Trump's (R) Administration Abruptly Canceled a $35 million Purdue University Grant aimed at Preparing Low-Income Indiana Students for College, as part of its broader push against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. The U.S. Education Department’s reasoning for Canceling the Seven-year Grant that was Approved just a year ago, stated that the Grant Conflicted with Federal Civil Rights Law and the Department’s Police of “Prioritizing merit, Fairness, and excellence in education”.
The $34.9 million Grant was to Support Indiana GEAR UP, which Stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. It helped Middle and High School Students with Transitioning to Higher Education. Indiana GEAR UP Officially Halted Services on Sept. 30th, the Program Announced in a Facebook Post.
“We had hoped to double our impact in this next chapter—but the new grant got ended just as it was launching,” the Post read. “Still, the legacy lives on. In every student we empowered, every staff member who showed up, and every community we touched. It has been a true pleasure to serve the students of Indiana.”
The Federal Program has existed since 1998 and Indiana’s Program has received Funding since 2016, enabling it to serve over 13,000 Students from 10 different School Corporations and over 3,000 Educators across the State, according to Purdue University’s News Release of the New Grant Funding in Sept. 2024.
A Sept. 12th Termination Letter said Purdue’s Grant included DEI Training, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Social Emotional Learning in STEM. The Grant Cuts are part of the Trump Administration’s Larger Push, which is also mirrored by Gov. Mike Braun’s (R) Actions at the State Level, to Eliminate All DEI Initiatives.
The DEI Backlash has been a Predominant Theme of 2025, with Legislators Passing a New Law Prohibiting Publicly Funded Institutions from taking Actions based on an Individual's "personal characteristic," such as race, religion, or Sex. Indianapolis Schools Saddened by Sudden Loss. The Program provided After-School Programming, STEM Summer Camps, Mentoring, and other College Planning Resources to Nine School Districts across the State, when the Grant was Stopped.
One of those Schools included Purdue Polytechnic High School, a Charter High School with Two Campuses in Indianapolis, which said they were Disappointed to see this “Valuable” Program Abruptly Discontinued. “As a STEM-focused school, the staff members at GearUp were a great resource for STEM-related supports and curriculum enrichment,” said Purdue Polytechnic’s Chief Academic Officer Krista Primrose. “We also partnered with the GearUp staff year-over-year to develop and deliver a college-readiness professional development series for our teaching staff, which has had a significant positive impact on our students' academic outcomes.”
Indianapolis Public Schools, which also Partnered with the Program, said they were Surprised by the Sudden Ending of the Program. “IPS has valued this partnership and thanks Purdue and its staff for their support in shaping students' academic and career paths,” the District saidr. “The program has successfully prepared students for college and careers, provided financial aid guidance, and expanded STEM exposure.”
The Indiana Commission on Higher Education was also a Partner in the GEAR UP Program. One of the stated Goals of the Commission’s HOPE Agenda is to Increase the College Going Rates for Youths and Adults across All Demographics by 2030. However, Indiana’s College-Going Goal is Faltering, with Fewer than 52% of 2023 Graduates enrolling Directly to Higher Education, the State’s Lowest Rate on Record.
Of the Class of 2023, only 46% of the Black sSudent Population and 42% of the Latino Student Population, directly Enrolled in Higher Education after High School. In comparison, 54% of the White Student Population and 70% of the Asian Student Population enrolled in Higher Education after High School.
The Trump Administration had Proposed Eliminating the Program when it Presented its proposed Budget in May, which Eliminated more than 40 Education Funding Streams.
However, Lawmakers from both Parties Rejected Trump’s Cuts, and Congress has been Unable to Pass a Final Budget, Resulting in a Shutdown of the Government Oct. 1st. Before the Shutdown, the Trump Administration chose to Rescind a Select few State GEAR UP Programs, Canceling Nine.
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