Program Eligibility Requirements

  1. Must have been in foster care after the age of 13*
  2. Must be admitted to UNLV as a first-year undergraduate degree-seeking student and be enrolled full-time (12 minimum credits outside of DRC accommodations)
  3. Must have a completed FAFSA application or alternate need form on file
  4. Must have a 2.0 minimum GPA
  5. Must complete a CAEO application upon being admitted to the program**

*Please note that priority will be given to applicants who were in foster care in the state of Nevada. Out-of-state applicants will be considered only as space and funding permit. We will accept verification letters from the Department of Family Services of the county in which the student was in care. This can range from (but is not limited to) Foster Youth Verification Letters, Placement Custody Notification Letters, and Court Voluntary Jurisdiction Letters.

**The CAEO is able to assist students with scholarships/grant aid, textbook assistance, subject-specific tutoring, and additional coaching as needed. Our office maintains a partnership with them to allow our scholars to access their resources without having to complete additional requirements (beyond those required of our program).

Application Submission Directions

The Fostering Scholars program application is currently closed for the 2025-2026 academic year. The application will reopen in February when preparations begin for the next academic year (Fall 2026). Students in need of immediate support and resources are encouraged to complete our office’s “How Can We Help?” request form.

Program Benefits May Include

  1. $1,000 Involvement Scholarship ($500/semester)
  2. Textbook Assistance
  3. Emergency Financial Assistance
  4. Personalized Success Coaching
  5. Access to Tailored Workshops and Events & Priority Connections to Campus Resources
  6. Priority access (once per week) to the Basic Needs Program
  7. Limited housing and meal plan assistance available as funding permits*

*Our program has a limited amount of funding available to help support some scholars with campus housing assistance and meal plans throughout the academic year (including winter and summer break). Please note that at this time, we have reached our funding capacity for housing and meal plan assistance

Ongoing Program Requirements

To maintain program eligibility, scholars must complete the following each semester:

  1. Attend at least 4 events (including 2 workshops)
  2. Attend and actively engage in monthly success coaching sessions
  3. Attend at least 1 meeting with your Academic Advisor and provide the program with your updated degree worksheet
  4. Attend 1 meeting with UNLV's Career Services
  5. Participate in 1 campus involvement activity each semester
  6. Respond to all emails, outreach, and surveys from the program in a timely manner & communicate with the Program Coordinator and assigned success coach regarding any barriers to completing program requirements
  7. Remain in good standing with the university and adhere to UNLV's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
  8. Be enrolled in at least 12 credits to meet full-time status (or 9 credits for those with a DRC accommodation) in addition to maintaining continuous enrollment and active engagement in the program

Program Penalties & Consequences

Failure to meet the ongoing program requirements will result in the following penalties and consequences:

  1. Program Warning - Scholars will receive a program warning notice explaining which program requirements they failed to meet and will be required to schedule a meeting with the program coordinator to create an academic improvement plan to help them recover.
  2. Program Probation* - Following the second consecutive semester in which the scholar failed to meet program requirements, the scholar will then be placed on program probation and will be exempt from receiving textbook assistance from the program. The scholar will also be required to meet with the program coordinator and create another academic improvement plan in the hopes of giving them one last chance to rectify the problem.
  3. Program Dismissal** - If the scholar fails to maintain program requirements after the second semester, they will be dismissed from the program and will no longer be eligible for any of the program benefits.

*Textbook exemption is only a penalty for scholars who are placed on program probation for failure to meet the involvement requirements.

**Scholars are subject to immediate dismissal from the program pending the discretion of the program coordinator. Reasons for immediate dismissal can include (but are not limited to) dropping below a 1.0 GPA, violating UNLV's code of conduct or academic integrity standards, and/or failing to sign the semesterly program agreement form.