Office of College Access Programs

expects that all students are capable of being prepared to enroll and succeed in college.

Our office comprised of a team of dedicated professionals dedicated to increasing educational opportunities through expanded learning that enhances learning from middle school through graduation from college.

Office of College Access Programs

We have multiple programs that provide support for enhancing academic skills to help middle and high school students with achieving the goal of going to college by helping to prepare, apply, pay, and enroll in college. We provide a broad range of high-quality college preparatory services to support students, parents, and educators.

As a leader in the industry, we have a strong track record of having positive effects on helping students be successful in and achieve their desire to go to college and graduate from college. Annually, Our dedicated team supports over 4,000 middle school, high school, and college students. There is no cost for any services provided by our programs.

Each access program has a unique delivery model designed for expanding students learning environment to enhance their trajectory through middle school, high school, and institutions of higher education. The Office of Access & Student Success Programs comprise of the following local and national initiatives:

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)

Increasing Equity & Access

The GEAR UP (GU) Program is a college preparatory program designed to significantly increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The program provides early college preparation and awareness services through tutoring, mentoring, academic advising/counseling, career/college exploration, academic workshops and other support services for students, educators and parents. The program serves 6th and 7th graders at Douglas Byrd Middle, Lewis Chapel Middle, Luther Nick Jeralds Middle and Westover Middle.

TRIO Talent Search

Expanding Opportunities to College

The Talent Search Program is a college preparatory program designed to provide academic support services to economically disadvantaged and/or first generation middle and high school students. The goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education. The program provides academic support services through career awareness, college workshops and field-trips, and financial aid counseling.

TRIO Upward Bound

Making the College Dream Reality

The Upward Bound (UB) Program is a college preparatory program designed to provide academic support services and educational opportunities to economically disadvantage and/or first generation high school students. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rates at which participants enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. Upward Bound provides Saturday Academy classes, college preparatory workshops, tutoring, academic counseling/mentoring, cultural enrichment activities, and college campus tours.

TRIO Upward Bound Math & Science

Closing the Leaky Pipeline

The Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) Program is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of UBMS is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and to encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in math and science, and ultimately careers in the math and science profession. UBMS provides Saturday Academy classes and summer programs with intensive math and science training; counseling and advisement; exposure to university faculty members who do research in mathematics and the sciences and participant-conduct scientific research under the guidance of faculty members or graduate students; education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students.

21st Century Community Learning Centers

Expanding Learning Afterschool

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Program is designed to provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for students, with an emphasis on students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The goal of the program is to reinforce and complement the skills students need for transitioning to high school, decreasing summer learning loss, increasing post-secondary enrollment and preparing for workforce success. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers provides after-school academic assistance, Saturday enrichment services, and summer STEM programs. In addition, the program provides academic advising/coaching, career/college exploration, academic workshops, educational field trips and other support services for students and parents. The centers are located at Westover Middle and Westover High.

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)

Increasing Equity & Access

The GEAR UP (GU) Program is a college preparatory program designed to significantly increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The program provides early college preparation and awareness services through tutoring, mentoring, academic advising/counseling, career/college exploration, academic workshops and other support services for students, educators and parents. The program serves 6th and 7th graders at Douglas Byrd Middle, Lewis Chapel Middle, Luther Nick Jeralds Middle and Westover Middle.

TRIO Talent Search

Expanding Opportunities to College

The Talent Search Program is a college preparatory program designed to provide academic support services to economically disadvantaged and/or first generation middle and high school students. The goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education. The program provides academic support services through career awareness, college workshops and field-trips, and financial aid counseling.

TRIO Upward Bound

Making the College Dream Reality

The Upward Bound (UB) Program is a college preparatory program designed to provide academic support services and educational opportunities to economically disadvantage and/or first generation high school students. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rates at which participants enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. Upward Bound provides Saturday Academy classes, college preparatory workshops, tutoring, academic counseling/mentoring, cultural enrichment activities, and college campus tours.

TRIO Upward Bound Math & Science

Closing the Leaky Pipeline

The Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) Program is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of UBMS is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and to encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in math and science, and ultimately careers in the math and science profession. UBMS provides Saturday Academy classes and summer programs with intensive math and science training; counseling and advisement; exposure to university faculty members who do research in mathematics and the sciences and participant-conduct scientific research under the guidance of faculty members or graduate students; education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students.

21st Century Community Learning Centers

Expanding Learning Afterschool

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Program is designed to provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for students, with an emphasis on students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The goal of the program is to reinforce and complement the skills students need for transitioning to high school, decreasing summer learning loss, increasing post-secondary enrollment and preparing for workforce success. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers provides after-school academic assistance, Saturday enrichment services, and summer STEM programs. In addition, the program provides academic advising/coaching, career/college exploration, academic workshops, educational field trips and other support services for students and parents. The centers are located at Westover Middle and Westover High.

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)

The GEAR UP (GU) Program is a college preparatory program designed to significantly increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The program provides early college preparation and awareness services through tutoring, mentoring, academic advising/counseling, career/college exploration, academic workshops and other support services for students, educators and parents. The program serves 6th and 7th graders at Douglas Byrd Middle, Lewis Chapel Middle, Luther Nick Jeralds Middle and Westover Middle.

TRIO Talent Search

The Talent Search Program is a college preparatory program designed to provide academic support services to economically disadvantaged and/or first generation middle and high school students. The goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education. The program provides academic support services through career awareness, college workshops and field-trips, and financial aid counseling.

TRIO Upward Bound

The Upward Bound (UB) Program is a college preparatory program designed to provide academic support services and educational opportunities to economically disadvantage and/or first generation high school students. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rates at which participants enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. Upward Bound provides Saturday Academy classes, college preparatory workshops, tutoring, academic counseling/mentoring, cultural enrichment activities, and college campus tours.

TRIO Upward Bound Math & Science

The Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) Program is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of UBMS is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and to encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in math and science, and ultimately careers in the math and science profession. UBMS provides Saturday Academy classes and summer programs with intensive math and science training; counseling and advisement; exposure to university faculty members who do research in mathematics and the sciences and participant-conduct scientific research under the guidance of faculty members or graduate students; education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students.

21st Century Community Learning Centers

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Program is designed to provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for students, with an emphasis on students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The goal of the program is to reinforce and complement the skills students need for transitioning to high school, decreasing summer learning loss, increasing post-secondary enrollment and preparing for workforce success. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers provides after-school academic assistance, Saturday enrichment services, and summer STEM programs. In addition, the program provides academic advising/coaching, career/college exploration, academic workshops, educational field trips and other support services for students and parents. The centers are located at Westover Middle and Westover High.

Office of College Access & Success Programs

The Office of College Access & Success Programs has steered me onto a path where I want to go to college while trying my best to be debt free. The program sends me many scholarship opportunities and reminds me of the grants, for which I qualify. I have also had the privilege to do work-study over the summer which replicates a job and provides me with job training. I have had many great opportunities that have increased my knowledge of college and life.