UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO) has been awarded federal grants estimated to total more than $32 million over the next five years to help prepare low-income middle and high school students for college.

Two grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Education's Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). They are designed to encourage youth to set high educational goals, stay in school, and go to college. The GEAR UP grants total $4.46 million for the first year. The award amounts are expected to increase as the number of students in the programs increase each year.

In addition, the CAEO has received two other grants totaling $2.2 million over five years from the U.S. Department of Education's Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program. The grants will support the CAEO's programs that help displaced or underemployed workers gain the necessary education for their chosen career paths.

Combined, the GEAR UP and EOC grants will enable UNLV to serve more than 25,000 children, parents, and community members in low-income areas. "These programs will have a tremendous positive impact on the community while enhancing the preparedness of students for a successful and enriching college experience," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "This is yet another excellent example of how UNLV is partnering with the community to improve education at all levels."

Applications for the GEAR UP grants were submitted by the CAEO in spring 2001 as part of a collaborative effort with Clark County, the Clark County School District, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.

"This program will build awareness in low-income students of the tremendous opportunities they have for expanding their education beyond high school," said William Sullivan, associate vice president for retention and outreach. "At the same time, the program targets at-risk students and their families, providing them with long-term services that will progressively prepare the students for college success."

UNLV's GEAR UP initially will serve 5,600 students in the sixth and seventh grades at Orr, Cashman, Martin, Smith, Bridger, and West middle schools -- schools that have the highest percentages of minority and low-income students in the school district. The program will follow these students as they progress from middle school through high school graduation. At the same time, the program will expand to include each year's new group of sixth-graders. In year five, UNLV's GEAR UP will be providing services to more than 15,000 students.

The students in the program will be offered long-term tutoring, specialized academic enhancement workshops, and recreational programs. With the additional resources of the Educational Opportunity Centers grants, services also will be extended to parents.

"Encouraging parents to be involved in their children's education is an important element of our programs," said Tracy B. Cotton, CAEO executive director. "One of our strategies will include helping parents achieve their own academic goals through GED preparation and assistance with college and financial aid applications."

Working with UNLV's College of Education, CAEO also will develop services to help secondary school teachers improve their skills in working with at-risk students. Funding will be available to teachers for professional development through UNLV's College of Education and for the purchase of classroom materials.

The center also seeks to leverage and coordinate existing community resources, encourage community partnerships in education, and enhance volunteer opportunities. Volunteers from UNLV, Clark County, the City of Las Vegas, and major area employers will be recruited to mentor the students served by the programs.

"We now have a marvelous opportunity to work with colleagues in K-12 and with local business partners to create genuine and sustained systemic change in schools," said Rebecca Mills, UNLV's vice president for student life. "The CAEO has a long tradition of making a difference in this community, and it will bring that tradition and these new resources to bear as they work to influence the academic achievements and aspirations of thousands of middle school students."