NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)

(as lead agency for the proposed NYGEAR UP project)


  • coordinate all aspects of the State project to ensure that services are provided to NYGEAR UP sub-grantee students, as well as to students in the federally-funded GEAR UP partnerships in the State
  • develop, refine, and maintain (with business partner assistance) the NYMentor service
  • direct statewide administration of the NYGEAR UP grant
  • supervise the development and implementation of the NYGEAR UP grant
  • supervise the development and implementation of the budget
  • determine fund allocations
  • engage its Office of Counsel and Finance Office regarding contract and fiscal issues
  • interpret student outcome data used in completing the Annual Performance Report
  • serve as liaison with ED for NYGEAR UP issues
  • interpret and clarify ED policy and regulations regarding federal program regulations, policy rulings, and project activities
  • direct the evaluation of program operations through the review of expenditure reports, the Annual Performance Report, on-site visit reports, direct observations, and feedback received from program participants.

A cornerstone of HESC’s successful six-year (1999-2005) GEAR UP State Program has been the establishment of a consortium of key stakeholders, known as the NYGEAR UP State Partners. Their role in this new grant cycle will be to provide direct and support services to the GEAR UP community in New York State, using a uniform NYGEAR UP format. This includes the estimated 4,000 students to be served by NYGEAR UP sub-grants and the thousands of students to be served in federally-funded GEAR UP Partnerships in New York State. All of the State Partners will assist with planning for the annual NYGEAR UP Professional Development Conference and present programs at the conference. A brief description of each State Partner’s role in NYGEAR UP follows.


GEAR UP - State Partners



State University of New York (SUNY)

  • coordinate the statewide delivery of information about SUNY campuses,
  • admissions requirement
  • available academic programs
  • financial aid
  • coordinate student visits to member campuses
  • facilitate the statewide delivery of Time Management, Study Skills and Leadership Skills as a student development series

City University of New York (CUNY)

  • coordinate services to students enrolled in NYGEAR UP programs sponsored by member campuses in New York City
  • coordinate visits to its campuses
  • enhance and maintain the Web-based “College Sense” interactive student financial aid tutorial, developed under the current NYGEAR UP project

Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU)

  • coordinate independent sector school visits and campus-based activities
  • develop and sponsor independent sector summer institutes
  • coordinate the distribution of information about independent colleges, academic programs and financial aid; develops, publishes and distributes a variety of publications in English and Spanish (i.e., From Me To You messages, “Affording College” student handbook, and In Gear newsletters)
  • provide workshops to dispel myths about access to, and the cost of enrolling in independent colleges and universities

The College Board

  • provide extensive exam readiness to include the PSAT, PSS and SAT
  • coordinate the nationally- recognized New York State Admissions Action Panel for colleges and universities in New York to actively recruit NYGEAR UP students
  • implement new middle school initiatives for grades 6-8 (“College Ed” and “SpringBoard”)

Association of Proprietary Colleges (APC)

  • coordinate all aspects of member institutions’ activities with NYGEAR UP
  • coordinate proprietary school visits for NYGEAR UP students
  • deliver student development services
  • disseminate information about admissions, academic programs, and financial aid available at member institutions
  • assist NYGEAR UP students with the application and admission process

New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA)

  • provide college financial aid awareness information services to students, parents/guardians and NYGEAR UP staff
  • services will include workshops, conference presentations, and information sessions for students and parents/guardians
  • develop and distribute Spanish materials on college financial aid

NYGEAR UP State Partners' Directory