Eastern Michigan University will be helping prepare middle
school students for college as part of a six-year, $3.4
million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The
program is called "GEAR-UP" and helps low-income,
middle school students raise educational achievement and
promote college enrollment.
"The scope of participation in this grant demonstrates
the strong relationship between EMU and the Ypsilanti community," said
John Fallon, president of EMU. "To witness this kind commitment
to students makes me proud to be part of the education
system in Michigan."
"This really is the perfect project for us," said Russell
Olwell, professor of history and philosophy at EMU and
project director. "We have a long standing investment in
the community and we have a good relationship with the
schools. Our faculty have expertise in educational issues,
and our students will have the opportunity to make a difference
in the lives of these middle schoolers."
EMU will receive $572,000 per year, or 50 percent of the
total funding, for the length of the grant. EMU and its
partners will provide matching funds for the remaining
50 percent.
EMU will partner with Wayne-Westland Community Schools,
Willow Run Community Schools and Ypsilanti Public Schools
to provide academic support for students, information and
help for families of students, and professional development
for teachers and administrators to increase post-secondary
enrollment and success rates.
Students in each of these districts face significant hurdles
to high school graduation and college enrollment, Olwell
said. These include low academic expectations, failure
to take rigorous coursework that leads to college success,
and a lack of knowledge about the college application and
enrollment process.
The three objectives of the program are:
- to increase the educational aspirations of low-income
seventh-grade students and their parents;
- to increase the number of low-income students who are
prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education;
and
- to increase the number of low-income students who
apply to and enroll in postsecondary education.
The project also includes a partnership with the local
business and nonprofit communities, including such local
companies as Pfizer, United Parcel Service, and Altarum,
and such nonprofits as the Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce,
Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Ypsilanti District Library.
These partners have committed time and resources to this
effort to help the communities and their students.
Participating schools include: East and West middle schools
in Ypsilanti; Willow Run Middle School; and Franklin and
Adams middle schools in the Wayne-Westland School District.
Olwell said that every student in the seventh grade is
eligible for the program and that there is no application
process. Students will receive more information from their
teachers.
The grant will impact approximately 1,200 students, said
Olwell.
"This grant really represents what we care about — getting
kids into college and, more importantly, building academic
skills so that they can persist and succeed," said Olwell. "We
want to change going to college from a remote dream for
these students to a realistic goal that can be achieved."
