advising, hands-on career exploration, dual enrollment courses for college credit, summer programs on multiple campuses, professional development for teachers, and family engagement initiatives that bring parents into the college-going culture. This is personal. Our students are resilient, resourceful, and ready to break generational poverty cycles when given the right support.
The ETSU GEAR UP Partnership serves students in the graduating classes of 2031 and 2032 across 46 partner schools in Carter, Hawkins, Johnson, Kingsport City, Sullivan, and Washington County school districts. If you're currently in 6th or 7th grade in one of these districts, GEAR UP support is available to you starting now through college enrollment.
Core ETSU GEAR UP Services:
- Tutoring, mentoring, and academic advising
- Dual enrollment opportunities with local colleges
- College and career preparation workshops
- Financial literacy education and FAFSA completion support
- College visits, summer programs, and leadership development
- Professional development for educators to build college-going culture
Partners in Success
The ETSU GEAR UP Partnership thrives because of an unprecedented coalition spanning higher education, K-12 districts, community organizations, business leaders, and advocacy groups. Together, we're proving that when communities unite around student success, rural regions can lead the nation in college access innovation.
- Student Success Agency
- Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
- Tennessee College Access and Success Network
- Vela Institute
- Regional chambers of commerce
- Six committed school districts
We're Hiring!
ETSU GEAR UP needs to staff up!
This is a great opportunity to join a brand-new program. We are currently hiring for the following positions:
Position |
Job Posting |
| Associate Director | https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32739 |
| Finance Specialist | https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32730 |
| Office Coordinator | https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32732 |
| Partnership Coordinator |
https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32743 |
| Site Coordinator (Carter County) |
https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32691 |
| Site Coordinator (Hawkins County) |
https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32696 |
| Site Coordinator (Johnson County) |
https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32702 |
| Site Coordinator (Kingsport City) |
https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32700 |
| Site Coordinator (Sullivan County) |
https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32698 |
| Site Coordinator (Washington County) |
https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/32695 |
Stay in Touch
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