Planning for college or training next year? Apply for the Vermont Grant and explore VSAC’s free scholarship booklet to help you cover costs.
Our Outreach Programs
VSAC supports modest income Vermont students of all ages through 3 federal grant programs
If you’re the first in your family to go to college—and you come from a low- to modest-income background—you’re in the right place.
VSAC’s Outreach programs were created in 1969 to encourage and help less advantaged Vermonters pursue some form of education and training beyond high school. This year alone, our VSAC counselors worked with 5,900+ low-income and/or college-bound students of all ages through 3 federal grants.
Learn more about our outreach programs:
VSAC Talent Search is a federally funded TRIO program that serves middle school and high school students in their pursuit of career and college planning or training after high school. This program is offered at several schools throughout Vermont.
VSAC’s GEAR UP program is a federally funded program that serves middle school and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of careers, college, and training after high school. It also allows VSAC to provide schools and state partners with resources and support to enhance efforts of both local and systemic change in career and college readiness initiatives.
List of GEAR UP Counselors and Their Schools >
Read the latest GEAR UP newsletter >
Find helpful 7-12 grade resources and tips in our Parenting Guide >
VSAC’s Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a federally funded TRIO program that helps Vermont’s nontraditional adult learners who do not already have a 4-year degree access college and career training services. The EOC offers assistance in planning for higher education, obtaining financial aid, and achieving success in school.
EMC²
Essential Math for College & Careers
Essential Math for College and Careers (EMC²) is a course designed to help Vermont’s high school seniors as they transition into their next steps without facing educational or career barriers due to weak math skills. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity to help Vermont students build their math preparedness and be ready to launch into technical training, college, or careers.
The course is taught by high school math teachers. The teachers have all received training in the teaching of this course and participate in an ongoing professional learning community related to the course.
Questions?
Contact Anita Long.
GUIDE
Giving Undergraduates Important Information and Direction in their Education
The GUIDE program supports Vermont State GEAR UP students through their first-year transition after high school.
If you were you a GEAR UP student in high school, do you have plans to attend a training program, trade school, or college after high school?
- NO
Here are some great resources and links to help you with planning.
- YES
Great! You’re a part of the GUIDE Program.
To find out what we offer, open your GUIDE Backpack >
VSAC’s Aspirations Partnerships project is a state-funded program that that serves middle schools and high schools over the course of 3–4 years. Aspirations Partnerships are collaborations between VSAC and Vermont schools. Through the partnerships, a diverse group of school stakeholders strengthen each school’s capacity to graduate all students with a plan for their future education and career.
View the Aspirations Partnership Overview