On Sept. 12, the U.S. Department of Education unexpectedly canceled a $35 million grant that Purdue had been awarded in 2024 as a result of the end of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs statewide. The grant was intended to prepare low-income Indiana students for college through a program called GEAR UP.
The grant was cut due to its promise of providing DEI training to all hiring managers and the incorporation of social and emotional learning techniques into STEM education, which the Department of Education said no longer aligns with its mission, according to reporting by WFYI.
Indiana GEAR UP announced the end of its funding and, consequently, its programs via a Facebook post on Oct. 1.
“It is with heavy hearts, we report that as of 9/30/25, our grant funding has come to a close. We had hoped to double our impact in this next chapter — but the new grant got ended just as it was launching,” the post stated.
The program partnered with several notable school districts throughout the state, including Indiana Public Schools. In a statement, the district expressed its gratitude for its partnership with the program and acknowledged that GEAR UP was instrumental in enhancing college preparedness.
“The program has successfully prepared students for college and careers, provided financial aid guidance, and expanded STEM exposure,” according to the district.
The increased funding provided by the grant was expected to expand the number of students GEAR UP could serve, raising the number from 13,000 to 14,300 students, according to a Purdue press release from Sept. 2024.
“I first got involved with GEAR UP during high school. The program helped me explore career paths in technology and provided resources like campus visits and college readiness training,” said Zion Adedipe, a junior majoring in cybersecurity at Purdue in Indianapolis.
Indiana GEAR UP students jump for joy during a STEM Leadership Institute session at Purdue University in Summer 2024.
Adedipe said he didn’t fully grasp the immense opportunity the program offered at first, until it helped him gain direction, confidence, and a sense of community.
“I came from a background where higher education sometimes felt out of reach, but the mentors and coordinators constantly reminded us we were capable of more,” he said. “The most meaningful part (of GEAR UP) was the community, having people who believed in you before you believed in yourself. It made a lasting difference in my mindset and career path.”
“Ending GEAR UP in Indiana means that fewer students will have that early exposure to college and career prep, something that can literally change the trajectory of a student’s life,” Adedipe said.
He said that this decision to end Indiana GEAR UP programs doesn’t just affect individuals; it affects communities.
“The ripple effect is long-term, fewer college applications, less diversity in tech and STEM fields, and fewer first-generation students crossing that finish line,” Adedipe said.
In its Facebook post, Indiana GEAR UP said that its mission of empowering students hasn’t ended, and the impact of its presence is still felt.
“(GEAR UP’s) legacy lives on. In every student we empowered, every staff member who showed up, and every community we touched,” according to the organization.
A Purdue spokesperson declined to comment on the situation.