New Year - Fresh Start!

BLOG POST

Continuing with our new feature this year for our blog, writers can write a blog or tell us their Top 5! This month we are featuring the Top 5 Goals You are Working on the Year and Why?, from Joy Cooper, First Year College Advisor at NSU. You can read it here!

NSHE Team Building Day

January 27th

For the fourth year in a row, the NSHE team will be gathering on the day immediately following the NDE Spring Training to continue their professional development with the annual NSHE Team Building Day. The team will meet at the NSHE Office, 4300 S. Maryland Parkway, across the street from UNLV, for a day filled with camaraderie and learning.

NDE Open Meetings

Spring 2026

Beginning last month, NDE started offering open meeting times on the second Monday of the month at 11:00 a.m. These are not required meetings for any staff members. This is a time for anyone that has questions or would like to know more about the upcoming renewal application period. NDE wants to be transparent about the process and will use this time to address staff questions as best as they can at the time.

2nd Annual Nevada FAFSA Challenge

October - March

The competition is ON! As previously mentioned, the competition planning committee is working on some upgrades for the competition and for FAFSA completion in general. We should be able to release more information on the updates soon. This year, there are more chances to win with the three winners based on senior class size: small 1-199, medium 200-499, and large 500+. More information is available on the website: https://apply.nevada.edu/fafsa-challenge/. Can a GEAR UP school win again?

Social Media

(For all students, parents, staff and supporters)

If you have any suggestions for our social media, let Jana or Janet know! We are open to new ideas to help grow our following! Don't forget to like and follow @gearupnv on any or all of our social media platforms! You can use the icons above to access the GEAR UP accounts. We would love for you to tag us and interact whenever possible!

Looking Ahead to Spring Services!

The spring term is just kicking off with all the high schools back in session and most NSHE colleges returning to campus this week. As usual, we have a semester filled with services for our students and families. In addition to our regular College Corners and Power Hours, we also have a couple of College and Career Fairs in March, some ACT Bootcamps scheduled for students preparing for taking the ACT, more FAFSA workshops, campus visits, field trips, and MORE!

Looking forward to a busy and successful term!

So Long Arlene!

We hate to say it but we had to say "good-bye" to Arlene Herrera, our GEAR UP Research Administrator in the NSHE Sponsored Projects Office. Arlene managed the fiscal side of the grant. She was with us for about a year but she has moved on up and over to a new grant in the NSHE office. We can't let her go with thanking her for creating a very interactive spreadsheet for our budgets during the RFP process for Year 7. This was a huge upgrade that our grant's staff was very excited to use. Most likely, many will continue to use. Thank you, Arlene for making such a positive change in such a short time!

We appreciate all of your work for GEAR UP, Arlene! We wish you a lot of luck in your new role!

Hello Jerome!

Although UNR's Jerome Vickers has been a regular visitor at our various events these last few months, it is now official that Jerome will be assuming the UNR FYCA role! Jerome is the an advisor for transfer students, located in the UNR Las Vegas office. He will continue to do his transfer advising as the other half of his position as the UNR FYCA role, like others, is .50 FTE.

We have been grateful for Jerome covering for the vacant position but we are even happier that he is joining the team! We are looking forward to working with you more often, Jerome!

NDE Spring Training

NDE has scheduled our required spring training for Monday, January 26th. This year we are just having a one-day session instead of the usual two half-days. Fortunately, this date coincides with some of the school's in-service days which is helpful for staff schedules.

Topics on the agenda include reviewing the outcomes data that was presented during the August training, the results of the recent climate survey that was conducted, and a presentation from our former ASPIRE Director, Nicole Stella on preparing our students for college life.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

February Awareness Calendars