Category: Recruitment

The College of Southern Nevada was recently awarded a sub grant from State of Nevada Gear Up to create the Middle School College Access Ambassador position. Working from the Office of Student Recruitment the CSN Gear Up Ambassador will help coordinate early interventions with 7th graders forming the 2012-13 cohort program in three of Clark County’s middle schools: Jerome Mac, Harney and Woodbury.

The GEAR-Up Ambassador will provide academic support services and college access information to 7th grade students attending Jerome Mac, Harney and Woodbury, in addition to helping facilitate college going activities and promote Nevada colleges and their programs. Emphasis will be given to local STEM programs. Intervention services will follow the students into their freshman year in college. Long term, these students will become excellent candidates for more support services, such as the TRIO programs, that will help ensure their successful transition to CSN where they can complete an associate’s degree and transition to a four-year institution.

2012-2018 Gear Up is the third cohort of students that receive services from the State of Nevada Gear Up grant. This time around the added component is the adoption of long lasting school systematic changes at the CCSD level that will enhance the educational experience for all students rather than just the Gear Up groups. Opting for implementing more rigorous academic preparation for staff and students based in the Common Core State Standards; building long-term relationships with the community; creating supportive peer groups; offering information on financial literacy and college financial assistance to the entire family; creating opportunities for students and staff to experience and embrace cultural sensitivity; are some of the factors that will ensure the success of the program. The cohort graduates will not receive the customary Gear Up scholarship since the state of Nevada opted for a waiver. The students will receive local grants and scholarships based in merit as well as Federal aid.

The CSN Gear Up Ambassador in partnership with CSN Serves offers service learning opportunities for students and staff to join a group of volunteers that bring to the mix great energy, creativity, multi-cultural experience, and overall the willingness to share their passion for higher education by promoting CSN as the College of First Choice. For more information please contact the CSN Gear Up Ambassador, Carolina Navarrete via email at: GUAmbassador@csn.edu