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UNLV Trio and Gear Up Programs Mentor and Guide More than 24,000 Clark County Middle and High School Students in Past Year

Targeted Intervention Programs Boost Academic Success and Higher Education Prospects of Under-Performing and At-Risk Students

LAS VEGAS-March 10, 2010- The UNLV Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO) helped more than 24,000 disadvantaged Clark County middle and high school students progress to college and university level education. Through a pair of targeted intervention programs - Trio and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) - at-risk and under-performing students at nine Clark County middle schools and 14 high schools received mentoring and tutoring, and participated in educational workshops designed to increase academic success.

"We've seen students lack confidence to perform well academically and abandon dreams of college at an early age," said Keith Rogers, deputy executive director of the UNLV Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach. "Trio and GEAR UP help students realize that no matter what their background, they can have the same opportunities as their counterparts in more affluent schools."

Valley High School, one of the schools receiving assistance from Trio/GEAR UP, was designated as a "high achieving and exemplary turnaround" school. Valley High School accomplished higher test scores in English and math and increased its test participation and attendance rates as of 2008-2009.

Trio and GEAR UP helped Valley High School with the following:

  • Tutors to assist with homework and class instruction
  • A high-school credit retrieval program to administer online classes for students who want to earn credit for failed classes
  • In-house UNLV academic and career counselors to help students stay in school, meet college requirements, and enroll in and graduate from a post-secondary education institution
  • Summer programs, college tours and cultural enrichment courses
  • Classroom and technological enhancements

Trio and GEAR UP serve at-risk schools nationwide. Students, parents and families in the programs also receive guidance on how to achieve a post-secondary education. Counselors assist participants with career planning, filling out college financial aid forms, and selecting high school classes, which meet college requirements.

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